When the Cardinals’ Peter Bourjos launched his game-tying two-run homer Sunday night in St. Louis in front of a national television audience, it came against a pitcher who is not just great for his time, but for all time: Mr. Clayton Kershaw.

Much of general manager John Mozeliak’s work last offseason was done with an eye on defense, and while a final grade can’t be handed out 99 games into the 2014 season, the Cardinals have already distinguished themselves among the most defensively improved teams in the Majors.

The Phillies made a series of roster moves on Monday, highlighted by Cliff Lee being activated from the disabled list.

An overnight kitchen fire at one of the restaurants at Miller Park has left some parts of the ballpark damaged, but the team says “most of the operations and fan accommodations will be back to normal” in time for Monday night’s game against the Reds.

Second baseman Dan Uggla, released by the Braves on Friday, agreed to a Minor League contract with the Giants on Monday and will report to Triple-A Fresno, according to multiple reports.

Brian Parker knows the ill effects performance-enhancing drugs can have, and that is why he, along with the Pirates’ training staff and closer Mark Melancon, stressed the negative effects of steroid use to a group of 120 children Monday morning at PNC Park as part of the national PLAY (Promoting a Lifestyle of Activity for Youth) campaign that sets out to raise awareness in children’s health issues.

The Giants placed right-hander Matt Cain on the 15-day disabled list Monday with right elbow inflammation amid a flurry of roster moves.

A game at Wrigley Field may have saved Bob Uecker’s life. The Brewers broadcaster doesn’t remember the exact day, but he does recall that he was in the radio booth at Wrigley in September 2009, covering a game between Chicago and Milwaukee. Ryan Theriot was the batter, and Uecker said that suddenly, he couldn’t see.

The .525 winning percentage the Blue Jays carried at the end of 2010, the year of Jose Bautista’s 54-homer breakout, might be enough for a Wild Card spot, the way this strange 2014 season is unfolding. But at the time, it was good only for fourth place in the loaded American League East.

Throughout the season, the MLBPipeline.com staff will name Pipeline Prospects of the Week — one hitter and one pitcher who excelled over the previous seven days. This week, baseball’s top prospect Byron Buxton took the award for hitters, while Pirates No. 19 prospect Adrian Sampson won for pitchers.

Since 1914, no Athletics pitcher has managed a July that matched Chief Bender in wins (six) and winning percentage (1.000) while bettering him in ERA, but in 2014, as Oakland pursues its third consecutive American League West title, Sonny Gray has chance to do just that.

Adrian Gonzalez drove in the game-winning run with a two-out single in the ninth inning as the Dodgers slipped past the Cardinals, 4-3, on Sunday night to avoid a three-game sweep at Busch Stadium. Clayton Kershaw struck out eight over seven innings for a no-decision.

Monday brings us the first full seven-day slate of Major League Baseball following the All-Star break. Or, if you’re looking for a simple explanation, a Week Ahead that promises the very best of pennant races and perhaps a few players in new uniforms.

Despite some brief excitement on Sunday afternoon in San Diego, the Padres are still the lone MLB franchise without a no-hitter to its name. Odrisamer Despaigne was four outs away from notching the club’s first no-no in its 45-year history, but Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy did away with those aspirations by slicing a double to left-center with two outs in the eighth in the Padres’ 2-1 victory.

Anthony Rizzo made a tremendous catch of Aaron Hill’s popup during Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the D-backs, but it may have been better for the Cubs if he didn’t.

After Seattle closer Fernando Rodney ended the eighth inning with his trademark imaginary arrows, the Angels responded with their own version of his celebration in the ninth as they went on to take the 6-5 walk-off win.

After the bullpen blew a one-run lead in the top of the eighth, the Yankees retaliated with their own late-inning magic and good fortune in a 3-2 walk-off win over the Reds on Sunday afternoon.