Shoemaker set for MRI after mild side pain  —  9/15/14: Matt Shoemaker throws 7 2/3 innings against the Mariners, allowing one run and striking out five, before leaving with an injury  —  ANAHEIM — Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker was forced to exit deep into his start on Monday night with what he deemed …

Dear Clayton; Love, Pedro  —  Pedro Martinez's 2000 season here.  I heard you were having a pretty good year, so I took a look at the stats, and wow: We have so much in common.  We're almost identical ERA brothers!  Me at 1.74, you at 1.70.  Both of us leading our leagues in most of the major categories.

Yankees to start Tanaka (elbow) on Sunday … New York Yankees rookie Masahiro Tanaka will start Sunday at home against Toronto in his first appearance since being diagnosed with a small ligament tear in in his right elbow.  —  Tanaka (12-4, 2.51) last pitched for the Yankees on July 8.

Blue Jays plan to extend qualifying offer to Melky, hope to keep him  —  Melky Cabrera can double his salary if he desires.  —  The Blue Jays have decided to extend him qualifying offer, which is expected to be in the range of $15 million to $16 million this winter.

Sharp Harvey touches 95 mph in simulated game  —  Mets righty shut down for season after final throwing session  —  9/15/14: The Mets' broadcasters discuss Matt Harvey, who earlier in the day participated in his final workout of the year at Citi Field  —  NEW YORK — For the first time …

Astros rookie OF Springer shut down for season  —  HOUSTON - Houston rookie George Springer, who has been out since July 20 with a left quadriceps injury, won't play again this season.  —  There was some hope that Springer might return for the last few games of the season …

NOLAN ARENADO REMAINS OUT OF ROCKIES LINEUP WITH EARLY-ONSET PNEUMONIA  —  The Denver Post  —  Nolan Arenado's MRI & CT scan revealed that he has a chest contusion and early-onset pneumonia.  (AAron Ontiveroz, Denver Post file)  —  Nolan Arenado remained out of the Rockies lineup Tuesday …

Tigers have yet to reveal rotation for Royals series  —  Justin Verlander's blister could have something to do with it.  —  CONNECT  —  MINNEAPOLIS Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus hasn't yet named the rotation for the three-game weekend series in Kansas City.

Game Recap: Marlins 6 - Mets 5  —  Recap: The Mets dropped their series opener to the Marlins, 6-5, on Monday night at Citi Fiel  —  Need to Know: Mets starter Jacob deGrom dominated early, striking out the first batter he faced en route to 13 for the game. deGrom tossed six scoreless innings and was cruising into the seventh.

MLB, PLAYERS TAKING CAREFUL APPROACH IN CRAFTING DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE POLICY  —  It's easy to say, “Baseball needs a domestic-violence policy.”  Writing an appropriate policy is considerably more difficult.  —  The sport apparently is going to try; commissioner Bud Selig said Monday …

Stanton could return to Marlins this season  —  Slugger will have stitches out, undergo more tests on Tuesday  —  9/11/14: Giancarlo Stanton is carted off the field after swinging and being hit in the face with a pitch from Mike Fiers in the 5th inning  —  PHILADELPHIA — Don't rule out a Giancarlo Stanton return just yet.

Welington Castillo hopes to be a key part for Cubs  —  He wants it.  He believes it.  He's trying to show it.  —  But Welington Castillo knows how this works.  And he's not about to claim he's one of the Cubs' core players at this point, much less their catcher of the future.  —  “I feel like it,” he said.