As Ichiro closes in, Pete Rose chafes: 'They're trying to make me the Hit Queen'  —  SAN DIEGO - It is one of the most sacred records in all of sports, with one of the greatest hitters in baseball history on the verge of eclipsing it.  —  Strangely, we are ignoring it.

Cuban Players And Teams Growing Frustrated With MLB Free Agency Process  —  Major League Baseball on Monday cleared Yulieski Gurriel to sign, an action that increased frustrations among Cuban players and teams, while again raising questions about how the commissioner's office dictates which players are eligible to sign.

How Michael Conforto let his emotions get the best of him … Anger pushed everything else away, leaving no room for a plan or an approach or anything that might promote the smooth, controlled swing that had inspired boundless visions of stardom.  —  All that remained was self-loathing.

Zach Eflin, 22, debuts for Phillies on Tuesday  —  TORONTO - The first in the next wave of Phillies prospects stepped onto the turf at Rogers Centre for a television interview Monday afternoon, and some of his new teammates watched.  A few heckled Zach Eflin, who will start Tuesday.

Pirates ace Gerrit Cole likely to miss next start with injury  —  Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole will likely miss his next scheduled start and possibly another with triceps tightness.  —  Cole left Friday's game in the third inning with the injury to his pitching arm after giving up a leadoff single to Matt Carpenter.

Mixed results for Cubs' pitching staff in 4-1 loss to Nationals  —  Photos from the game at Nationals Park on June 13, 2016.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  For five innings Monday night, Kyle Hendricks nearly matched zeros with the Washington Nationals' dominating ace Max Scherzer.

Cubs, Brian Matusz Agree To Minor League Deal  —  The Cubs have signed free-agent lefty Brian Matusz to a minor league contract, reports Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).  The longtime Orioles southpaw was recently traded from Baltimore to Atlanta alongside a Competitive Balance Draft Pick in a salary dump deal.

Oklahoma dog undergoes emergency surgery after swallowing Gorilla Glue  —  Warning: The story below contains graphic images.  Viewer discretion is advised.  —  OKLAHOMA CITY - One Oklahoma dog underwent emergency surgery after she swallowed Gorilla Glue.  —  Krystal Wilson is thankful …

Nationals Place Jonathan Papelbon On Disabled List  —  2:30pm: Baker told reporters, including the Washington Post's Chelsea Janes (Twitter link), that Papelbon initially incurred the injury while warming up on Sunday.  There's no set timetable for his return right now …

Astros Designate Juan Minaya For Assignment  —  The Astros announced on Tuesday that they have designated right-hander Juan Minaya for assignment in order to clear a spot on the roster for infielder Danny Worth, whose contract has been selected from Triple-A Fresno.

Next Slide  —  Michael Lorenzen firmly believes a tough start will make him tougher.  In making his season debut Monday in a rehabilitation stint for the Louisville Bats, the 24-year-old showed just how tough he might be.  —  The Cincinnati Reds right-hander threw one inning in the Bats' 7-1 victory …