Eddie Guardado dealt to Twins  —  From Evan Grant ...  Reliever Eddie Guardado has been traded to the Minnesota Twins, according to sources.  —  Update: The rest of the Rangers' moves today are on the jump in the official release from the team.

Mets put Maine on DL … NEW YORK (AP) — John Maine was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a bone spur in his right shoulder Monday, leaving the Mets without their No. 3 starter as they head into September looking to erase the memory of last year's disastrous stretch run.

Youth league tells pitcher, 9, that he's too good … NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out.  —  The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph.  He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told …

Reds' Cueto will miss start with strained elbow … CINCINNATI (AP) — Right-hander Johnny Cueto has a strained right elbow and will miss at least one start for the Cincinnati Reds.  —  Cueto lasted only three innings of a 4-3 loss to the Rockies in Colorado on Sunday, leaving with soreness in his pitching arm.

YANKEES PONGED  —  IT would be tough for average Joes to beat a couple of Yankees at baseball, but slamming them in a game of beer pong was no sweat.  Last week, Jason Giambi and Joba Chamberlain were celebrating their win against the Kansas City Royals at Southern Hospitality, on Second Avenue …

Sox-fan Obama jokes that Cubs fans aren't serious  —  We all knew Barack Obama is a White Sox fan, but the presumed Democratic presidential nominee took it a bit further in an interview with ESPN.  —  Obama joked about the stereotype of Cubs fans, who probably are tired of being described …

Returning the favor: Phillies complete sweep over Dodgers  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Brett Myers tossed seven gritty innings, Jimmy Rollins had three hits and two RBI, and the Philadelphia Phillies completed their first four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 23 years with a 5-0 win Monday night.

Under The Knife  —  Mound Mischief  —  Johnny Cueto (TBD)  —  Play my theme song, Jerome.  One can only hope that a strained triceps tendon is as bad as it gets for Cueto.  The young pitcher left Sunday's game with tightness in the back of his shoulder.

Despite flaws, don't count Yankees out  —  It's so tempting to declare the Yankees' playoff hopes a lost cause because they've offered us no tangible reason to believe otherwise.  —  Their injury-plagued pitching staff is too thin.  Their lineup of former All-Stars and future Hall …

postGame: Mets 9 Astros 1  —  The Mets (73-59) beat the Astros (66-65) by the score of 9 to 1 at Shea Stadium tonight.  —  For a recap, boxscore, stats, etc., from tonight's win, go to SNY.tv.  —  Everybody clap your hands.  Or chant ‘Pel-Frey’ as the Shea faithful deservedly did tonight.

Reynolds among 10 vets on Hall ballot  —  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP)—Allie Reynolds, Joe Gordon and Vern Stephens are among 10 players whose careers began before 1943 who will be considered by the Hall of Fame's constituted Veterans Committee when it meets on Dec. 7 .

Buchholz gives up 4 runs in 7 innings in Portland  —  PORTLAND, Maine — Clay Buchholz pitched seven innings for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs tonight against the New Britain Rock Cats.  Save for one rough inning, he looked like the Buchholz of old (at this level) anyway.

Look Ahead: K-Rod's talent in question as free agency looms  —  “He has one of those balls that just explodes on the hitter,” the AL coach said.  “It's right on you before you know it.”  —  The other stories to watch this week:  —  A chapter (likely) closes in the rivalry: Yes, it's true …