Step back for Hughes, step forward for Wang  —  New York Yankees' Phil Hughes pitches to the Cleveland Indians in the first inning in a baseball game, Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Cleveland.  (Tony Dejak, Associated Press / May 31, 2009)  —  CLEVELAND - Let the debate begin anew.

Dodgers' bats come alive to thump Cubs  —  LA puts up five in first, doesn't look back in series finale  —  CHICAGO — The Dodgers scored more runs in the first inning on Sunday night than they had in the other three games of the series combined and went on to whip the Cubs, 8-2, to split the set.

Tampa Bay Rays' pick of Josh Hamilton over Josh Beckett is looking smarter 10 years later  —  Josh Beckett or Josh Hamilton?  —  Once, it was the only question that mattered in Tampa Bay.  Two phenomenal talents, and one chance for the Devil Rays to get it right.

Glavine could join Braves during homestand  —  Atlanta (25-25) vs. Chicago (25-23), 7 p.m. ET  —  PHOENIX — It'll be home sweet home for the Braves, who open a 10-game stand at Turner Field against the Cubs on Tuesday night.  The Brewers and Pirates follow them in.

Pitching update: Lohse improves, Piniero does not  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Cardinals' pitching news got better and worse almost in the same breath Sunday.  Kyle Lohse, once considered unlikely to make Tuesday's start against the Cincinnati Reds, completed a side session before Sunday's …

Twins Through Two Months (Part 1: Hitters)  —  Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau were the two best hitters in all of baseball during May, combining to hit .386/.478/.773 with 20 homers, 16 doubles, 39 walks, 51 runs, and 61 RBIs in 30 games, yet despite getting Babe Ruth-like production from two spots …

All's right for Jon Lester  —  Lefty turns around ugly trend  —  TORONTO - In beating the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday, 8-2, the Red Sox [team stats] avoided the embarrassment of being swept by a team that had, until recently, lost nine in a row.  They also inched closer to first place in the AL East …

The Grandstand: After big series, a tip of the cap to Luke Scott  —  Well, we came out of Baltimore this weekend with a hard-earned split, but after losing the first two games to the Orioles, there was an easy answer as to why we lost after arriving in town on a pretty good roll.  —  Luke Scott.

John Maine pitches Mets to 3-2 win over Marlins  —  Buzz up!  —  NEW YORK (AP)—The worse the New York Mets feel, the better they seem to play.  —  John Maine  —  shut down Florida again before becoming the latest Mets player sidelined by sickness or injury, and New York held off …

Boston Red Sox's John Smoltz throws seven strong in latest rehab start  —  GREENVILLE, S.C. — John Smoltz sat with a big smile on his face after his longest rehab start of the year, convinced it wouldn't be long before the former Cy Young winner was his old, lights-out self.

Left elbow injury forces Sizemore to DL  —  Gimenez recalled; Martinez day-to-day with bruised knee  —  CLEVELAND — Grady Sizemore's inflamed left elbow has forced him to the disabled list, and Victor Martinez's bruised left knee has forced him to the bench.

Tigers' Jackson gets best of O's, Berken  —  Right-hander allows just two hits in eight innings in 3-0 win  —  Orioles starter Jason Berken continued the strong run of rookie outings Sunday afternoon, but, unfortunately for him, it simply wasn't the best pitching performance of the day.