Reds ace Johnny Cueto was scheduled to be examined by the medical staff on Monday, one day after throwing his first simulated game since going on the disabled list June 29. Even while Cueto was getting checked out, the team wants to determine when he might return and pitch in a real game.

Right-hander Justin Masterson exudes positivity and optimism by nature. It should come as no surprise then that the sidelined Indians sinkerballer believes he will start again before the end of the regular season.

The Rays’ recent road-trip slide has no doubt made things interesting in the American League Wild Card race.

Garrett Richards regained his command, the offense continued to come through in run-scoring opportunities and the Angels just kept right on winning, beating the Rangers, 8-3, at Angel Stadium on Saturday night.

About 12 hours after learning his grandfather died in nearby Vancouver, British Columbia, left-hander James Paxton won his Major League debut with an impressive six-inning outing Saturday as the Mariners topped the Rays, 6-2, at Safeco Field.

Current Beat the Streak leader Clement Uduk made it 46 straight successful selections on Saturday night, with Mike Trout singling in his final at-bat.

Brandon McCarthy allowed one run on six hits in eight strong innings, outpitching Matt Cain in the D-backs 2-1 win over the Giants Saturday at AT&T Park.

Adam Lind knocked a pair of three-run shots, Brett Lawrie had three hits, and J.A. Happ held the Twins to one unearned run in 5 2/3 frames as Toronto toppled Minnesota, 11-2, on Saturday night at Target Field.

Salvador Perez belted a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth as the Royals kept Justin Verlander winless against them this season with a 4-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday night.

Jedd Gyorko hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Saturday to lead the Padres to a 2-1 victory over the Rockies at Petco Park. Tyson Ross pitched seven shutout innings in a no-decision.

The bashing Boston Red Sox needed just about all of their hitting heroics to survive a Saturday slugfest at Yankee Stadium. Though the Yankees mounted a late surge, the Sox held on for a 13-9 victory that put them in position to go for a four-game sweep of their rivals on Sunday.

The time has come for the Indians to keep the foot on the accelerator. An American League Wild Card spot is within striking distance and the schedule down the stretch is favorable, making each game a test of the Tribe’s mettle. On Saturday night, the Indians poured out the offense early and piled on late, beating the Mets, 9-4, to move within one game of the second AL Wild Card spot.

Braves reliever Scott Downs suffered a non-displaced fracture of the ring finger on his glove hand Saturday night, courtesy of a seventh-inning Chase Utley smash back to the box. According to manager Fredi Gonzalez, some bandaging and pain tolerance will enable Downs to keep pitching, sooner rather than later.

Freddy Galvis lined a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Phillies on Saturday night in a 6-5 win over the first-place Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Galvis’ homer made a winner of Jonathan Papelbon, who had allowed Atlanta to tie the game in the top of the inning.

Adam Wainwright put his back-to-back clunkers behind him and coasted through seven shutout innings as St. Louis took back sole possession of first place in the National League Central with a 5-0 win over the Pirates before 45,110 fans on Saturday night at Busch Stadium.

Ryan Zimmerman blasted two home runs, while right-hander Tanner Roark pitched six scoreless innings in his first Major League start in the Nationals’ 9-2 win over the Marlins Saturday night.

Entering the series with the Pirates this weekend, things were not going the way of the Cardinals. But a quality outing from Joe Kelly on Friday followed by a dominant effort from a revitalized Adam Wainwright on Saturday changed all that.