Center fielder Byron Buxton, the Twins’ top prospect and Major League Baseball’s No. 1 prospect, was promoted Monday to Double-A New Britain, which begins a seven-game homestand Tuesday.

The Royals have won eight in a row and passed the struggling Tigers for first place in the American League Central, but they aren’t getting ahead of themselves with 45 games left on the schedule.

The Tigers handed the ball to Justin Verlander on Monday night in desperate need of innings after Sunday’s 19-inning marathon in Toronto. They ended up with the shortest start of Verlander’s career, and potentially their second injury in four days to their star-studded rotation.

Joe Mauer is back. Mauer’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning broke a tie and lifted the Twins to a 4-2 win over the Astros on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.

The Tigers were being touted as World Series contenders for a rotation deep enough that Rick Porcello was their fifth starter. Less than two weeks later, they’re looking to Robbie Ray and Buck Farmer for starts in crucial games in the thick of a playoff race.

Manny Machado’s right knee injury could have a devastating long-term effect on the Orioles, and with shortstop J.J. Hardy also injured, the O’s were short on infielders when Machado exited Monday’s game against the Yankees in the third inning. In a pinch, Chris Davis had to fill in at third base. In his first at-bat in the fifth, Davis crushed Chris Capuano’s slider to right field for a go-ahead two-run homer, and the Orioles cruised to an 11-3 win against the Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Kansas City posted its eighth straight victory by defeating the Oakland Athletics, 3-2, on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals have won 16 of their last 19 games and sit in first place in the AL Central for the first time since June 19.

The Royals added some pop to their postseason push on Monday, acquiring outfielder Josh Willingham from the Twins for Minor League pitcher Jason Adam.

Yovani Gallardo beat the Cubs on Monday for the ninth time in his career, working seven effective innings in a 3-1 Brewers victory at Wrigley Field that gave Milwaukee a bit more breathing room atop the National League Central. The Brewers’ lead grew to 2 1/2 games over the Pirates and three games over the Cardinals.

Felix Hernandez continued his unprecedented streak and Robinson Cano helped supply some offensive thunder for The King as the Mariners topped Toronto, 11-1, on a festive Monday night at Safeco Field.

Javier Baez should produce a rollercoaster ride for fantasy owners during the final weeks of this season. The 21-year-old has already belted three homers in 29 at-bats, but he has also struck out 12 times. After a great opening series at Coors Field, Baez struck out nine times in 15 at-bats during a weekend set against the Rays. He has yet to draw a free pass, and his impatient approach could lead to a low batting average.

The Orioles were dealt a potentially devastating blow on Monday night as Manny Machado left the game against the Yankees after crumpling to the ground clutching his right knee following a third-inning at-bat. How serious the injury — initially diagnosed as a right knee sprain — actually is still remains to be seen. Machado, who had an X-ray that came back negative, is slated to have an MRI on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. ET, which should shed much more light on the 22-year-old’s knee.

The Tigers needed Justin Verlander to be on, and to be long-winded. He was neither of those, or even healthy, and the Bucs benefited with an Interleague laugher, 11-6, at PNC Park.

Drew Smyly pitched like a certain Rays southpaw and the offense kicked in with some early run support in a 7-0 Rays’ win over the Rangers on Monday night at Globe Life Park.

Kevin Correia could not have asked for a better debut in Dodger blue. He notched two hits, scored a run and limited the Braves to just one run in six strong innings as Los Angeles claimed a 6-2 victory on Monday night at Turner Field.

The Pirates placed 2013 National League Most Valuable Player Andrew McCutchen on the 15-day DL on Monday, a little more than a week after he sustained an avulsion fracture in the 11th rib on his left side. The move is retroactive to Aug. 4. Right-hander Casey Sadler was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to take McCutchen’s place on the 25-man roster.

Currently touring with her Muppets cohorts to promote their newest movie, “Muppets Most Wanted,” Miss Piggy was gracious enough to lend a few moments of her time to spend in the “Express Written Consent” booth with MLB.com host Jeremy Brisiel.