Carlos Beltran has been diagnosed with a bone spur in his right elbow, and the Yankees outfielder is hoping that a cortisone injection will allow the discomfort to calm down. If not, surgery is a possibility.

The Reds have been without the services of starter Mat Latos since the beginning of Spring Training, but once again, there is optimism that his return isn’t too far away from being a reality.

Indians All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis continues to inch closer to returning to the field. The second baseman is still working through a gradual rehab schedule, but the Indians are pleased with the strides he is making behind the scenes.

With the Mets and Yankees playing in the Subway Series, tonight’s 11 ET episode of the MTV2 series “Off the Bat” will have a natural local flavor, including a guest appearance by the Mets’ Eric Young Jr.

As the races for starting spots in the 2014 All-Star Game heat up, a handful of Major League stars showed this week that it’s not all about power when putting up big numbers and helping your team win.

Even though this year’s First-Year Player Draft is pitching-heavy, the best choices at No. 4 for the Cubs are position players, with shortstop Nick Gordon making the most sense for Chicago.

With Matt Wieters out with an elbow injury, players like Oakland’s Derek Norris and Kansas City’s Salvador Perez are garnering consideration to be voted in at catcher on the American League All-Star ballot.

Backstops John Jaso and Derek Norris are currently posting a .927 combined OPS, the best mark for any big league team in 2014 and a level that has never been attained by the A’s catchers at the end of the season in any year since the team moved to Oakland.

With a 6-5 win over the Pirates, the Cardinals salvaged one game from this three-game set at PNC Park, where 32,065 fans attended the ballpark’s first ever Sunday night game. The victory also put an end to a grueling season-opening stretch in which the Cardinals have played 26 of 38 games on the road.

If D.J. Peterson’s recent stretch with High Desert in the Class A Advanced California League is any indication, the Mariners’ No. 2 prospect is well on his way to living up to the club’s expectations of being the kind of advanced college hitter who could move quickly up the ladder.

Pablo Sandoval’s second RBI of the afternoon broke a 10th-inning tie on Sunday and lifted the Giants to a 7-4 triumph over the Dodgers.

The Royals were ready for a breakout season from Mike Moustakas. So was he. Six weeks into the season, the wait continues. And the questions loom about how to get the third baseman going in 2014.

In third place at 20-19 after dropping three of four to San Francisco, the Dodgers give no appearance of feeling like a run-of-the-mill, third-place club six weeks into the season.

Alcides Escobar banged a grand slam and Johnny Giavotella socked a go-ahead three-run blast in the Royals’ 9-7 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday at Safeco Field.

A day after being spiked in his right forearm breaking up a double play and banging into the center-field wall to make a highlight-reel catch, Peter Bourjos said he was not feeling the effects of either. Nevertheless, manager Mike Matheny unplugged him from the lineup for Sunday’s game.

Robbie Erlin turned in another strong pitching performance and the San Diego bats stayed hot as the Padres took down the Marlins, 5-4, in the finale of a four-game series at Petco Park on Sunday.

Since its inception in 1997, the Subway Series has always brought a jolt of enthusiasm to New York City. That will again be the case starting tonight at Yankee Stadium, when the Mets and Yankees renew acquaintances.