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MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins placed struggling right-hander Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday with a strained right elbow. The Twins announced the move one day after Nolasco left the team in Seattle to return to Minnesota for an examination. The Twins signed Nolasco to a $49 million, four-year deal in the off-season to bolster one of the leagues worst starting rotations. But he is 5-7 with a 5.90 ERA in 18 starts this season. Nolasco told the Twins on Monday he has been pitching through discomfort in his elbow all season. "Its good there is no major thing here, nothing structurally too awful bad. Now its about getting the soreness out, getting the stiffness out, time probably better than anything else and well see. Well see where it goes from there," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Let him take some time, do some treatment with the trainers and see how he responds to that. Obviously the throwing is not making it better." The Twins recalled catcher/outfielder Chris Herrmann from Triple-A Rochester. Gardenhire did not announce how they would replace Nolasco in the rotation. He was scheduled to make his next start this weekend in Colorado against the Rockies. . The Toronto Maple Leafs forward and Nashville Predators goaltender highlighted Mondays waiver transactions, with Calgarys Chuck Kobasew and Edmontons Philip Larsen also being placed on waivers. . Stepanek gave the Czech Republic its second straight Davis Cup title Sunday, sweeping past Dusan Lajovic in straight sets in the fifth and decisive match to secure a 3-2 win over Serbia in the final. . -- Chad Labelle scored the winner 17:36 into the third period to give Medicine Hat a 2-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday and lift the Tigers into the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. . After all, the No. 8 seed is chasing far loftier goals. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., defeated American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in Wimbledons second round on Thursday. .com) - The San Antonio Spurs will try to even their series with the Dallas Mavericks Monday night when the two teams collide at American Airlines Arena for Game 4.SOCHI, Russia - Martin St. Louis gets his chance as Team Canadas 13th forward in the first elimination game of the Olympic tournament. St. Louis is in and Matt Duchene is out against 11th-seeded Latvia, which upset Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals. Coach Mike Babcock expects St. Louis to handle the difficult situation as a veteran player. The 38-year-old says he is ready for the mental and physical challenge. "Its a situation that you fully understand its a possibility you might be in, in these tournaments," he said. "Youre trying to go out there and earn another shift." Canada did not do line rushes during Wednesdays morning skate at the Bolshoy Ice Domes practice rink. If the same lines hold from Tuesday, Sidney Crosby will centre Chris Kunitz and Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Getzlaf will centre Jamie Benn and Corey Perry, Jonathan Toews will centre Patrick Marleau and Jeff Carter and John Tavares will centre Patrick Sharp and Rick Nash with St. Louis rotating in. "The reality is we dress 13 forwards each game," Babcock said. "One guy hardly gets on the ice. Its a hard, hard situation for people that play 22 minutes. Thats the way it is. Youve got to find a way to help out when you get a chance." St. Louis offers the ability to make a big play at a crucial time, but so do Matt Duchene and P.K. Subban, who are Canadas health scratches. Dan Hamhuis will be the seventh defenceman, leaving Subban out of the lineup for the third time in four games. Babcock said Subban, last years Norris Trophy winner as the NHLs best defenceman, has been "excellent" in accepting his role. "Hes a proud guy. And hes here and he doesnt get to dress," Babcock said. "Nobody is probably thrilled about that. Those are hard decisions that we make, and in the end theyve got to live it." "That doesnt mean theyve got to like it. But youre here to be a good pro and a good teammate and as its not about me and its not him, its about Canada. As long as we all remember that, were fine." Its about Canada is also this teams approach going into Wednesday nights game against a largely-unknown Latvian opponent. Sault Ste. Marie native and Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan is the most known quantity there, perhaps along with 41-year-old defenceman Sandis Ozolinsh. "I know Sandis Ozolinsh played for me and helped me get to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and hes their captain," Babcock said. "Theyre better as a sum than they are as parts." Latvia beat Switzerland 3-1 Tuesday night to set up this date with Canada. Winger Patrick Marleau said he noticed from that game that the Latvians were a very "structured" bunch. "Its not going to be that many breakdowns, so when you do get that opportunity youre going to have to make the most out of it," Maarleau said.dddddddddddd Babcock came away from the Latvia-Switzerland qualification game impressed with how the underdogs held on. "They had good chances on (Swiss goaltender Jonas) Hiller, but they spent a lot of time in their own zone," Babcock said. "Ted called a timeout, they were all bent over and dying. There was a couple more times I thought they might die. They hung in there, hung in there and battled. "If Im a Latvian Im very, very proud. They competed. Thats all you can ask. Youve got to maximize what youve been given." With the exception of Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons, Latvias only NHL player, most of the team is able to practise together. Theres a benefit in that Latvia can perfect defensive systems to frustrate more-skilled teams like Canada. “Its a team thats similar to the other teams weve played so far, a team that works extremely hard and a team that packs the slot and gives you as little space as possible in that area," Bergeron said in French. "So well have to work very hard and come up with a strategy to get through that system they use." Canadas system involves defending tough and trying to get to the middle of the ice. With Babcock supervising, players worked on power-play and extra-attacker situations during Wednesdays skate. The top power-play unit features Crosby, Tavares and Carter with Sharp and Duncan Keith at the points. The second unit had Toews, Getzlaf and Perry with Drew Doughty and Shea Weber at the points. Through three games, Canada has only four power plays, a point of some frustration. "Hard to get them, eh? We spent half a week practising them, You almost wonder why you spend so much time preparing for them when they never come," Babcock said Tuesday. "I think weve played in the offensive zone for three straight games. When you have the puck, you draw penalties. It hasnt happened." Canada is 1-for-4 on the power play so far. "Maybe we can do a better job of sustaining pressure and wearing them down so it forces the other team to take some more penalties," Marleau said. Carey Price starts in goal for Team Canada, as Babcock announced Tuesday. Roberto Luongo will serve as the backup. "Im just trying to do my job like everybody else," Price said Tuesday. "Im excited. Im grateful for the opportunity." Projected lineup for Team Canadas quarter-final game against Latvia: FORWARDS Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Patrice BergeronJamie Benn - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey PerryPatrick Marleau - Jonathan Toews - Jeff CarterPatrick Sharp - John Tavares - Rick Nash / Martin St. Louis DEFENCEMEN Duncan Keith - Shea WeberMarc-Edouard Vlasic - Drew DoughtyJay Bouwmeester - Alex PietrangeloDan Hamhuis GOALIES Carey PriceRoberto Luongo SCRATCHES Matt Duchene P.K. SubbanMike Smith ' ' '
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