How Mets made decision to let Yoenis Cespedes play Monday against Reds  —  CINCINNATI — They tried to be as careful as they could with Yoenis Cespedes on Monday.  The Mets trainers took him out on the field and tested his quad any way they could in the afternoon, before Mickey Callaway penciled …

Red Sox OF Mookie Betts, Meghan Markle share ancestors, report says  —  Boston Red Sox star Mookie Betts and actress Meghan Markle — soon to be a member of the Royal Family — could be distant relatives, according to a report by The Boston Globe.  —  Betts and Markle, who is to wed Prince Harry …

Cubs crush Marlins 14-2  —  Chicago snaps 5-game losing streak  —  CHICAGO - Ian Happ homered from both sides of the plate, and the Chicago Cubs stopped a five-game slide by routing the Miami Marlins 14-2 on Monday night.  —  The Cubs collected 15 hits after scoring three or fewer runs in 10 of the previous 11 games.

Lincecum makes rehab appearance with Rangers' Triple-A team  —  ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — Tim Lincecum made his first rehab appearance with the Texas Rangers' Triple-A team on Monday night, 21 months after his last big league start.  —  Lincecum allowed two runs and struck out two while pitching …

Springer goes 6 for 6, ties Astros mark in 16-2 rout of A's  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - George Springer went 6 for 6 with a home run to match a Houston record as the Astros routed the Oakland Athletics 16-2 on Monday night.  —  Last year's World Series MVP doubled and scored in the first inning …

Doctors say White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar, who suffered a brain aneurysm during game, could be able to pitch again … Good news continues to surface regarding Danny Farquhar, the White Sox reliever who suffered a brain hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Game Day: Diamondbacks open two-game series vs. Dodgers in Los Angeles  —  Nick Piecoro and Rick Morin discuss the D-Backs' series win over the Astros and Paul Goldschmidt's struggles. azcentral sports … MLB POWER RANKINGS: Pundits rave about ‘stellar’ Arizona Diamondbacks  —  Diamondbacks at Dodgers

Wong is helping volcano victims  —  Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong often has been said to wear his emotions on his sleeve.  Now, he truly is.  —  When Wong, a Hawaiian native, goes to bat these days, he is wearing a rainbow-colored sleeve on his right arm.

On Deck: Mariners at Blue Jays  —  SEATTLE MARINERS at TORONTO BLUE JAYS  —  STARTING PITCHERS  —  LHP James Paxton (1-1, 4.19 ERA) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (0-4, 7.52 ERA)  —  Paxton is coming off a 16K game against Oakland (7 IP, 0 runs), but got a no-decision when usually reliable Juan Nicasio and Edwin Diaz let it get away.

Herrera powers Phillies past Giants 11-0  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Odubel Herrera homered twice and drove in five runs, helping Zach Eflin and the Philadelphia Phillies rout the San Francisco Giants 11-0 on Monday night.  —  Carlos Santana and Cesar Hernandez also connected for Philadelphia, which had dropped six of eight.

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 …

Next Slide  —  At Globe Life Park on Monday in Arlington, Texas.  —  What happened: The Detroit Tigers lost to the Texas Rangers, 7-6.  Michael Fulmer was brilliant early, throwing five innings of one-run baseball.  Then came the sixth inning, where his night — and the Tigers' night — went awry.

Padres move Mitchell to bullpen, option Makita to Triple-A  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres moved struggling right-hander Bryan Mitchell to the bullpen Monday and optioned reliever Kazuhisa Makita to Triple-A El Paso.  —  San Diego also reinstated reliever Matt Strahm from the 10 …

Romero leads Twins past Cardinals 6-0 for 4th straight win  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Fernando Romero struck out nine in six innings in his second straight scoreless start to begin his major league career, leading the Minnesota Twins over the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 on Monday night.

Nationals reinstate Kelley from DL, option Bautista  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Washington Nationals have reinstated right-hander Shawn Kelley from the 10-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Rafael Bautista to Triple-A Syracuse.  —  Kelley returns to the Nationals after missing 12 games with right elbow irritation.

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.

Stewart's homer leads Toledo to 3-1 win over Columbus  —  TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Christin Stewart hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, leading the Toledo Mud Hens to a 3-1 win over the Columbus Clippers on Monday.  —  The home run by Stewart scored Mikie Mahtook to give the Mud Hens a 2-1 lead.