Entering Tuesday's game against the Twins, Robinson Cano had just three hits in the last five games. But manager Joe Girardi is pleased with the second baseman's approach at the plate.

Reliever Kerry Wood returned to Chicago on Tuesday and will miss the Cubs' series in Miami.

A contrite Ozzie Guillen returned to the Marlins' dugout on Tuesday after completing a team-imposed five-game suspension for controversial comments he made about Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

It had been known for several days that veteran outfielder Johnny Damon was being fitted for his Indians uniform, but there was still the matter of making things official. Cleveland took that step on Tuesday, announcing that it had signed Damon to a one-year Minor League contract.

The Orioles announced on Tuesday afternoon that they have claimed catcher Luis Exposito off waivers from the Red Sox.

The Reds placed utility infielder Miguel Cairo on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of a strained left hamstring. Versatile infielder Todd Frazier was recalled from Triple-A Louisville ahead of their series opener against the Cardinals.

Major League Baseball released the selection order for the 2012 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday, officially putting the Astros on the clock with the first pick.

Analyst Dave Cameron's numbers never let him down before, but when he was diagnosed with leukemia, he found himself fighting against the statistics he'd always loved with every fiber of his being.

The Rays' 1-0 win over the Red Sox was built on the foundation of James Shields' 8 1/3 innings of four-hit ball. It was the first time that Shields started and got the win in a 1-0 contest. Among active pitchers, Johan Santana has the most 1-0 wins in starts, with seven.

The Red Sox hope that Bobby Valentine's remark about Kevin Youkilis will serve as a reminder that in Red Sox Nation, every sentence counts, and that, in the long run, it will further galvanize his players in a growing us-against-them camaraderie that fuels them until the team gets healthy.

Sure, it could very well be a mirage, this 9-1 start for the Dodgers. But we're not stretching the limits of sanity to point out that, even in the midst of a potential mirage, what Matt Kemp is doing is absolutely legit.

The philosophy of signing pre-arbitration-eligible players to long-term contracts has gained traction. Since the end of last season, there have been 12 long-term contract extensions signed by such players, some of them relatively unproven but mostly potential franchise cornerstones.

In the Angels' 6-0 win on Monday night, slugger Kendrys Morales crushed his first home run since May 29, 2010, when he broke his left ankle celebrating a walk-off grand slam.

The Angels used 6 2/3 shutout innings from ace Jered Weaver and Kendrys Morales' first home run since his 2010 injury to cruise past the A's, 6-0, on Monday night.

Roy Halladay had 190 wins in his career before the Phillies beat San Francisco on Monday night at AT&T Park, 5-2, but he had never beaten the Giants in three career starts against them.

More than 400 people attended the Lead Off For a Cure gala Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in support of autism awareness. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig served as co-chair of the event, which included a dinner and silent auction in support of Autism Speaks and the Gillen Brewer School.

Justin Verlander continued his mastery of the Royals by allowing just two runs in a complete-game effort and the Tigers used a two-run homer by Brandon Inge for a 3-2 victory Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.