Yankees starter Michael Pineda did plenty to help his own cause by racking up 16 strikeouts in Sunday’s 6-2 victory over the Orioles, but first baseman Mark Teixeira certainly pitched in when called upon for some defensive help.

Yasiel Puig will have an MRI on his injured left hamstring on Monday, not Sunday as Dodgers manager Don Mattingly originally said.

When I tell people that I come from a long line of strong and independent (and directionally challenged) women, the first person I think of is Bubby Goldman, a headstrong, savvy redhead. Bubby passed a lot of her tenacity on to my grandmother, Naomi, who then passed it on to my mother, Toby. And I’d like to think my mom passed it on to me.

Baseball is riding another wave of young talent this spring, with big-name prospects turning into Major League stars before our wide-open eyes. Youth will certainly be represented at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. But if you had to make a choice between the guy who was most breathlessly awaited and the one who has made the biggest difference in the early going, who would you pick? The Cubs’ Kris Bryant or the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson?

Carlos Rodon’s first Major League start was a highly successful effort, as Chicago’s top prospect per MLB.com gave up two runs over six innings in an 8-2 victory over the Reds Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field. The victory gave the White Sox a split of the doubleheader.

The Mariners continue to regroup as the A’s continue to struggle. A night after Seattle took a nail-biter over its American League West rival in extra innings, the Mariners took advantage of sloppy Oakland defense to cruise to a 7-2 victory on Saturday evening before 37,441 at Safeco Field.

For the 10th year in a row, MLB will dedicate all games on this Mother’s Day to the fight against breast cancer. The “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative supports Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen.

Mets center fielder Juan Lagares picked the perfect time to snap a slump in Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Carlos Rodon made his first Major League start during the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Reds at U.S. Cellular Field. Rodon was pretty close to dominant over six innings, striking out eight in the White Sox 8-2 victory to earn a split for the day.

Justin Upton returned to Chase Field in another different uniform and did what he does best on Saturday: beat the D-backs, his former team. Upton led off the 12th inning with his eighth homer of the season, helping the Padres to a 6-4 win in a game they almost squandered.

David Ross’ pitching approach was simple — he went with his best stuff. With the Cubs trailing 12-4, manager Joe Maddon turned to the veteran catcher to pitch the final inning. The 38-year-old Ross, who said he had not pitched since Little League, turned in a 1-2-3 eighth inning in his debut on the mound.

It’s Mother’s Day, and this year more than any, Andrew Cashner wants something for his mom, Jane Cashner, who one month after celebrating 10 years free and clear from breast cancer, was inexplicably stricken last fall with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “I’ll be pitching to put a smile on her face,” Cashner said recently, managing a smile of his own.

Torii Hunter continued his hot streak against the Tribe, Brian Dozier launched a home run, and the Twins spoiled left-hander Bruce Chen’s return to the Majors in a 7-4 win over Cleveland on Saturday.

The Miami Marlins took advantage of Madison Bumgarner’s lone lapse of the evening, pouncing on the left-hander in the fourth inning to score three runs in support of a strong David Phelps en route to Saturday’s 6-2 triumph over the San Francisco Giants.

After waiting a long time for his first home run, rookie Kris Bryant had to wait a little longer to celebrate. Bryant, who was expected to provide the Cubs with a power surge after his early season call-up from Triple-A, hit his first Major League home run on Saturday night in the Cubs’ 12-4 loss, driving a first-pitch slider from Kyle Lohse deep over the wall in left-center for a three-run shot that gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead in the third inning.

Kris Bryant had hit 43 home runs in the Minors last season. He was going to be a primary power source for the Cubs in a new and victorious North Side era. But where was all that power and when would it arrive? It was at Miller Park Saturday night. Third inning, Cubs down, 3-2, one out, runner on second. The veteran Kyle Lohse on the mound for the Brewers.

The Pirates celebrated Mother’s Day one day early with the mother of all pitchers’ best friends — the triple play — but this time it was a historic one, the first 4-5-4 triple play ever seen in the Major Leagues.