Spurred on by seven shutout innings from right-hander Chris Tillman, the O's pitching staff ran its shutout streak to a season-long 28 consecutive innings before Tillman allowed a run in the eighth. But the O's ultimately beat the Mariners 3-1 in the opener of a three-game series at Camden Yards on Monday.

With Ben Sheets adding to the wonder and success of his unexpected comeback, the Braves provided all of the necessary support with a three-run third inning and extended their recent mastery of the Phillies with a 6-1 win on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. Atlanta has beaten Philadelphia seven straight times.

Justin Morneau homered twice and the Twins used a 10-run second inning to help give rookie lefty Scott Diamond his 10th victory, handing the Indians their 10th straight loss with a 14-3 win Monday night at Progressive Field.

The softball players taking part in the 2012 Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities World Series were welcomed to the area in style with Monday's opening banquet at Target Field on the eve of tournament play.

If recent trends are any indication of what to look for when the Orioles and Mariners continue their three-game series at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, it's strong pitching.

Mike Minor looks to build on his strong July as the Braves try to beat the Phillies for the eighth consecutive time in the second game of the series Tuesday. Philadelphia will counter with Cole Hamels.

John Moores, the majority owner of the Padres since 1995, has signed an agreement to sell the National League team to a group that would be headed by long-time local San Diego businessman Ron Fowler and include the nephews and children of former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley, Moores told MLB.com on Friday.

Despite experiencing shaky results on the road this season, Jeff Karstens has been dominant at PNC Park, where he starts Tuesday against the D-backs and rookie Patrick Corbin.

On Tuesday night, the Twins will be looking for an encore to their offensive barrage Monday against Cleveland, which sends Corey Kluber to the hill in just his second career start. Rookie Sam Deduno gets the nod for Minnesota at Progressive Field.

It would be tough to imagine anyone appreciating the fun these Washington Nationals are having more than third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

More has changed than the jersey for Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who made his return to Petco Park on Monday. He has a shorter swing, a high average and has sustained the success he simply could not find with San Diego last season.

Todd Helton will undergo surgery to fix a torn labrum in his right hip on Friday, and he expects to be ready for Spring Training in 2013 — the final year of his contract.

Small-market clubs simply have smaller margin for error, and the errors made in the First-Year Player Draft and some particularly prominent trades caught up to the Indians in a big way in 2012.

For the start of a three-game set against one of the league's best pitching staffs, Oakland was without its most feared hitter on Monday.

As of Saturday, Cubs pitcher Matt Garza fully expected to make his start Tuesday night. But after was diagnosed Monday with a stress reaction in the back of his right elbow, it's not certain whether the right-hander will pitch again this season.

After making a number of moves to help the Dodgers on the field, the new ownership made a big one on Monday to help the organization off of it as the team announced the hiring of Janet Marie Smith as senior vice president of planning and development.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez has not determined what he will do if Tommy Hanson makes his anticipated return from the disabled list next week. But Gonzalez has not ruled out the possibility of utilizing a six-man starting rotation during the final two weeks of August.