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Sporting News Audio is a weekly series of conversations with Sporting News experts during the MLB season. In this installment, Tom Gatto talks about what the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox must do down the stretch to make the American League playoffs.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to reach the 600-homer milestone Wednesday. Based on his 162-game career average, A-Rod is on pace to hit No. 700 in August of 2012 and No. 763 in May of 2014.

Alex Rodriguez finally ended his home run drought Wednesday, becoming the seventh player in major league history to hit 600 homers. That club isn’t likely to get many (if any) new members in the next several seasons. The active players nearest the milestone:

Nationals righthander Stephen Strasburg will be activated from the disabled list to start Tuesday against the Marlins, according to The Washington Post.

Strasburg hasn’t started since July 21 and was put on the D.L. after he had trouble getting loose prior to his scheduled start July 27. He was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation.

The rookie is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA and 75 strikeouts in nine starts (54 1/3 innings) this season.

The New York Daily News reported the Mets will not ask pitcher Oliver Perez to accept a minor league assignment. Nor will it simply release the left-hander, who signed a three-year, $36 million deal prior to the 2009 season.

The team attempted to convince Perez to go to the minors earlier this season before eventually placing him on the disabled list because of a knee injury. Perez began the season in the rotation but now is among the last options in the Mets’ bullpen.

New Braves outfielder Rick Ankiel told The Atlanta Journal Constitution that he hasn’t ruled out a possible return to the mound later in his career. Ankiel began his career as a highly touted starting pitcher but control problem resulted in a successful transition to the outfield.

"I keep thinking when I can’t run any more and I still want to be in the game, maybe I’ll give (pitching) a shot," Ankiel said. "For now, I’m an outfielder and that’s how I look at it."

The Red Sox have placed first baseman Kevin Youkilis (thumb) on the 15-day disabled list, according to The Boston Globe.

Youkilis, who is hitting .307 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs, is the fifth position player from Boston’s opening day lineup to land on the DL this season.

With Youkilis out, the Red Sox activated infielder Mike Lowell from the disabled list to start at first base. Lowell is hitting .213 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 31 games this season.

Lowell hasn’t played since June 22 because of a sore hip and was rumored to be a candidate to be designated for assignment earlier this week.

The A’s website reported righthander Ben Sheets will have surgery next week to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow.

A similar procedure sidelined Sheets for the entire 2009 season.

"It will be a significantly long time again," Sheets told the website. "Probably about 12 months, I think, then I’ll be back dominating."

Prior to the injury, Sheets went 4-9 with a 4.53 ERA in 20 starts this season. He will be a free agent following this season.