As baseball sprints toward the September stretch run, there are surprising — some inspiring — stories here, there and everywhere. Here’s my surprise players of 2014.

A.J. Burnett pitched on Monday like a man not quite ready for retirement. Maybe he will pitch in 2015, after all. Burnett allowed one run, three hits and one walk and struck out 12 in seven innings in a 3-2 victory over the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

Representatives from the Astros and the Nationals will present a proposed joint Spring Training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., to the Palm Beach County Tourism Development Council on Sept. 11 and Palm Beach County Commissioners on Sept. 23.

Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is having surgery to remove bone spurs from his left elbow and will not play for the remainder of the 2014 season, the team announced Monday.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Gregory Polanco’s continuing struggles have prompted the Pirates to make the one move the club hoped to avoid upon the outfield prospect’s June 10 promotion: He has been optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Injured Phillies reliever Mike Adams just wants to finish the season healthy and on a mound in the Majors. He says it’s the most important thing for his career right now. Adams is on the disabled list for the second time this season, the result of inflammation in his right rotator cuff.

Maikel Franco is putting up some impressive numbers for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but the Phillies say they have not decided if the corner infielder will be called up to the Majors once rosters expand Sept. 1.

Rumors of Yunel Escobar’s departure via a trade seem to be premature, at least according to Rays manager Joe Maddon. According to multiple reports over the weekend, the Athletics claimed Escobar, which would have mean the two teams had until Tuesday afternoon to come to an agreement about making a trade or not.

The Pirates didn’t have a place for Jose Tabata shortly after Gregory Polanco was called up in June. But Polanco is going back to Triple-A to refine his swing in the next week, and after two months with Indianapolis, Tabata returned to the Bucs’ clubhouse on Monday.

Clint Barmes was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday, and will return to his role as the Pirates’ utility infielder. Jayson Nix was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot.

Later this week, Manny Machado will depart for Los Angeles. As of now, surgery on the medial patellofemoral ligament in his right knee is scheduled for Wednesday and his rehab will begin shortly after that. And Machado may not be back in Baltimore until the postseason.

The Braves are also just three games behind the Cardinals, who own the NL Wild Card lead. But it should be remembered that Atlanta does not own the tiebreaker against St. Louis nor San Francisco. Here are some storylines to follow as the Braves attempt to secure a postseason berth.

By just about every metric, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in the game. But is he the most valuable player in his league?

Rockies star third baseman Nolan Arenado has earned his first career National League Player of the Week Award after leading the Majors in slugging over the last week. Arenado slugged 1.045 and also led the NL with a .545 average (12-for-22). He posted a .600 on-base percentage and tallied 12 hits, 23 total bases, three homers, three RBIs, three doubles, six runs and a triple.

When Detroit pulled off the David Price trade minutes before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, the bizarre sight of Austin Jackson being pulled off the field mid-inning and replaced by Rajai Davis became the highlight. Three weeks later, it’s a symbol of the price the Tigers paid.

After the Twins’ offense turned out a high-scoring weekend, two Minnesota players — third baseman Trevor Plouffe and center fielder Danny Santana — have been named the American League co-Players of the Week.