Yankees-Royals Preview  —  Coming off a rare loss, the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals are looking to bounce back in front of their home fans.  —  Kansas City opens a 10-game homestand against the New York Yankees, who are looking to match their longest winning streak of the season …

Discussion with Torre clarifies Rule 7.13 for Cubs  —  Catchers Baker, Castillo now understand where to stand on plays at the plate  —  CHICAGO — It's taken nearly seven months, hours of video review, discussions with umpires, managers and other catchers, but the Cubs' Welington Castillo …

A's claim Rays' Escobar on waivers; deal unlikely  —  A's claim Escobar, but trade not expected  —  TORONTO — Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar was claimed on waivers by the A's, but a deal by the Tuesday deadline seems unlikely.  —  All teams routinely put players on revocable waivers this time of year …

51s likely to keep affiliation with Mets  —  Second baseman Wilmer Flores hits a home run in the third inning during the 51s baseball game against the Tucson Padres at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on July 11, 2013.  (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)  —  Las Vegas 51s starting pitcher …

Masterson struggles again as sinker misbehaves  —  • By Rick Hummel rhummel@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8196  —  PHILADELPHIA  • After winning a nearly five-hour struggle the night before, the Cardinals had little Sunday for well-traveled Philadelphia Phillies righthander Jerome Willliams.

Longoria knocks in game winner in 10th as Rays beat Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — Evan Longoria drove in two runs, including the winner in the top of the 10th to lift the Tampa Bay Rays over the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 at Rogers Centre on Saturday.  —  Longoria sent a 1-2 pitch …

Brewers mum on plan for Wang, September callups  —  MILWAUKEE — A night after Brewers reliever Wei-Chung Wang was transferred from Class A Wisconsin to Class A Advanced Brevard County on his Minor League rehab assignment, Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke wasn't ready to publicly commit to a plan for the rest of the left-hander's season.

Black earns 600th win as Padres manager  —  Skipper is only second in history who also has 100 wins as pitcher  —  PHOENIX — If Bud Black closes his eyes, he can still probably picture it all.  A sun-kissed afternoon by the bay in San Francisco, Opening Day at a sold-out AT&T Park, 2007 and Padres ace Jake Peavy throwing bullets.

Cuddyer hits DL with hamstring injury  —  Outfielder improving, but shelved for third time this season  —  DENVER — Two days ago, right fielder Michael Cuddyer was adamant about not going on the disabled list with a sore left hamstring and said, “You can put that in bold letters.”

Cano exits after feeling ill, hopes to play Monday  —  BOSTON — Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano took himself out of Sunday's 8-6 victory over the Red Sox in the middle of the third inning after coming down with an illness while on the field.  —  Cano was on defense with the Red Sox …

Red Sox's future full of possibilities  —  BOSTON — It's not all wishful thinking.  The Boston Red Sox have talked about it in-house, too, which probably is no different than 28 other major league teams.  —  But after three major moves in the past 23 days — the trade for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes …