KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Houston first baseman Lance Berkman is expected to miss two to four weeks after having knee surgery to remove loose cartilage from his left knee.

Astros manager Brad Mills said that the surgery yesterday showed there was no damage to the meniscus or ligaments. The timetable for Berkman's recovery puts him in jeopardy of missing Opening Day.

"From my understanding, they were able to clean everything up without any cartilage damage," Mills said. "The level of concern has gone way down because of that. The doctor says he's fine. I have all the confidence in the world that he's going to be fine."

Mills said that the team would not move Carlos Lee or any other outfielder to first if Berkman is out for the start of the season.

Berkman's backup, Geoff Blum, went 1 for 4 with an RBI for an Astros split squad that topped the Nationals, 8-7, yesterday. Chris Shelton and Jeff Keppinger could also see time at first.

CUBS

LEE TO REST SORE FOOT

Chicago's Derrek Lee will miss a few more spring training games with a left foot injury that the Cubs' first baseman says isn't serious.

Manager Lou Piniella on Saturday called the injury "just a bone bruise."

Lee was injured Wednesday when he fouled a ball off the top of his foot.

DODGERS

RAINED OUT IN TAIPEI

The second game of a three-game exhibition series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and a team of Taiwanese All-Stars has been canceled because of rain.

Yesterday contest was set for Taipei.

The concluding game in the series is scheduled for today in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung.

INDIANS

WOOD MISSES GAME

Cleveland Indians reliever Kerry Wood missed his scheduled appearance against the Texas Rangers yesterday with arm soreness.

Cleveland also announced that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is day-to-day with a strained left groin.

RED SOX

MATSUZAKA SKIPS

Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka had his first scheduled throwing session of spring training canceled because of a stiff neck.

Matsuzaka was slated to throw batting practice yesterday, but never made it through warm ups.

TWINS

SPAN TO GET $16M

Center fielder Denard Span and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a $16.5 million, five-year contract, a deal that includes a $9 million team option for 2015.

The 26-year-old Span became the Twins' everyday center fielder when they traded Carlos Gomez to Milwaukee in the offseason.

WHITE SOX

OF MITCHELL OUT

Chicago White Sox outfielder Jared Mitchell is going to have surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left ankle.

The team said yesterday that the operation is set for Tuesday.

Mitchell was injured while making a catch in a spring training game Friday. The 21-year-old, a first-round draft pick last June, will be evaluated tomorrow and have surgery at an outpatient medical center in Scottsdale, Ariz.