Willson Contreras embraces villain role on the other side of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry: 'When you get booed, you're doing something right'  —  Willson Contreras, decked out in St. Louis Cardinals red, admitted to experiencing nerves Monday in the visitors dugout at Wrigley Field.

Yankees Notebook: Aaron Judge ready to return — and avoid headfirst slides  —  After a few days of hitting off machines, running and throwing behind the scenes, Aaron Judge is ready for the real thing.  —  The Yankees slugger is set to return from a right hip strain on Tuesday, he and Aaron Boone confirmed Monday.

Orioles minor league report: 8 prospects move up in Baseball America's latest top 100 list  —  This offseason, the Orioles had Baseball America's top-ranked farm system for the first time since the publication began ranking them in 1984.  In total, eight Baltimore prospects were recognized among the 100 best in baseball.

A's pivot to new site for Vegas baseball stadium, lowering public funding request  —  The Oakland A's and Bally's Corp. have an agreement in place for the team to build a $1.5 billion stadium on a portion of the Tropicana Las Vegas site, a move expected to reduce the amount of public financing sought for the project to $395 million.

Julius Randle disappears, Knicks outworked and now on brink of elimination as Heat takes Game 4  —  MIAMI — The Knicks sit on the brink of elimination.  And they deserve that position.  —  Outcoached, outhustled, outclassed and punked again, New York fell Monday night to the Miami Heat …

Max Scherzer scratched from Tuesday's start against Reds due to neck spasms  —  When it rains, it pours.  —  Max Scherzer has been scratched from Tuesday's start against the Cincinnati Reds due to neck spasms, the Mets announced.  David Peterson has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse …

Luis Cessa, bumped from Cincinnati Reds rotation, designated for assignment  —  Luis Cessa had his turn skipped in the starting rotation last week and now he's no longer a part of the Cincinnati Reds organization.  —  Cessa was designated for assignment before Tuesday's series opener …

Dodgers, Padres expected to open 2024 in South Korea, source says  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are expected to open the 2024 season with a pair of games in South Korea, a source familiar with the process told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez on Sunday.