Young fireballer Edwin Jackson has a career best outing Saturday night

Injuries, moves, rumors and newsmakers...

Grand slams are flying out of big-league parks this weekend; Edwin Jackson is finally getting the hang of things in the majors; just try to score on Cy guy Brandon Webb; a top prospect debuts in Colorado; and more...

  SALAMI MADNESS
If things keep going as they have so far this weekend, folks will start yawning at the sight of a grand slam. Four-run shots have been landing in the bleachers all around the majors lately, with seven so far between Friday and Saturday.

Saturday night, there were four salamis, including two in one game between the White Sox and Mariners. Rookie Josh Fields got the Chi-Sox to within one with his ninth-inning blast, while Mariners shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt's slam in the fourth provided the eventual winning run for his club. Out in New York, Florida outfielder Josh Willingham spoiled the Mets' fun with a go-ahead slam in the seventh in an eventual Marlins victory. Then, in Colorado, light-hitting infielder Jamey Carroll made it four on the day with a pinch-slam in the Rockies' 15-2 pasting of the Cubs.

Go back to Friday's action and we'll start with the Tigers-Athletics game, which saw grand slams from A's DH Jack Cust and Tigers left-fielder Marcus Thames. And like Carroll on Saturday, Angels infielder Maicer Izturis was the light-hitting slugger of a surprise slam against the Twins.

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DEVIL RAYS 
It's taken him long enough, but Edwin Jackson may have finally figured out how to pitch in the majors. Still just 23, the hard-throwing righty hadn't had a big-league ERA below 5.45 since his first short stint with the Dodgers in 2003, and he was riding a 7.26 mark through his first 16 starts this year. But his last six have been a different story, culminating with his first complete game and shutout in Saturday night's four-hitter with eight strikeouts in Texas. In those last six, which includes three straight quality starts, he has a 2.97 ERA.

DIAMONDBACKS 
Saturday night, reigning NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb became the first man in the majors this year with two shutouts, with two in a row to run his scoreless innings streak to 33.0. Saturday's five-hitter with 10 strikeouts makes it four starts in a row without allowing a run as he turns it up a notch to try to lead the newly NL-West-leading D'backs into the postseason.

GIANTS 
A little switch was made to the Giants' bullpen on Saturday, with young southpaw Jonathan Sanchez being sent down to Triple-A Fresno and prospect Brian Wilson popping back up. The 25-year-old Wilson got into 31 games with the big club as a rookie last year but this is his first time up this year. He's looked good as Fresno's closer this season, but he'll have to watch his command against big-league hitters.

ORIOLES 
A horrible season has come crashing to an end for Baltimore DH Jay Gibbons. Batting just .230 with six homers and 28 RBIs, the veteran slugger is set to have season-ending shoulder surgery to fix an injury he suffered way back in May. The Orioles aren't expected to make a move to replace him on the roster until Sunday or Monday, but the call could go to Jon Knott, who has served as a backup outfielder on a few short occasions this year.

PADRES 
Starting catcher Michael Barrett banged his head in a play at second base on Friday night, suffering his second head injury of the week, and he's been placed on the DL with concussion-like symptoms. While he gets his head cleared up, Pete LaForest was called up to serve as backup catcher to Josh Bard. LaForest has hit for big-time power for Triple-A Portland, with 29 homers and 72 RBIs, but has hit just .230... Young righty Jack Cassel was recalled and made his big-league debut on Friday, allowing two runs in 3.0 innings against the Reds. And that was it for his first stint in the majors, as he was sent right back down to Portland on Saturday. More experienced righty Mike Thompson was called up to replace him in the bullpen.

REDS 
After 23 starts, the Reds finally tired of watching Matt Belisle struggle and sent him to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. After mostly pitching out of the bullpen the past two years, the big righty went 6-8 with a 5.39 ERA before this demotion, but over his last five starts he had a 7.01 ERA. Elizardo Ramirez may be the best possibility to eventually replace him in the rotation, but for now they recalled lefty reliever Bill Bray.

ROCKIES 
After suffering a concussion, backup corner infielder Jeff Baker was placed on the DL Saturday. He's hit just .218 off the bench but his injury paves the way for the major-league debut of top prospect Ian Stewart. The 22-year-old third baseman was called up in the midst of another good season for Triple-A Colorado Springs, batting .304 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs, but isn't expected to play a key role quite yet with Garrett Atkins hitting up a storm at the hot corner. However, the kid did get the start at third on Saturday and, playing just over half the game before being removed, went 0-for-2, was hit by a pitch and scored a run.

TIGERS 
The back end of the Detroit pitching staff got a bit of an overhaul on Saturday. Down went Jordan Tata, who had made three increasingly bad starts, and Macay McBride to Triple-A Toledo, and up came veteran Aquilino Lopez and rookie Eulogio De La Cruz. Both Lopez and De La Cruz were up with the Tigers earlier in the season and will toss middle relief. As for the rotation vacancy left by Tata, Chad Durbin could come back out of the bullpen the next time they need a fifth starter, and after that rookie Andrew Miller may be ready to come off the DL.

YANKEES 
That 500th home run last week clearly opened the floodgates for Alex Rodriguez. He entered that August 4 game without a homer in eight contests and mired in a 3-for-27 slump. But, including No. 500 and his two longballs Saturday night, he's gone deep four times in his last six games with nine RBIs, going 8-for-21.