Twins right-hander Phil Hughes continues to progress slowly from lower back inflammation, but he is expected to throw a bullpen session by the middle of the week.

With the Pirates’ scheduled off-day on Monday, manager Clint Hurdle has adjusted his pitching plans for the next two series against National League Central foes Milwaukee and St. Louis. The moves assure that ace right-hander Gerrit Cole will get a start against the division-leading Cardinals.

Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo informed Junichi Tazawa on Sunday morning that he will no longer pitch the ninth inning and will instead resume being the primary setup man, a job he has excelled at for the last three seasons. Jean Machi, who saved Saturday’s game when Tazawa was unavailable, will get a chance to close.

With Mark Teixeira out of the lineup for an indefinite period of time, the Yankees have asked Alex Rodriguez to resume working out at first base, providing manager Joe Girardi with another option behind rookie Greg Bird.

A fan who fell from the upper deck at Turner Field on Saturday night has died.

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

Statcast was on the job, as usual, on Saturday night. The technology tracked a couple of defensive gems and a couple of long homers, plus the Blue Jays’ Ryan Goins coming all the way home from second on a sacrifice fly.

The Dodgers have a personnel decision greeted with unanimous support on Friday, as Vin Scully will return for a 67th season as the club’s announcer.

Kelby Tomlinson hit a walk-off single in the ninth inning and Marlon Byrd smacked a grand slam in the third to power the San Francisco Giants to a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night at AT&T Park.

In the third inning Friday vs. the Cardinals, Marlon Byrd belted the eighth grand slam for the Giants this season. It established a franchise record, eclipsing the seven amassed by the club in 1951, 1954, 1970, 1998 and 2000.

On the night Vin Scully announced he will return to the broadcast booth next season, Clayton Kershaw struck out 14 and the Dodgers put up a three-run sixth inning to beat the Cubs, 4-1, on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

On Saturday, the United States and international championships are up for grabs with Mexico and Japan, and Texas and Pennsylvania squaring off in Williamsport, Pa.

The reception was warm, the runs were in plentiful supply and Yankees catcher Brian McCann was able to enjoy his happy homecoming on Friday, homering to slap an exclamation point on his first game as a visitor at Turner Field.

Though Statcast™ was busy tracking its usual dose of home runs on Friday, it was defense that reigned supreme on this night. From a potentially game-saving double play in Pittsburgh to a near-perfectly executed sliding catch on the warning track to a rookie flashing his elite speed, there was no shortage of defensive gems in Friday’s action.

Somewhere between the second-base bag and Tim Teufel’s left arm waving him around third, David Wright lost the nervous excitement that turned his late-August return to Queens into “almost like Opening Day.” Then came the mad dash home, which Wright never expected to take when Michael Cuddyer’s single to right sent him scurrying in the first place, and which Wright admittedly doubted at times he’d ever try again this season.

Kyle Gibson tossed 5 1/3 innings to get his first win since July 12 while helping the Twins earn a 3-0 victory over the Astros on Friday night at Target Field.

Kendrys Morales’ two-run home run off the catwalk in center field and a quality start by Edinson Volquez were all the Royals needed to take a 3-2 win over the Rays Friday night at Tropicana Field.