Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana are displaying much-welcomed strikeout potential for the Cubs  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Relief may be on the way for the Cubs defense, and it has nothing to do with acquiring a Gold Glove-caliber player.  —  Yu Darvish displayed a glimpse of his long-awaited …

Paxton (12Ks) dazzles vs. BoSox in rivalry debut  —  NEW YORK — Since he was in the minor leagues, James Paxton, whether he wins, loses or draws a no-decision, has done the exact same thing in the days after he makes a start.  —  He picks up the phone.  —  The left-handed pitcher's post …

Minor's 3-hitter is 1st career shutout, Rangers top Angels  —  Minor throws three-hitter for first career shutout as Rangers beat Angels 5-0  —  Mike Minor got to finish what he started, something the lefty never got a chance to do for the Texas Rangers last season in his return to a rotation.

MLB investigating racist messages sent to Cubs' Carl Edwards  —  CHICAGO — Major League Baseball is investigating racist messages sent to Chicago Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. on Instagram this month.  —  Edwards was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after he had trouble with his motion and got off to a tough start this season.

WATCH |  Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor homers in first rehab assignment game for AAA Columbus  —  Not a bad way to get back into the swing of things!  —  Author: Dave “Dino” DeNatale, Matthew Florjancic  —  CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is apparently feeling better.

The highs and lows of Yasiel Puig's time in L.A.  —  LOS ANGELES — He showed up late, then homered early.  —  How fitting.  —  Yasiel Puig spent more than half a decade tantalizing the Los Angeles Dodgers with his talent and tormenting them with his indiscretions.

Ohtani set to face live pitching instead of rehab  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Shohei Ohtani will not go on a rehab assignment before making his season debut with the Los Angeles Angels.  —  General manager Billy Eppler said Tuesday that Ohtani will instead face pitchers in simulated games.

Veteran Smoak a positive influence as young Blue Jays hitters manage another win  —  MINNEAPOLIS — If there was a voice of reason in the Blue Jays clubhouse when the team bats were collectively as ice cold as some of the hundreds of frozen lakes in these parts, his name is Justin Smoak.

White Sox teammates empathize with Daniel Palka's hitting woes  —  Chicago Tribune  —  White Sox outfielder Daniel Palka went 0-for-3 Tuesday to extend his hitless streak to 32 at-bats since opening day.  —  Palka is now -for-34 since last season, tied with Jim Landis for the fourth-longest hitless streak …

Jeremy Jeffress is pumped.  He'll come off the injured list Tuesday eager to pitch.  —  Jeremy Jeffress has walked into Miller Park countless times before.  —  But Monday's jaunt had a little different feel for the right-hander, who finally rejoined the Milwaukee Brewers after a four-game rehab stint at Class AAA San Antonio.

Punch in the gut: Warriors blow playoff-record 31-point lead in stunning loss to Clippers  —  Golden State gives up 85 second-half points in epic collapse; series tied 1-1  —  OAKLAND — The Warriors lost a four-time All-Star and one of the game's most dominant centers.

Rockies make flurry of moves prior to series in San Diego  —  Much like shuffling a deck of cards, the Colorado Rockies made several moves on Monday, partially due to another injury.  —  Chris Iannetta, the team's veteran behind the plate, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain.