Wood Plans to Rest Arm

Chicago Cub rookie Kerry Wood (11-5) will start Wednesday at home against Arizona but he will probably skip the following start in San Francisco to rest what he calls a “dead arm.”

Manager Jim Riggleman said Wood may not miss a game if he feels better after Wednesday’s start against the Diamondbacks.

“It’s just a dead arm,” Wood said.

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Andy Pettitte was scratched from his scheduled start today for the New York Yankees because of a slightly strained left shoulder muscle and will be replaced by Mike Buddie. . . . Houston closer Billy Wagner, hit in the head by a line drive on July 15, threw one shutout inning Monday night in his second appearance at double-A Jackson, Miss. Wagner, a left-hander, threw 15 pitches, a few clocked as high as 97 mph.

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Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon is cracking down on companies selling merchandise carrying the forged autograph of Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire. Nixon said that he would be in St. Louis Circuit Court today to seek temporary restraining orders against several companies and individuals accused of selling the memorabilia with false certificates of authenticity.

McGwire complained last month that he had seen items carrying forged signatures in shops.