Cardinals notebook: Getting better with the glove keeps Martinez in lineup  —  CHICAGO — Having put first base farther behind him every time he runs out to right field, Jose Martinez has taken advantage of his extra time to work with outfield coach Willie McGee and quickly listed all the ways McGee has helped him improve.

Dixon hits 3-run HR in 10th, Tigers beat Royals 5-2  —  After being humiliated by the Kansas City Royals a day earlier, the Detroit Tigers were focused on redemption Sunday.  —  It came via one of the lesser-known members of the roster.  —  Journeyman Brandon Dixon, only in the majors due …

Kevin Gausman will start Monday after 28-pitch ejection Friday  —  Kevin Gausman, ejected on Friday after only 28 pitches, will start Monday for the Braves against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.  —  “I'm getting that ‘back in the day’ action — the three-man rotation,” Gausman joked.  “It's a little weird.

As wounded Yankees work their way back, Luis Severino is still far off  —  For all the good news that the Yankees have been getting from Tampa these days, Brian Cashman dropped a dose of reality on Sunday.  While Miguel Andujar has rehabbed his way back from a serious injury and there continue …

Rangers rout Jays, but catcher Maile steps in to bolster bullpen  —  Frank ZicarelliMore from Frank Zicarelli  —  ARLINGTON — Desperate times call for desperation measures, a scenario the Blue Jays faced Sunday at Globe Life Park as the host Rangers were making Texas toast of their visitors.

Cora to skip Red Sox's trip to White House  —  Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced Sunday that he will not accompany his team Thursday to celebrate its World Series title at the White House.  —  In a statement in Spanish sent to El Nuevo Dia, Cora cited the fact that Puerto Rico still …

Angels eager for Shohei Ohtani to return and bolster their hitting  —  Shohei Ohtani watches Angels pitchers throw during a spring training practice session on Feb. 15 in Tempe, Ariz. Ohtani is moving closer to returning to the Angels.  (Chris Carlson / Associated Press)

Steven Matz flies back to New York with nerve irritation, next start in question  —  The Mets rotation suffered a pair of setbacks following the team's 3-2 loss against the Brewers on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.  —  Steven Matz left the Mets six-game road trip Sunday and flew …

Javy Baez should join the extension party, and he's not alone  —  CHICAGO — Matt Carpenter has a great thing going with the St. Louis Cardinals, as the patient, salsa-making infielder who has a World Series ring from 2011 and once mashed a series-changing hit against Clayton Kershaw.

Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly to face his original team in outing vs. Rays without any hard feelings  —  DENVER - When the Diamondbacks rearranged their starting rotation last week, manager Torey Lovullo said they made sure things still lined up so right-hander Merrill Kelly would be able …

Cubs IF Bote has been playing with broken toe  —  CHICAGO — Cubs infielder David Bote has been playing with a broken left pinky toe ever since he was hit by a pitch in the first game of the season, he confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.  —  Bote indicated that it has been getting better since …

Real or not?  Padres have plenty of reasons to stay optimistic  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres played a terrific series over the weekend in San Diego, before crowds of 44,000-plus each game, with the Dodgers winning on Friday and Saturday with runs in the top of the ninth …