AROUND THE LEAGUE : Marlins Lose Fernandez

Florida right-handed pitcher Alex Fernandez won’t pitch the rest of this season in order to rest his pitching shoulder, the team said.

Fernandez, 30, missed all of last season after having surgery on his right rotator cuff on Oct. 29, 1997. He was 7-8 with a 3.38 earned-run average in 24 starts for Florida this year. Fernandez was on the 15-day disabled list twice during the season’s first six weeks because of groin and shoulder injuries.

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Atlanta signed free-agent pitcher Sean Bergman, six days after he was released by the Houston Astros. The 29-year-old Bergman was let go by the Astros on Aug. 31 after going 4-6 with a 5.36 ERA in 19 games, including 16 starts, this season.

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Philadelphia third baseman Scott Rolen missed his 10th consecutive game because of a sore back. An MRI Saturday confirmed that he has a joint irritation and lower back strain. General Manager Ed Wade and Manager Terry Francona told Rolen on Sunday that “clearly our goal is long-term with him.” Wade is optimistic Rolen will play again this season, “but only if it is the right thing to do.”. . . . The Pittsburgh Pirates activated starting pitcher Todd Ritchie, the team leader with 12 victories who had been out since Aug. 21 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, from the 15-day disabled list, the team said. He’ll start this afternoon against San Diego.