Nick Swisher's red-hot bat helped support Freddy Garcia's return to the rotation as the Yankees defeated the Orioles, 3-2, on Monday at Camden Yards.

Almost a year after general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy met with the starting pitchers last August to get them back on track, Bochy gathered the Giants starters in his office for a much more encouraging get-together.

Scott Feldman takes Matt Harrison's turn in the rotation for the Rangers as they open a series against Jeremy Hellickson and the Rays on Tuesday night in Arlington.

Adrian Beltre went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in his first rehab start at Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino feels the three-game series his club and the Yankees start on Tuesday still carries its regular cachet, despite the likelihood both teams make the playoffs.

Alex Rodriguez was sent to New York to have an MRI exam performed on his sore left thumb and could miss the Yankees' upcoming series against the Red Sox, which will begin at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.

Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz will be sidelined for three weeks with a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring.

After taking two of three from the Angels over the weekend, the first-place Rangers will enjoy their off-day on Monday — but they know this is no time to let up.

Curtis Granderson didn't break stride after his second home run on Sunday evening, touching all the bases for the 38th time this season while chants of "MVP!" cascaded down from the seats of Camden Yards.

On Monday, the Phillies will make their way inland to Cincinnati, where weather likely won't hinder their plans as Cole Hamels makes his return from the 15-day disabled list.

Joey Votto has 26 home runs this season and 116 for his five-year career. The 116 through his first five seasons are third most in Reds history, behind Robinson's 165 and Adam Dunn's 158. Votto had been tied at 114 with Johnny Bench.

This is a story about production, and how two homegrown middle-of-the-order hitters have helped over the past five seasons to transform a perennial losing franchise into a Crew cruising toward October.

The "V" in MVP has long been one of the more debated letters in professional sports. Tigers ace Justin Verlander's pitching this season certainly has made a strong argument that he has been the most valuable to his team this season.

The focus will be on division and Wild Card contenders down the stretch, but teams out of the races will have their chances to shape the standings and experience important games.

The power Billy Butler can provide is increasingly rare at a time when pitching prowess is dominating baseball, so his evolution, which will have as much as anything to do with the Royals' ability to contend in the future, is intriguing to track.

As Major League Baseball's division races make the turn from August into the September straightaway, this week's schedule offers deliverance, closure or hope — depending on which side of the pendulum your team sits.

Josh Hamilton homered and drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run seventh as the Rangers rallied to defeat the Angels on Sunday night and take a three-game lead in the AL West.