Sunday Insider: Central Intelligence

You can't blame the Tigers for signing Jim Johnson to a minor league contract. Johnson, who led the AL in saves in 2012 and '13 but was released last week from Oakland, threw for Detroit on Wednesday before heading to Class AAA Toledo, where he will make a few starts.

"He looked very similar to the guy we've seen the last couple of years," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said.

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Alex Gordon collected his 1,000th career hit Tuesday. Greg Holland earned his 100th save Friday. But the big one for the Royals was manager Ned Yost, who, with a 4-3 victory over Arizona on Wednesday, earned victory No. 800.

Yost has been the subject of criticism, but the Royals entered Saturday riding a five-game winning streak that put them eight games over .500 and holding the second wild-card spot.

"I didn't win any of those 800 games," Yost said. "Those guys, and a lot of guys like them, won every one of those 800 games.' "

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"When he gets the ball that he can handle, lately he hasn't been missing it," manager Terry Francona said.

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Twins manager Ron Gardenhire spent part of last weekend speaking highly of White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton, who was batting .305 with a .372 on-base percentage. Eaton injects some energy into a lineup that needs it.

But Eaton is on the DL after crashing into the wall while chasing a ball Wednesday. Eaton slammed into the wall nearly at full speed, suffering a bruised lower back. "I kind of miscalculated a little bit," he said.