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Major League Baseball roundup

[June 15, 2016] June 14 (The Sports Xchange) - Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is on the verge of passing Pete Rose for overall number of career hits.

Yet Rose doesn't want to hear any suggestion that his major-league record of 4,256 career hits is being broken.

Suzuki is one hit behind Rose entering Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres, counting the hits he accumulated in Japan professional baseball before coming to Major League Baseball.

But in Rose's eyes, he will remain the all-time hit king.

"It sounds like in Japan, they're trying to make me the Hit Queen," Rose told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm not trying to take anything away from Ichiro, he's had a Hall of Fame career, but the next thing you know, they'll be counting his high-school hits.

"I don't think you're going to find anybody with credibility say that Japanese baseball is equivalent to Major League Baseball. There are too many guys that fail here, and then become household names there, like Tuffy Rhodes. How can he not do anything here, and hit 55 home runs (in 2001) over there? It has something to do with the caliber of personnel."

Suzuki accumulating 1,278 of his hits in Japan before coming over to the major leagues. He has 2,977 hits in the majors.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates placed ace Gerrit Cole on the 15-day disabled list and recalled fellow right-hander Jameson Taillon to start Tuesday's game against the New York Mets.

Cole suffered a right triceps strain in Friday's contest versus St. Louis and exited one batter into the third inning.

The 25-year-old Cole is 5-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 12 starts for the Pirates this season.

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Taillon, 24, was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis for his second look at the Mets in seven days.

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Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an intercostal strain on Tuesday.

The Nationals activated fellow right-hander Matt Belisle from the disabled list to replace Papelbon, who has posted a 1-2 mark with a 3.28 ERA this season. The 35-year-old Papelbon has converted 16-of-18 save opportunities in 2016.

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The Chicago Cubs signed left-hander Brian Matusz to a minor-league deal.

Matusz, 29, was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Atlanta Braves in late May. The Braves designated him for assignment and later released him.

The Cubs plan to look at Matusz as a possible starting pitcher. He has been assigned to Triple-A Iowa.

Matusz went 27-41 with a 4.85 ERA in 279 career appearances (68 starts) with the Orioles. He fared much better as a reliever than a starter until bottoming out this season with a ERA of 12.00 in six innings prior to the trade to Atlanta. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))

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