Lucchino ‘amped’ for Yankees series  —  Red Sox president dismisses Epstein rumors  —  BOSTON — Red Sox president Larry Lucchino feels the three-game series his club and the Yankees start on Tuesday still carries its regular cachet, despite the likelihood both teams make the playoffs.

Will C.J. Wilson Get $100 Million?  —  Two years ago, Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson struck me as a quality reliever, but certainly not someone who could eventually score a $100MM contract.  Now, with free agency just months away, I'm wondering if that could be his ceiling on the open market.

Ozzie Guillen sounds off on season, Ken Williams, Marlins  —  CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 12: Ozzie Guillen #13 manager of the Chicago White Sox (L), Rick Hahn White Sox assistant general manager (C), and Kenny Williams general manager talk before the game against the Kansas City Royals on August 12 …

Hamstring strain to shelve Cruz three weeks  —  Cuban prospect Martin likely to be replacement for outfielder  —  ARLINGTON — Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz will be sidelined for at least three weeks with a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring.  General manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers …

Strasburg slated for season debut Tuesday  —  Nats to get first look at pitching prospect Milone on Saturday  —  ATLANTA — The Nationals have already decided how their rotation will look in the next week, and barring any setbacks, it will include right-hander Stephen Strasburg.

Technology — namely the iPad — is changing the way the game is played … Once upon a time, it was all so simple.  Pitchers pitched.  Hitters hit.  If the stars lined up, somebody with a glove caught what they hit.  And that's how baseball games were decided.  —  Boy, how 1963 was that, huh?

Flores opts out of contract  —  If you're wondering about left-hander Randy Flores joining the Brewers' righty-heavy bullpen in September, you can forget about it.  Flores opted out of his Triple-A contract with the Brewers on Sunday and was granted his release, per the teams of a deal he signed with Milwaukee earlier this month.

Bautista hits 38th home run as Blue Jays beat Rays  —  TORONTO — Jose Bautista hit his 38th home run to move into a tie for the major-league lead as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 to avert a four-game sweep.  —  Bautista, Adam Lind, who hit his 23rd homer …

Brewers reach three million tickets sold today  —  The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that the club has eclipsed three million tickets sold for the 2011 season.  This marks the third time in franchise history that the Club has eclipsed three million (also in 2008 and 2009).

Orioles Designate Hendrickson For Assignment  —  The Orioles will designate lefty Mark Hendrickson for assignment to open a spot for Troy Patton, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  The team has since confirmed the move.  Patton had been on the restricted list as he attended a court hearing for an offseason DWI arrest.

New York Mets grateful to get through Hurricane Irene OK, Ike Davis surgery decision looms  —  The Mets came through Hurricane Irene without incident, as glad as everyone in New York that the storm did not live up to the most catastrophic predictions.  —  Terry Collins spent the weekend in Manhattan …

Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young's walks offset woes  —  Despite struggles at the plate, OF getting on base  —  With all the struggles Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young has had at the plate, he still has reached base more than his .236 average entering Monday's game would indicate, thanks to a team-high 62 walks.

Yankees Beat Orioles 3-2 for 4-Game Split  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — Freddy Garcia returned from the disabled list to pitch six innings of two-hit ball, Nick Swisher homered and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 Monday night earn a split of the four-game series.