In recent seasons, any game between the Cardinals and Pirates has been a big deal. Over the last three years, these were the teams with the two best regular-season records in baseball.

Quick, get the tissues.

Lance McCullers missed his last start because of a blister on his right index finger, but it clearly wasn’t bothering him too much Monday as he struck out 10 Mariners en route to a 2-1 Astros win at Minute Maid Park on the Fourth of July.

Looking to keep their bullpen fresh on this three-city road trip, the Orioles recalled left-hander Jayson Aquino from Double-A Bowie, optioning Ariel Miranda — Sunday’s callup — in his spot prior to Monday’s opener against the Dodgers.

The Red Sox that routinely overpowered teams with their offense at home earlier in the season have resurfaced the last couple of days, continuing with a 12-5 thumping of the Rangers in Monday’s Fourth of July matinee at Fenway Park.

If Justin Upton keeps making hard contact — and improves his rate of making contact — he has the potential to reverse his early-season struggles and go on a tear.

After a rough beginning with the White Sox, James Shields won his second straight start, an 8-2 victory over the Yankees at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday.

One of the reasons Albert Almora Jr. is a good center fielder is his aggressiveness. But on Monday, he crashed into left fielder Kris Bryant, and the Cubs need to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

After being swept by the Mets in New York, all the Cubs needed to snap a four-game losing streak was a little home cooking and a game against the Reds. Kris Bryant belted his National League-leading 24th home run, Addison Russell drove in three runs, including a pair on his ninth homer, and rookie Willson Contreras added a solo shot to power the Cubs to a 10-4 victory on Monday over the Reds at Wrigley Field.

As the Red Sox offense erupted for a season-high 21 hits in a 12-5 win over the Rangers on Monday, right-hander Rick Porcello quietly went about his business, picking up his 10th win and seventh at Fenway Park.

After being shut down offensively through six innings, the A’s broke out for three runs in the seventh, keyed by a go-ahead two-run single from Coco Crisp, in a 3-1 win over the Twins on Independence Day at Target Field.

Put that guy in the outfield.

Manager Craig Counsell took the blame for a snafu usually reserved for recreational leagues, when the Brewers batted out of turn in the first inning of their otherwise crisp 1-0 win over the Nationals on Monday.

The Reds reached a $7 million Minor League deal with infielder Alfredo Rodriguez, ranked No. 6 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list. The 22-year-old will start his career in the Dominican Summer League.

The Tigers placed right-hander Jordan Zimmermann on the 15-day disabled list with a strain on the right side of his neck Monday, a day before he was scheduled to start a critical division clash against the Indians at Progressive Field.

Right-hander Junior Guerra proved to be too much for the Nationals, as the Brewers snapped a four-game losing streak with a tight 1-0 win at Nationals Park on Monday. The Brewers have won three out of four games against Washington this season.

That’s teamwork.