Florida Marlins: Doctors evaluating Mike Lowell's sore groin found no recurrence of cancer, and the Marlins third baseman may be back in the lineup as early as Monday.

Lowell, who had surgery for testicular cancer in February 1999, underwent two days of tests to assess the injury, which has bothered him for several weeks. The team said that the tests included an MRI, a bone scan, a CT scan and bloodwork, and doctors determined Saturday that the injury was a strained groin.

Lowell is awaiting one final lab result before being cleared to rejoin the lineup, the team said.

"It's great news,'' teammate Derrek Lee said. "It was getting a little nervous with him not here for two days.''

Lowell began the weekend tied for third in the major leagues with 28 home runs. He is batting .275 with 76 RBIs, but has just two hits -- both homers --in his past 31 at-bats.

Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs was only the fourth Lowell has missed this season.

Texas Rangers: Right fielder Juan Gonzalez left Saturday night's game at Tampa Bay with tightness in his right calf during the second inning.

Gonzalez seemed to favor the leg as he ran from first to second base.

The Texas slugger had reached base after being hit by a pitch from Victor Zambrano. Gonzalez left the game after advancing to third on Mark Teixeira's double.

Gonzalez was in the starting lineup the past 13 games after missing time with a sore right elbow, tight left groin and sore left quadriceps last month.

Shane Spencer, who was acquired from Cleveland in a three-player deal Friday, pinch-ran for Gonzalez. Spencer stayed in the game and went to left field.

Laynce Nix, the starting left fielder, was switched to right.

Atlanta Braves: Atlanta outfielder Chipper Jones missed Saturday's game against the New York Mets with a sore left wrist, an injury that has bothered him since the end of May.

He aggravated his wrist on a check swing in the sixth inning Friday night when he batted right-handed against lefty Pedro Feliciano. He struck out during the at-bat, and he was replaced by Darren Bragg when the Braves took the field in the seventh.

Jones tested the wrist before Saturday's game with a hitting session in the indoor batting cages. Afterward, he said he could play, but he was scratched about an hour before the game.

"It didn't keep me up last night and it's not hurting now,'' he said before batting practice. "It was feeling, I imagine, about as good as it's going to feel, right before the All-Star break. At various times throughout the year, it's going to nag.''

Bragg played left in Jones' place Saturday, and Andruw Jones batted fourth.

Colorado Rockies: The Rockies activated right-hander Shawn Chacon from the 15-day disabled list to start Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants.

Chacon went on the DL on July 1 with inflammation in his right elbow. To make room for him on the roster, the Rockies designated right-hander Joe Roa for assignment.

Chacon entered Saturday with an 11-4 record and 4.27 ERA this season.