MLB power rankings: Yankees' nine-game winning streak vaults them toward the top  —  The New York Yankees have shaken their early-season doldrums, sweeping the Los Angeles Angels for their ninth consecutive win.  —  Now 18-9, the Yankees have outscored opponents 64-18 during that streak …

Gonzalez leads Mets' hit parade in 14-2 drubbing of Padres  —  SAN DIEGO — Adrian Gonzalez had a spectacular homecoming at Petco Park.  —  Facing the hometown team he once played for, Gonzalez homered, doubled and drove in five runs on Sunday to help the New York Mets overwhelm the San Diego Padres 14-2.

The Dodgers are favored to win the NL West.  Or they're not  —  The Dodgers remain the favorites to win the National League West.  Or not.  Depends where you look.  —  On the last day of April, the Dodgers awoke in fourth place in the NL West, four games under .500 and seven games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Yankees return to Houston for first time since ALCS, so here are five things to know  —  HOUSTON - The last time he was in the Minute Maid Park visiting clubhouse, an emotional CC Sabathia vowed to return to the Yankees and “see this thing through” to a World Series.

Cardinals Notes: A curve in Memphis brings Gomber to Cardinals bullpen  —  PITTSBURGH  • If asked to describe the “ideal pitcher” he could be, lefty Austin Gomber said he would be able to provide a description, maybe a list.  —  Now, though, he just has to point to a box score.

Surging Yankees sweep Angels  —  The Angels aren't hitting, aren't scoring, aren't winning.  —  There's one other thing they aren't doing, not even after another low-octane loss that gave the New York Yankees a three-game sweep at Angel Stadium.  —  “I'm not panicking,” infielder Zack Cozart said after Sunday's 2-1 loss.

Nobody is grouchy when Blue Jays' Teoscar is on  —  When the Blue Jays start getting guys back from the disabled list (Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki), there will be some tough decisions that will have to be made.  —  But it's becoming pretty clear that one of those decisions …

Baseball roundup: Cubs blank Brewers again, sweep series  —  Cubs blank Brewers again to sweep series  —  Tyler Chatwood allowed two hits, struck out four and walked three over seven innings and had an RBI single, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 2-0 victory at home over Milwaukee on Sunday for a sweep of a four-game series.

Red Sox could set record for April wins vs. Royals  —  Eduardo Rodriguez looks to continue his early season roll when he opens the Boston Red Sox's three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night at Fenway Park.  —  Rodriguez, whose season debut was delayed after offseason knee surgery …

Daily Dose: Spectacular Debut  —  Spectacular Debut  —  They say that first impressions are important and lasting.  If that's the case, the Pirates' faithful will be endeared to right-hander Nick Kingham.  —  The 26-year-old right-hander was a fourth round selection of the Pirates in the 2010 draft.

Phillies in need of a lefthander |  Extra Innings  —  One of the reasons the Atlanta Braves have dominated the season series against the Phillies so far is quite simple to figure out.  They have a lineup loaded with dangerous lefthanded hitters whenever the opposition sends a righthander to the mound.

Indians continue long homestand against Rangers  —  Halfway through Cleveland's longest homestand of the season that spans 11 games, the Indians are 2-4 and licking their wounds after losing three of four games to the Seattle Mariners, including a 10-4 loss on Sunday.

Dave Eiland: Matt Harvey has come out of the darkness and ‘seen the light’  —  SAN DIEGO — Is the storm over?  The Mets seem to think so.  When they decided to remove Matt Harvey from the rotation last week, they anticipated the storm ahead.  They expected his anger and the comments.

Observations from the first month of the Iowa Cubs season  —  Chicago Cubs pitching prospect makes Triple-A debut Friday  —  That went by fast.  —  The first month of the Iowa Cubs season is complete.  And boy was it an interesting.  —  Fans are Principal Park got to see the Chicago …

Franco, Vasquez and Watts shut out Jackson, Mississippi wins 4-0  —  PEARL, Miss. (AP) — Enderson Franco, Kelvin Vasquez and Devan Watts combined for a shutout as the Mississippi Braves topped the Jackson Generals 4-0 on Monday.  —  Franco (1-2) went five scoreless innings …

Which players' slow starts should scare you, and why  —  “It's still early!” is the motto of April baseball.  Everyone knows in their hearts that the guy on pace for 324 home runs after Opening Day and the slugger hitting .090 are not going to finish the season anywhere near those figures.

What to make of Nick Kingham's impressive MLB debut  —  There were plenty of big stories in baseball this weekend, but Nick Kingham's impressive debut was among the most noteworthy performances.  The Pittsburgh Pirates' prospect seemed to earn himself some time in the big league rotation …

How run support can impact fantasy pitcher values  —  Don't blame Jason Hammel for not winning.  The Kansas City starter is doing everything he can to keep his club in games this season, with three quality starts in five outings and a 3.38 ERA.  It's far from Cy Young-worthy to be sure …

Surging Pittsburgh Pirates begin series with Washington Nationals  —  The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking for their sixth straight win when they open a four-game series against the Washington Nationals on Monday.  —  Pittsburgh (17-11) completed a sweep of St. Louis on Sunday as Nick Kingham …