MLB series to watch: Twins-Yankees, Brewers-Cubs clashes loom large as races stay hot  —  The final two weeks of September figured to be crucial for teams like the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs in their attempts to solidify division leads.  The Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers …

Blame Game: Pointing fingers for Rangers failures in 2017  —  ANAHEIM  —  The body is still warm but it's never too early to start the autopsy.  —  What went wrong for the Texas Rangers this season?  They're three games under .500 with 13 remaining and their post-season hopes are flat-lining.

The Jason Heyward dilemma: Big contract, big defense, struggling offense  —  Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward reacts after the 4-3 win over the Cardinals, which completed a three-game sweep, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017.  (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Noah Syndergaard one step closer to Mets return after throwing simulated game  —  MIAMI — Noah Syndergaard threw a simulated game at Marlins Park on Monday.  The righthander and the Mets hope it is the last step before he can come off the disabled list and pitch in a game this weekend at Citi Field.

Ryan Zimmerman's 2 HRs propel Washington Nationals past Los Angeles Dodgers  —  WASHINGTON — Ryan Zimmerman laughed and jerked his head around to his right late Sunday night after he was asked what he took away from a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that ended minutes earlier.

Cubs push back Jon Lester's next start to Wednesday vs. Rays  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon reacts after the 4-3 win over the Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017.  (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)  —  The Chicago Cubs adjusted their rotation, pushing left-hander Jon Lester's next start to Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rumor Central: Will the Phillies shop Cesar Hernandez?  —  Second baseman Cesar Hernandez will likely be a key figure in the Philadelphia Phillies' offseason, either as a building block for 2018 or as a valuable trade chip, suggests Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice.com.

Holland drops ball on Padres' squeeze, Rockies lose 4-3  —  DENVER  —  Rockies closer Greg Holland stretched as far as he could, getting his glove on Matt Szczur as the Padres baserunner dove across the plate.  —  Holland got there for the tag.  Just not with the baseball.

Francisco Cervelli Will Not Return This Year  —  Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli will be shut down for the rest of the year, manager Clint Hurdle tells reporters including MLB.com's Adam Berry (via Twitter).  Hurdle says there simply isn't enough time for the backstop to make it back from his quad injury.

Series preview: Cubs at Rays  —  Chicago Tribune  —  All games on WSCR-AM 670.  —  Season series: Tied 1-1.  —  LH Mike Montgomery (6-8, 3.57) vs. RH Chris Archer (9-10, 4.06)  —  LH Jon Lester (11-7, 4.30) vs. LH Blake Snell (3-6, 4.25)  —  Storylines: The Rays' playoff hopes are fading …

Broglio discusses cancer, Cubs' title and, of course, the Brock trade  —  Ernie Broglio (of Lou Brock trade) on cancer, Cubs, Cardinals and infamy  —  “You're not going to believe this,” Ernie Broglio tells a visitor in the living room of his modest home in San Jose, Calif. “I had breast cancer.

Technology Threatens Scouts, Could Also Set Them Free  —  After the Houston Astros elected to part ways with eight scouts last month, I wrote a piece on whether scouts and Statcast could coexist following the move by Jeffrey Luhnow.  (Luhnow said the vacancies would ultimately be filled.)

Ausmus won't second-guess subbing Castellanos in RF in Boyd's no-hit try  —  With two outs in the ninth, Boyd gave up a double to end the no-hit bid; Castellanos, the rightfielder at the time, is getting on-the-job training  —  Brad Ausmus knew what the first question was going to be.