Marco Estrada doesn’t throw hard, and he’s long had an issue with home runs. But no one in the American League has been stingier with allowing batted balls to be turned into hits, and it’s no accident why.

A weekend full of innings-limit controversy and Subway Series disappointment now squarely in their past, the Mets resumed pursuit of a National League East title Monday with a 4-0 victory over the Braves at Citi Field. The win widened their division lead to 6 1/2 games over the Nationals, who were rained out in Washington, dropping New York’s magic number to seven.

Again unable to solve Reds rookie lefty John Lamb, the Cardinals pounced on the Cincinnati bullpen after his departure to steal a 2-1, come-from-behind win on Monday night that dropped their magic number for a division title to nine. The victory was the Cardinals’ 12th of the season when trailing after seven innings.

The Blue Jays went all-in to acquire David Price prior to the non-waiver Trade Deadline because they felt he was the missing piece that would push them over the top in the American League East. So far, he has been exactly as advertised.

After helping Double-A Chattanooga win the Southern League championship on Monday night, Twins outfield prospect Max Kepler was rewarded by being called up to the big leagues for the first time in his career.

Nine days after clocking career homer No. 500 at Tropicana Field, David Ortiz came back to Fenway and celebrated his milestone at the place that has become as much of a home to him as the Dominican Republic.

Catcher Yadier Molina was diagnosed with a slight tear in a ligament in his left thumb on Monday, and he will be re-evaluated in five to seven days.

Dozens of Hall of Famers and former baseball players participated in a celebrity golf tournament last week to benefit the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. The event, hosted by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and held at the Colonial Golf and Tennis Club in Harrisburg, Pa., raised roughly $500,000 to help the Foundation’s youth programs.

New Brewers general manager David Stearns confirmed Monday that he was retaining outgoing GM Doug Melvin in an advisory role and Craig Counsell as field manager.

David Stearns hadn’t been born when the Brewers went to the World Series in 1982. As the team’s new general manager, his job is to get them back.

Insistent for weeks that he’d be pitching again this season, Adam Wainwright now has the necessary doctor’s approval to give it a serious try.

Ryan Braun missed a third straight start Monday with a stiff back and confirmed what has been apparent: He will need surgery after the season to correct the issue.

Smiling about the past trumped the present during Monday’s news conference for the NHL Coors Light Stadium Series game on Feb. 27 between the Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field.

In revealing details Monday of last week’s conversation regarding the plan going forward for Matt Harvey, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson essentially absolved Harvey and Dr. James Andrews of any perceived wrongdoings, in many ways echoing manager Terry Collins’ inspired defense of his player Sunday.

With just two weeks to play, we’re now at the point in baseball’s calendar where wins can feel like coronations, losses can feel like daggers to the heart and history is often on the line with a trip to the mound or to the plate. Let’s examine the titles and the trivia at stake in the home stretch.

The players listed could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Tuesday.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.