Giants-Padres Preview  —  Despite having one of the worst home records in the NL, the San Diego Padres still are in contention for a playoff spot.  —  The Padres look to shake their recent home struggles when they begin a 10-game homestand against NL West rivals Monday night with the start …

A REELING RODRIGUEZ TOSSES INJURY CARD IN  —  WHEN the lineups were announced before yesterday's Angels-Yankees game, the Stadium crowd once again amped up an ovation for Alex Rodriguez hoping, obviously, that the brew of encouragement and support would finally spur the most talented player to the most wonderful deeds.

D-Backs' Green Snakes into discussion  —  WASHINGTON - The Mets have spent plenty of green putting this year's NL-East leading team together.  It's possible they could add a little more green to the roster.  —  The East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune reported that the Diamondbacks planned …

Zambrano the big wheel in Cubs' rotation  —  DENVER — Carlos Zambrano was a solitary figure on a stationary bike Sunday in the visitors' clubhouse at Coors Field, pedaling away and going nowhere.  —  The parallel is obvious.  Zambrano (12-5) has been pitching well most of the season …

Robertson tries to revive Tigers  —  Detroit (76-41) at Boston (66-48), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Nate Robertson got to know Josh Beckett just after the Marlins drafted Beckett second overall in 1999, the same year Florida took Robertson in the fifth round.  They were roommates when Robertson was first called up to the Major Leagues in 2002.

Rockies, Astros discussing Wilson deal  —  Houston outfielder one of 12 'designated' players available  —  Will it be a Rockies' redux for Preston Wilson?  —  Colorado and Houston have been discussing a deal that would reunite the outfielder with the franchise he played for from 2003 through the first half of last season.

Mailbag: Can Soriano win the MVP?  —  Beat writer Bill Ladson answers Nationals fans' questions … What are the chances of Alfonso Soriano winning the National League MVP this year?  He has done everything he can for the Nationals to be a competitive team and has been able to hit at spacious RFK stadium.

Mailbag: Time to retire No. 17?  —  Beat reporter Marty Noble answers fans' questions  —  After the remarkable treatment afforded Mike Piazza at Shea Sadium last week, I got to thinking that the Mets should retire his uniform number.  He is a certain Hall of Famer who played some of his best and most important years in New York.

Going Deep: Going interactive  —  You've got procedural questions, we've got answers … Q: What are the rules regarding roster expansion and subsequent playoff rosters?  Do players on the expanded roster have to be added to the 40-man roster?  Does it burn up their service time?  — B.King and F.Miv

Martinez 15 strikeouts away from 3,000 … In Major League Baseball annals, 13 pitchers have reached 3,000 strikeouts, more than 100 have won 200 games or more, and countless others have finished their careers with an ERA below 3.00.  —  But among the thousands of pitchers that have toed …

Family dysfunction  —  Personal troubles cause Doc and Darryl to lead list of reunion no-shows  —  This tale, of course, carries more than enough darkness already.  But this past week, while looking through Dwight Gooden's 1999 autobiography "Heat," I stumbled upon another layer of tragic irony.

Dave Duncan: Change is on the way  —  PITTSBURGH — Jason Marquis presumably kept his oar in the water Sunday to remain in the Cardinals' rotation, even when lefthander Mark Mulder returns from his shoulder problems, by holding the Pittsburgh Pirates to three hits — two of them second-inning home runs …

Cabrera continues hot streak  —  Miguel Cabrera had two hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs to lift Florida.  'To do what he's doing, he's in a different league now.' Wes Helms said.  `He's a special kid.'  —  kbaxter@MiamiHerald.com  —  PHOENIX - Wes Helms has played …