Hamstring could land Payton on the DL

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Payton could start the season on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring, although he’s still holding out hope of returning within a week or two.

Payton suffered a Grade 1 strain of his lower hamstring while running from second base to third base Monday in a spring-training game.

“I’m going to do whatever I have to do to get it right. I don’t want it to be something that’s going to linger,” he said. “After these first few days, we’ll get a better gauge.”

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Manager Lou Piniella made it official Tuesday: Wade Miller will be the Chicago Cubs’ fifth starter.

It means one-time 18-game winner Mark Prior could start the season in the minor leagues.

Prior has made only three appearances this spring and is 0-2 with a 9.82 earned-run average.

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Baltimore obtained catcher Alberto Castillo from Boston in a trade for outfielder Cory Keylor, Baltimore’s minor league player of the year in 2006.... Cleveland reliever Matt Miller will sit out at least three weeks because of a muscle strain in his right forearm.... Arizona Manager Bob Melvin selected Edgar Gonzalez as his fourth starter. The 24-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his first start at Washington on April 5.... Pittsburgh reliever Masumi Kuwata can’t throw for four weeks after badly spraining his right ankle.... New York Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer’s latest MRI exam showed that his brain tumor has not grown.