The Cardinals had six consecutive two-out hits and scored four runs in the eighth inning, erasing a Brewers’ rally for an 8-5 series-opening win over their National League Central division rivals at Miller Park.

The Cubs erupted for three homers and eight runs off Nationals All-Star Jordan Zimmermann and cruised to an 11-1 win in the series opener Monday night at Wrigley Field. Nate Schierholtz drove in six runs and Jeff Samardzija tossed his third career complete game.

A 5-3 victory over the D-backs on Monday night made it wins in seven of the last nine games for the Reds, and the fifth time over the past seven games they have scored five or more runs.

Angels slugger Albert Pujols will not return to game action this season. Pujols will continue to rehab the partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

After several weeks of anticipation, top prospect Xander Bogaerts arrived in the Major Leagues on Monday, joining the Red Sox for the start of a six-game West Coast road trip.

With the waiver acquisition of outfielder David DeJesus from the Cubs on Monday, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo signaled that he is still hoping his club can make a late playoff push despite being 9 1/2 games behind the Reds for the second and final Wild Card spot entering the series opener at Wrigley Field.

Suspended Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun will break his silence, manager Ron Roenicke reiterated on Monday. The question at Miller Park, from the clubhouse to the upper deck, was: When?

Designated hitter Lance Berkman, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since July 7, said he doesn’t expect to be activated until Sept. 1 when the roster is expanded, even though he’s ready to be activated now.

The Mets capped off their 11-game road trip on a positive note Monday afternoon at Target Field, rolling past the Twins, 6-1, behind a strong start by Dillon Gee.

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp began taking slight turns while jogging in the outfield, but even manager Don Mattingly concedes Kemp isn’t likely to return before rosters expand Sept. 1.

The Reds entered Monday with the second-best rotation ERA in the Majors at 3.29, trailing only the Dodgers (3.16). Asked if his surging club had the advantage in the National League Central race over the Cardinals and Pirates because of its rotation, Reds manager Dusty Baker disagreed.

Not surprisingly, Angels outfielder Mike Trout was out of the lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Indians, one day after exiting with tightness in his right hamstring.

The Dodgers activated veteran reliever Brian Wilson from the 15-day disabled list Monday and optioned outfielder Scott Van Slyke to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Alex Rodriguez’s pending appeal of his 211-game suspension had a new twist Monday, when one of his lawyers was presented with a letter from Major League Baseball offering to waive a confidentiality clause, an offer that he later rejected.

With Monday’s series opener against Tampa Bay, the third-place Orioles — who entered the day 3 1/2 games behind the Rays — embarked on a challenging slate to conclude the regular season.

Matt Moore is getting close to returning from the soreness in his left elbow that has had him on the disabled list since July 31. Moore played catch on Monday and could throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, which likely could lead to a simulated game on Saturday.

Major League Baseball will kick off its Civil Rights Game weekend in Chicago this week with a Baseball & Civil Rights Movement Roundtable Discussion, featuring White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams and a number of other notable figures.