Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took batting practice for the first time in public at Nationals Park on Tuesday afternoon. He was in the hitting group that included teammates Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth.

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy received a cortisone injection in his sacroiliac (SI) joint on Tuesday, and the plan is still for him to return to the lineup for Friday’s doubleheader.

Miguel Cabrera’s fifth homer this week powered a three-run third inning against Tim Hudson, and Kyle Lobstein held down San Francisco’s previously torrid offense with 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball for his first Major League win, a 6-1 Tigers victory at Comerica Park on Sunday night.

The right ankle injury that has hobbled Miguel Cabrera for the better part of the last month could well lead to a second consecutive offseason surgery. Cabrera is dealing with at least one bone spur in his right ankle, which could require surgery to correct.

The Pirates are back in the mix, the Brewers need a quick fix, and the Orioles, Angels, Nationals and Cardinals seem to be running away with their divisions just for kicks. This was all evident Sunday as the Pulse of the Postseason continued to beat.

After a stirring pregame ceremony in front of a sellout crowd gathered for “Derek Jeter Day,” the Royals, thanks to another fine pitching performance, mostly silenced the fans and the Yankees’ bats, dampening New York’s celebratory day with a 2-0 victory.

Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran hosted his annual “Night in Old San Juan” charity gala on Sunday, an event that helps benefit the Carlos Beltran Foundation.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and Clayton Kershaw were ejected in a heated seventh-inning exchange with the umpiring crew during Sunday’s 7-2 win over the D-backs at Dodger Stadium.

For five innings Sunday, D-backs righty Trevor Cahill silenced the Dodgers. Then Adrian Gonzalez triggered a late-game party at a raucous Dodger Stadium with two three-run homers in a 7-2 win.

Carlos Gomez came through Saturday’s batting-practice session well enough that the Brewers have graduated to the next step in planning for his return: Debating where to reinstate him to the starting lineup.

The Astros turned the tables on the A’s on Sunday afternoon, scoring two runs in the ninth inning — without the benefit of a hit — to earn a 4-3 victory and win the series in Oakland.

Derek Jeter already had been honored at ballparks across the country throughout this season, the last of his legendary career. On Sunday afternoon, it was Yankees fans’ turn to celebrate the future Hall of Fame shortstop on “Derek Jeter Day” at Yankee Stadium.

Sometimes they piece it together with their bullpen, sometimes they have to rally late and play extra innings, sometimes they get the benefit of a dominant start and sometimes, like Sunday’s 14-4 rout of the Twins, their high-profile offense flexes its muscle and shows you how potent it can be.

The final out of Tampa Bay’s 11-inning, 7-5 loss was a dead-ball strikeout, as Logan Forsythe swung and missed at a third strike from Baltimore reliever Andrew Miller that hit him in the thigh. When a batter swings at a pitch that hits him, the ball is dead, the pitch is a strike and no runner is allowed to advance.

All 48,110 fans stood and cheered on Derek Jeter Day at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon, honoring the longtime Yankees captain during a special pregame ceremony and tribute. Every Royals player and coach did the exact same thing.

Nelson Cruz drove in all seven Orioles’ runs as Baltimore beat the Rays, 7-5, in 11 innings on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

Angels cleanup hitter Josh Hamilton was a late scratch on Sunday, making the series finale against the Twins his third straight absence from the starting lineup.