Prized prospect not dominated as he did in minor leagues, still tweaking on the fly  —  Back in the minor leagues, Joe Jimenez wouldn't have to answer for it.  —  He wouldn't have to stand inside the clubhouse the morning after allowing a couple of runs in a two-run game, surrounded by reporters …

Noah Syndergaard leaves with arm injury as Mets routed by Nationals  —  In the worst possible scenario for the Mets, Noah Syndergaard sunk them Sunday.  The Mets righthander, who bristled after he was pushed back Thursday and refused to take an MRI, got shelled in the first inning and left …

John Bormann started day in Single A, then made his major-league debut for Pirates  —  MIAMI (AP) — It's a long way from the Florida State League to the majors, which is why catcher John Bormann was in such a rush on Interstate 75.  —  A catcher for the Class A Bradenton Marauders …

Game blog: Cardinals fall to Reds after blowing four-run lead  —  The Cardinals and Reds played a tightly contested, back-and-forth affair Sunday afternoon, but ultimately the Cardinals ended up on the short end of the stick.  —  After blowing a 4- lead, the Cardinals could not rally …

Royals finish opening month with 9-game skid, look to bounce back  —  The Kansas City Royals hope May treats them better — because it can't get much worse than their April performance.  —  The Royals expected to bounce back after a subpar and injury-plagued 2016 season and return to the form …

Heyward reworks swing, sees production at plate  —  One of the many adages in sports, but one of the most meaningful, is that your highest-paid player should be your best player.  —  The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs are an example of that so far this season.

Extension?  Kris Bryant likes incentives, prefers to ‘play it out’  —  Sign-Up for our Sports Newsletter … BOSTON - Talk to Cubs star Kris Bryant about things like contract extensions, and he might bring up his long track record of thriving when he has incentives to chase.

Freddie Freeman tweaks Miller Park as ‘bad-lit Little League field’  —  Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman will be looking forward to Sunday's series finale against Milwaukee, mostly because he is apparently tired of playing at the Brewers' Miller Park.

Brantley, Lindor spark 8-run 3rd as Indians rout Mariners  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Francisco Lindor knows what a big inning can do for a team.  —  Lindor and Michael Brantley had the key hits in an eight-run third, and the Cleveland Indians rolled to a 12-4 victory over the weary Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Cardinals notes: April record for rainouts in April  —  At some point, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said, there will be a comeuppance for this record amount of rainouts at Busch Stadium.  —  That's when the real pitching questions come.  —  The Cardinals made a preemptive move …