AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES

Philadelphia pitcher Mike Grace, sidelined by a right shoulder injury since June 2, is expected to miss the rest of the season, the team’s trainer said Saturday.

“Essentially, he’s going to be rehabbing the rest of the year,” trainer Jeff Cooper said. “There’s really no pressure to get him throwing at this point. If he does come back this year, it’ll be a surprise.”

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Andre Dawson, who has hinted at retiring many times over the past two years, says this will be his final season.

Dawson, the 1987 National League MVP and a Miami native, said Friday before the Marlins game against Atlanta that he has had enough.

“This is it. I’m done,” said Dawson, who turned 42 on Wednesday. “It’s been a lot of fun, I feel I’ve had a good career, but this is definitely my last season. I guess I just feel ready to say it now.”

He has 437 career home runs, 22nd on the career list, and 314 stolen bases, making him one of four players with more than 300 homers and 300 steals. The others are Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays.

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Eric Gregg returned to umpiring Saturday in the most difficult place imaginable--the same field where his mentor collapsed and died on opening day.

Gregg worked his first game since April, when close friend John McSherry collapsed at Riverfront Stadium on opening day and died a short time later at a hospital.

McSherry’s death from severe heart disease prompted Gregg, 44, to take a leave of absence and enroll in a weight-loss program at Duke University. He said he has lost about 60 pounds in the last three months.

“I’m in good shape,” Gregg said, before working third base in a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. “I’m on half my medication. My blood pressure’s down. My ticker’s doing great. My spirits are great. And I can’t wait to call somebody out.”

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Milwaukee pitcher Cal Eldred returns to the major leagues today to start against Toronto, more than a year since he underwent Tommy John-style tendon replacement surgery on his right elbow.

But Eldred and the Brewers insist he wasn’t rushed back.

Manager Phil Garner said Eldred’s return comes a month sooner than he anticipated, but Eldred has had not a single setback and “I think the secret to it was we didn’t push it too much, too soon.”

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The Pittsburgh Pirates extended reliever Dan Plesac’s contract through the 1997 season. Terms were not disclosed.