The Cubs have signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a seven-year, $41 million contract extension with two club options worth $14.5 million each. The deal includes escalators which could increase the total value of the contract to $73 million.

In addition to right-hander Trevor Bauer — the starter in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader against the Yankees — the Indians announced that southpaw David Huff was promoted from Triple-A Columbus. To make room, the team optioned third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall.

Felix Hernandez had a start last week that perfectly encapsulates the essence of what makes him one of the best pitchers in baseball.

This week brings us to the middle of May. This means the 2013 season is almost a quarter of the way over. This means the plot is thickening throughout the ballparks of the American and National Leagues.

Last year’s no-hitters came from a variety of outlets, ranging from veteran staff aces to relatively unknown No. 5 starters to a group effort that included six pitchers. It should come as no surprise then that for the six starters — Philip Humber, Jered Weaver, Johan Santana, Matt Cain, Felix Hernandez and Homer Bailey — to throw no-hitters last year, their 2013 results to this point have been all over the board.

Most of us can just roll our eyes and laugh at ourselves for believing in superstitions (and, of course, continue to believe in them) and move on with our lives without giving it much thought. There’s one small fraternity in Major League Baseball, however, that isn’t afforded the same luxury. Broadcasters.

University of San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant’s towering home runs have become the stuff of legend, and his power potential makes him a candidate to be one of the first players chosen in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

In 13-plus seasons of Beat the Streak play, only 35 individuals had reached the 40-game plateau as of Monday morning. But thanks to hits from the Angels’ Mike Trout and Alex Rios of the White Sox, one more man has managed to join the exclusive group.

Chris Sale dominated the Angels, retiring 19 straight until a one-out single in the seventh, and Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios delivered clutch two-out RBIs in the seventh to help the White Sox stake a 3-0 win on Sunday night in Chicago.

Tim Lincecum allowed two hits in seven shutout innings and received powerful offensive support Sunday as the Giants surged to their third consecutive victory over the Atlanta Braves, 5-1.

Behind a strong start from Chris Capuano and a balanced offensive attack, the Dodgers beat the Marlins, 5-3, on Mother’s Day at Dodger Stadium.

Manager Eric Wedge shuffled his lineup a bit on Sunday hoping to ease the pressure on struggling sluggers Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse, and the early results were promising as the Mariners topped the A’s, 6-1, at Safeco Field.

Outfielder Justin Upton, traded by the D-backs to the Braves this offseason after nearly two years of trade rumors, returns to Chase Field on Monday for the first time as a visitor when the D-backs and Braves begin a three-game series.

A lucky ricochet off the first-base bag in the eighth inning helped secure the Pirates’ 3-2 win over Matt Harvey and the Mets on Sunday.

David Freese, Eric Young Jr. and Nolan Arenado were the only players who stood in the way of history in three different games between the Rockies and Cardinals in a series that was highlighted by near no-hitters.

Mark Reynolds came off the Indians’ bench as a pinch-hitter on Sunday and delivered the decisive blow while wearing pink shoes for Mother’s Day. Reynolds’ run-scoring single with two outs in the 10th sent Cleveland home with a 4-3 victory over the rival Tigers at Comerica Park.