Back strain to cost Pineda three to four weeks  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees will be without Michael Pineda for longer than anticipated, as the right-hander ended his simulated game on Tuesday after just one inning when he felt tightness under his pitching arm.

Victorino Gets 4 Hits, Red Sox Beat Rays 7-4  —  BOSTON — Shane Victorino had four hits and his first two RBIs of the season, John Lackey pitched eight strong innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the slumping Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on a chilly Tuesday night.  —  Victorino, activated …

Game Recap: Mets 6 - Phillies 1  —  Jon Niese pitched a gem during a rainy night at Citizen Bank Park to help the Mets (15-11) defeat the Philadelphia Phillies (13-13) by a score of 6-1 Tuesday evening.  >> Read the full recap and box score at SNY.tv.  —  Need to Know: After waiting through …

Swollen disk sidelines Royals' Bruce Chen for one start, possibly two  —  The Royals scratched Bruce Chen from his start on Wednesday, but his return to the mound on Saturday is also in doubt.  —  An MRI on Chen's balky back, a condition initially described as tightness in his left glute muscle …

Astros mourn passing of former scout Matthews  —  HOUSTON — A moment of silence was held prior to Tuesday's game at Minute Maid Park following the death of Walt Matthews, who served the Astros as a scout, Minor League manager and Minor League player from 1961-2012.  He was 72.

Brewers continuing to deal with key injuries  —  ST. LOUIS — Brewers manager Ron Roenicke had a quick answer Tuesday afternoon when it was suggested that his starting lineup resembled something from Spring Training.  —  “Sometimes I made it like that in Spring Training and we went out and scored 10 runs,” Roenicke said.

Tigers' Max Scherzer upset with SI over cover  —  Detroit Tigers' Max Scherzer said Sports Illustrated's cover story on him wasn't what he expected.  —  “To be on the cover is a very special moment, but I'm also frustrated that they chose to put the contract stuff on the cover,” he said Sunday.

Stubbs Hits 1st HR, Rockies Beat Diamondbacks 5-4  —  PHOENIX — Drew Stubbs hit his first home run of the season, off closer Addison Reed in the ninth inning, to lift the Colorado Rockies over the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Tuesday night.  —  Troy Tulowitzki had his second big game in a row in Arizona …

Brewers are for real, not an April fluke, thanks to pitching  —  ST. LOUIS — The Milwaukee Brewers are for real.  —  That's not to suggest the Brewers will remain this real — as in, maintain their .731 winning percentage and finish 118-44.  I can't guarantee they will make the playoffs.

Petit stars in Cain's stead as Giants hammer Padres  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Angel Pagan led off the first inning with a homer, Buster Posey connected two batters later, and Yusmeiro Petit went six innings in a spot start replacing injured Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 6-0 on Tuesday night.

For Beltran, job extends beyond on-field duty  —  Veteran has become valuable resource for younger Yankees teammates  —  NEW YORK — On the day that Carlos Beltran was finally able to hold up a Yankees jersey and call the Bronx his office, team officials talked a lot about his switch-hitting power …

This year's Draft: Pitching, pitching and more pitching  —  Mound talent abounds at high school and college levels in 2014 Top 100 Prospects list  —  The 2011 First-Year Player Draft opened with the selection with four pitchers: Gerrit Cole (Pirates), Danny Hultzen (Mariners), Trevor Bauer (D-backs) and Dylan Bundy (Orioles).