Stephen Strasburg was pulled from Sunday's game after five innings and 90 pitches at Nationals Park because of tightness in his golden right arm.

The Phillies have had 225 consecutive regular-season sellouts at Citizens Bank Park, and Monday night's game with the Nationals doesn't figure to be any different. Except for the part about this being the first meeting between the two National League East contenders since left-hander Cole Hamels hit Nats phenom Bryce Harper with a pitch in a nationally-televised game 15 days ago.

Before Sunday's game against the Cardinals, manager Don Mattingly said he was told by team physician Neal ElAttrache that Mark Ellis had a chance of losing his left leg had he not undergone an urgent fasciotomy.

Jake Peavy hurled 6 1/3 scoreless innings and the White Sox hit three solo homers as they beat the Cubs, 6-0, on Sunday at Wrigley Field to complete a sweep.

The Rangers' Yu Darvish, who beat Seattle in his big league debut, squares off against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in the series opener on Monday.

Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis may rejoin the team Tuesday in Baltimore after playing with Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday.

The marvelous ability of Aroldis Chapman practically dictated that if he was going to be used as a relief pitcher, eventually he would rise to the top of this portion of the pitching profession and be used as a closer.

Through hordes of media attention, hundreds of autograph seekers and all the hype that surrounds the top high school pick in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Orioles prospect Dylan Bundy has simply stayed the course.

Clinging to both his job security and a one-run lead in the ninth, Frank Francisco closed Sunday's 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, preserving Dillon Gee's quality start on an afternoon Mike Baxter fell a home run short of the cycle.

Lefty Wade Miley threw seven scoreless frames for his fifth victory as the D-backs earned a 2-0 win over the Royals on Sunday in the rubber game at Kauffman Stadium.

The Red Sox are playing their best baseball this month and just at the right time, as Boston heads into Baltimore for a three-game series with a chance to make up some ground on the American League East leaders.

After Johnny Cueto gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth, the Reds responded with three runs against CC Sabathia in the seventh to take a 5-2 win over the Yankees on Sunday.

Madison Bumgarner starts for the Giants opposite Randy Wolf of the Brewers as the left-handers open a series in Milwaukee on Monday night.

The Phillies' reign as National League East champions has lasted for five years. During most of that time, they have dominated the lowly Nationals. Both of those trends could be changing, but not without some drama — and perhaps, the beginnings of a legitimate rivalry. The teams kick off a three-game series on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Josh Beckett turned in a second straight gem with Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the plate, while the catcher powered a long three-run homer in the Red Sox's 5-1 rubber-match win over the Phillies on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Tim Hudson had his sinker working on Sunday as he held the Rays scoreless for 7 2/3 innings and the Braves claimed the rubber game of the series, 2-0, at Tropicana Field.

The Cubs will face one of the NL's hottest pitchers when they take on Bud Norris and the Astros on Monday at Minute Maid Park. Right-hander Matt Garza will start for Chicago.