No Pain for Prior in Simulated Game

Mark Prior threw a five-inning, 73-pitch simulated game Tuesday and hopes to return to the Chicago Cubs’ rotation Sunday against Philadelphia.

Prior felt no pain in his tender right elbow while pitching to teammates before Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Prior had been scheduled to start Tuesday against the Cardinals but skipped his turn so he could test the elbow. Manager Dusty Baker said the Cubs would see how Prior’s elbow responds the next couple of days before making a final determination about Sunday.

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Wrigley Field in Chicago must undergo a city-ordered structural inspection after a piece of concrete the size of a fist fell from the upper deck after a Cub game last week and landed next to a 5-year-old boy.

Engineers have started an examination of the 90-year-old baseball stadium and will submit a report to the Chicago Building Department, said Mike Lufrano, the Cubs’ vice president for community affairs.

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Texas Ranger right-hander Joaquin Benoit was put on the bereavement list so he could return to the Dominican Republic after the death of his grandmother.

The Rangers recalled right-hander Nick Regilio from triple-A Oklahoma to fill Benoit’s spot on the roster. Benoit can miss a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven while on leave.

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As expected, Toronto put right-hander Roy Halladay on the 15-day disabled list, and the Blue Jays activated outfielder Frank Catalanotto to fill his roster spot.... San Diego outfielder Darren Bragg opted for free agency after being sent down to triple-A Portland.