Mikolas Strong Start Lifts Rangers Over Mariners  —  SEATTLE — Miles Mikolas allowed three hits in eight scoreless innings, J.P. Arencibia singled home the go-ahead run in the fourth and the Texas Rangers opened a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners with a 2-0 win on Monday night.

Burnett baffles Nats, softens take on retirement  —  A.J. Burnett sounds a little like that golfer everybody knows, the one who's ready to give up the game and sell his clubs until one great round pulls him back in.  —  After getting beaten by the Seattle Mariners last week …

The latest on NY Mets' Bartolo Colon trade market; Yankees win again; a hitting coach's odd comment  —  Bartolo Colon has cleared waivers, leaving us right back where we were a month ago — with a trade possible, and similar factors standing in the way.  Gathered from talking to folks around …

Q&A with Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers  —  PHOENIX — Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers recently completed a tour of the organization's Minor League affiliates, visiting Triple-A Reno, Double-A Mobile as well as both Class A teams in Visalia and South Bend.

Robinson sustains shoulder injury during slide  —  Cardinals first baseman Adams also shaken up while chasing foul ball  —  PITTSBURGH — The Cardinals escaped serious injury to Matt Adams when he face planted against a railing after making an attempt at a foul ball on Monday night …

Report: Qualls claimed, Feldman clears waivers  —  HOUSTON — Astros closer Chad Qualls has been claimed on revocable waivers, FOX Sports reported Monday.  That means the Astros would have until Wednesday to work out a possible trade with the claiming team, though it's more likely the Astros pull …

Trevor Plouffe and Danny Santana of the Minnesota Twins named the American League Co-Players of the Week  —  Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe and center fielder Danny Santana have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending August 24th.

What To Expect: Cubs RF Jorge Soler  —  Periodically, Baseball America will take a look at a prospect who is either just arriving to the majors or on the cusp of the majors to give a look at what can be expected from them both as a player and for fantasy purposes.

Stanton's home run helps fuel Marlins over Angels  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Giancarlo Stanton upstaged Mike Trout with a three-run homer in the first regular-season showdown between two of baseball's brightest young stars, leading the Miami Marlins to a 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

Nelson open to bullpen role when Garza returns  —  SAN DIEGO — The Brewers are nearing the day they have more healthy pitchers than they have slots in the starting rotation.  If that means someone has to go to the bullpen, Jimmy Nelson is open to the idea.

Money can't buy success for MLB teams anymore  —  bmacpherson@providencejournal.com  —  BOSTON — Money can't buy happiness.  Money can't buy love.  —  In recent years, money can't even buy a spot in the playoffs like it once did.  —  It seems incongruous, if not inexplicable …

Samardzija goes eight innings as Athletics crush Astros  —  HOUSTON — Jeff Samardzija pitched eight solid innings and Josh Donaldson drove in three runs to lead the Oakland Athletics over the Houston Astros 8-2 Monday night.  —  Samardzija (4-3) allowed six hits, two runs and tied a season high …

Royals not taking anything for granted, including schedule  —  Just about everything is going right for the Kansas City Royals these days.  They've won 24 of their last 31 games to take over first place in the AL Central.  —  Even the schedule seems to be breaking their way.