Judge breaks McGwire's HR rookie record, Yankees top Royals  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge broke Mark McGwire's major league record for home runs by a rookie, hitting a pair for the second straight day to raise his total to 50 and lead the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 11-3 Monday.

Cubs, on verge of clinching division, visit St. Louis (Sep 25, 2017)  —  It took a little while for the Chicago Cubs to get going this season after ending 108 years of frustration by winning the World Series last fall.  —  Now, the Cubs are on the verge of completing the first step toward defending …

Bryce Harper's return to action for Nats delayed by flu  —  PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper's return to the Washington Nationals' lineup was delayed when he woke up with the flu Monday and the team postponed its plan to activate him from the disabled list in the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dodgers hope for good outing from Darvish vs. Padres (Sep 25, 2017)  —  LOS ANGELES — As the Los Angeles Dodgers dust themselves off and prepare for another playoff run, things are beginning to fall into place.  —  The National League West champions have won three of four after a prolonged 5-20 stretch …

Rays All-Star Chris Archer says Bruce Maxwell ‘the right person’ to break MLB protest barrier  —  BALTIMORE — Chris Archer says he agrees with Bruce Maxwell's message of equality, lauding the Oakland Athletics catcher's well-conceived protest and explanation.

Marte making late push as Pirates host Orioles (Sep 26, 2017)  —  PITTSBURGH — Long removed from postseason contention, the Pittsburgh Pirates have their sights fixed on 2018.  Five of the eight position players who started for the Pirates on Sunday were rookies, a few of whom contributed …

NL Notes: Cardinals, Jeffress, Kang  —  In a Q&A led by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt provides some reflections on the team's performance so far in 2017, as well as some subtle insights into the organization's plans for this offseason and the future.

Q&A with Touki Toussaint: Braves are ‘fun environment’ for prospects  —  In Touki Toussaint, the Braves truly bought a lottery ticket.  —  The Braves acquired pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Toussaint from Arizona on June 20, 2015.  Toussaint was the 16th overall pick in the 2014 draft.

Umpire Hernandez: MLB discrimination lawsuit should stay in Ohio  —  The federal racial discrimination lawsuit filed by an umpire against Major League Baseball and officials with the league should stay in Ohio and not be dismissed, the umpire claims in new documents filed in the case.

Royals' Ned Yost won't stop Alcides Escobar from playing all 162 games  —  NEW YORK  —  Royals manager Ned Yost said Monday that he may rest some of his regulars this week as the club finishes its season with a six-game homestand against the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Yankees fall apart as playoff fate becomes inevitable … TORONTO — Mathematically, the Yankees still are alive in the AL East race.  Realistically, they are ready to move on to preparing for the AL wild-card game next Tuesday.  —  Not even the thunder in Aaron Judge's bat …