Rivera to Sit Out Royals Series

Mariano Rivera will sit out the New York Yankees’ three-game series with Kansas City this week because of a muscle strain near his right elbow, but could be back by the weekend.

Rivera pitched Wednesday and Thursday against Detroit, then sat out the series against Minnesota.

The 36-year-old Rivera, in his 10th season as the Yankees’ closer, had an MRI exam before pitching Thursday. He is 5-5 with 33 saves in 36 chances and a 1.90 earned-run average.

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Tests determined that Marcus Giles has a healthy heart and he can keep playing baseball, a huge relief to the Atlanta Braves and their second baseman after he was told he might have a heart defect.

Giles was en route to Shea Stadium on Monday evening to rejoin his teammates, who played the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series.

On Saturday, the infielder sat out a doubleheader against the Phillies and visited a Philadelphia hospital, where he said he was told he might have a heart defect.

He returned to Atlanta on Sunday for medical tests, and was cleared to play.

Braves Manager Bobby Cox said doctors think the problem is related to acid reflux. No surgery is required.

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Minnesota rookie Francisco Liriano reported no problems after throwing, and the star left-hander could rejoin the Twins’ rotation before the middle of the month.

Liriano, on the disabled list since Aug. 8 because of a strained ligament in his pitching arm, threw 78 pitches during a 16-minute bullpen session. He is scheduled to throw batting practice Wednesday.

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Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran had an MRI exam that confirmed his left knee is only bruised, and the New York Mets’ center fielder expects to return to the lineup soon.... Twins commentator Bert Blyleven was suspended for two telecasts for using two obscenities on air during a pregame segment. Blyleven uttered the words after slipping up during Sunday’s segment, which he thought was being taped rather than broadcast live.