Getting you caught up on the news buzzing around baseball at this hour:

• The Nationals placed Elijah Dukes on the 15-day disabled list, joining Wily Mo Pena in the trainer’s room. Willie Harris should see the bulk of playing time in left field during their absence. Rob Mackowiak could also see some time.
• Nationals closer Chad Cordero will miss at least a couple of days after receiving a cortisone shot in his pitching shoulder for tendinitis. Jon Rauch will continue in the closer’s role in the meantime. A DL-stint is not yet of the question for Cordero.
• Brewers catcher Jason Kendall will open the 2008 season batting ninth. We had reported this possibilty about a month ago.
• Tigers manager Jim Leyland hopes that Tim Brydak, who was released last week by the club, will re-sign with them on a minor-league deal.

Filed under: Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals