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The Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals have or will place outfielder Cody Ross and closer Jason Motte on the disabled list, while Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Luke Scott is likely headed for the same fate.
Ross will start the season on the DL -- according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com -- due to a lower left leg strain. The outfielder has only registered seven at-bats this exhibition season as a result of the injury.
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Gilbert notes that Ross could return as soon as the second week of the regular season, though there's no set time frame. With fellow outfielder Adam Eaton also recovering from injury, the D'backs are set to enter the regular season with a starting outfield consisting of Jason Kubel, A.J. Pollock and Gerardo Parra.
The Cardinals have placed Motte on the DL with a strained throwing elbow. He was extremely effective last season -- his first as the team's closer -- posting an ERA of 2.75 while compiling 42 saves.
Like Ross, there is no timetable for Motte's return. During the 30-year-old's absence, the Cards will use Mitchell Boggs as closer.
Rays general manager Andrew Friedman told reporters -- including Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times -- that he expects to place Scott on the DL later this afternoon. Scott is hampered by a calf injury, and Tampa Bay is likely to use one of Brandon Guyer, Stephen Vogt, Chris Gimenez, Shelley Duncan or Leslie Anderson to replace him on their roster.
