Astros may have the ‘nastiest’ rotation ever - and thanks to Trevor Bauer, they're mad, too  —  PHOENIX - If Trevor Bauer's intent was to demean, question the integrity of or simply shame the Houston Astros' pitching staff, it has backfired.  —  Now, the starting unit dominating baseball …

Cardinals' Yadier Molina, injured on foul tip to groin, returns home after surgery  —  St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is recovering at home after taking a 102-mph fastball to the groin and undergoing surgery on Saturday night, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday.

Yoenis Cespedes back in Mets lineup day after leaving game with quad tightness  —  CINCINNATI — Yoenis Cespedes was in the lineup Monday night against the Reds.  The Mets slugger left Sunday's game after the first inning with what he said was right quad tightness.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros … Left-hander Clayton Kershaw's placement on the disabled list Sunday put the finishing touches on a nightmarish stretch for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who during their just-completed, three-city road trip also lost outfielder Yasiel Puig, shortstop Corey Seager and left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Plenty of blame shared in Cubs' 14-inning loss to Cardinals  —  Photos from the Cubs-Cardinals game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Sunday, May 6, 2018.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Right fielder Jason Heyward accepted blame early Monday morning for not making a catch in the sixth inning, which led to a Cardinals triple.

CC you later?  Sabathia thinking retirement if Yankees win World Series this season  —  At 37, New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia has a retirement plan in mind.  —  Sabathia told The New York Post that he likely will retire if the Yankees win the World Series this year.

Gretchen Piscotty, mother of Oakland Athletics' Stephen Piscotty, dies at 55  —  Gretchen Piscotty, the mother of Oakland Athletics outfielder Stephen Piscotty, died Sunday night, a family member told ESPN.  —  Piscotty's mother suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a neurological disorder.

Johnny Cueto won't have elbow surgery, expected to miss 6-8 weeks  —  San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto does not have a torn ligament in his injured elbow but is expected to miss at least six weeks, according to multiple reports.  —  Cueto met recently with renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews …

Matt Harvey garnering ‘mild trade interest’ from Rangers: report  —  Matt Harvey appears closer to finding a new home.  —  The Texas Rangers have shown “mild trade interest” in Harvey, according to MLB Network.  Harvey was designated for assignment by the Mets last week after the he refused a demotion to the minor leagues.

Whose hot starts will turn into breakout seasons?  —  Last week, I discussed the players who terrified me as we headed into the second month of the season.  This time around, we get to the happier side of the coin — those players who are having legitimate breakout 2018 seasons, not April mirages.

Anthony Rizzo sits, Albert Almora Jr. bats leadoff as Cubs take on Marlins  —  Jason Heyward on missing a line drive that let the tying run score: ‘That ball should have been caught.’ (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Slumping slugger Anthony Rizzo will sit Monday night …

Detroit Tigers 3 observations: Jose Iglesias still doesn't get it; more  —  Albert Pujols picked up his 3,000th hit on May 4.  Which active player will be the next one to reach the milestone?  Video by Ryan Ford/DFP Wochit  —  CONNECT  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Detroit Tigers lost three …

Tim Lincecum to make season debut Monday at Triple-A Round Rock  —  Tim Lincecum, who is attempting a comeback with the Texas Rangers, will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Monday night.  —  The right-hander is scheduled to pitch an inning in relief against the Iowa Cubs.

Yankees first baseman Greg Bird participates in first extended spring training game  —  In his first extended spring game, Greg Bird served as the DH and went 1-for-3 with two walks on Monday in Clearwater.  —  Bird, who has been out since undergoing right ankle surgery on March 27, was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks.

Jorge Alfaro's strong arm overshadowed in Phillies loss |  Extra Innings  —  It looked for a moment Sunday afternoon that the Phillies would bring some needed relief to Philadelphia's disappointing sports weekend.  They were just three outs from winning a game that Max Scherzer started and taking two of three from the Nationals.