The Phillies will go with Vance Worley in Tuesday's middle act, and the Mets will counter with Jon Niese. Worley has made 17 career starts, and three of them have come against the Mets.

Canada's representative at the Little League World Series achieved an epic first for team and country by beating Chinese Taipei on Monday in an action-packed day of competition. Canada, which beat Chinese Taipei by a 5-3 score, will advance to Tuesday's international semifinal.

A bum fingernail abruptly ended Chris Narveson's return to the Brewers' rotation, but not before he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings and delivered the decisive hit. The Brewers beat the Pirates, 8-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at PNC Park on Monday.

J.J. Hardy said he never expected to be traded by the Twins until reporters brought it up to him as he was cleaning out his locker at the end of last year.

Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan will take a leave of absence from his duties to tend to his wife, who underwent major surgery this weekend.

Twins right-hander Nick Blackburn, who left his start against the Yankees on Sunday after just 1 1/3 innings, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a right lateral forearm strain.

The fragile Indians suffered their latest setback on Monday when they placed designated hitter Travis Hafner on the 15-day disabled list with a right foot strain.

Grady Sizemore, on the 15-day disabled list, said he hopes to begin a Minor League rehab assignment by the end of next week, with hopes of returning to the big league club sometime in September.

Still without three of their key position players for Monday night's opener of a four-game showdown against the Rangers, the Red Sox should get dynamic leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury back for the second game.

The Orioles placed right-hander Jason Berken on the disabled list Monday with a right forearm strain, which paved the way for the return of Zach Britton.

Cubs manager Mike Quade benched Starlin Castro on Monday, calling the shortstop's nonchalant defensive play on Sunday "unacceptable." Castro apologized to his teammates and vowed "it will never happen again."

With the Braves holding a comfortable lead in the National League Wild Card race and Mike Minor pitching well in his place, Tommy Hanson knows he can comfortably rest his ailing shoulder longer than he did in June. But the 24-year-old pitcher admits the recent inactivity has proven frustrating.

Adrian Beltre, who went on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring on July 23, ran the bases on Monday for the first time since aggravating the injury on Aug. 6.

Rangers GM Jon Daniels said the five-year, $85 million contract that pitcher Jered Weaver agreed to with the Angels over the weekend could be an indication of what it will take to sign C.J. Wilson this offseason.

The Phillies placed shortstop Jimmy Rollins on the disabled list Monday with a strain of his right groin. They activated third baseman Placido Polanco from the DL.

Rays manager Joe Maddon donned a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet during his postgame interview on Sunday to show his support for the football team across town.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland came to the defense of his young starter Rick Porcello on Monday, a day after Indians manager Manny Acta suggested Porcello should have been ejected for throwing behind Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera on Sunday.