Strop takes personal leave, return to Cubs uncertain  —  Popular Cubs reliever Pedro Strop has taken a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.  —  He posted an Instagram story Sunday showing him at home in the Dominican Republic.  It's unclear when he might return.

Mariners Recall RHP Erik Swanson From Alternate Training Site  —  RHP Casey Sadler placed on 10-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation (retro.  May 1).  —  MarinersPR  —  SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry …

MLB hopes offensive numbers perk up after historically rough April for hitters  —  MLB hitters hope that turning the calendar will also turn the page on an anemic April for offenses around the league.  —  Major league batters are hitting just .232 overall through April …

Roberto Alomar placed on MLB ineligible list over 2014 sexual misconduct allegation  —  Roberto Alomar, who had been serving as a consultant to Major League Baseball, has been placed on the league's ineligible list after an investigation into a 2014 sexual misconduct allegation …

Paul DePodesta: Round 2 pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah could have been Browns' Round 1 choice  —  The Browns got a player well into the second round who they considered taking in the first round.  —  After the Browns drafted Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah 52nd overall after trading …

Mets beat Phillies on Michael Conforto's ninth-inning home run  —  PHILADELPHIA — Even on a day when the Mets won — 5-4 over the Phillies — they lost.  —  Brandon Nimmo left Saturday's game in the middle of his seventh-inning at-bat because of a bruised left index finger.

Yankees Notebook: Darren O'Day goes on the IL with ‘cranky’ shoulder  —  Darren O'Day was placed on the injured list with a right rotator cuff strain on Saturday.  The Yankees' side-armer has been dealing with a “cranky” shoulder all season.  He will be shut down for a few weeks, Aaron Boone said.

Marcus Stroman hurts hamstring, benches later clear as Mets lose to Phillies  —  PHILADELPHIA — The benches and bullpens cleared during a late-inning dust-up between Dominic Smith and Jose Alvarado, owner Steve Cohen tweeted a health update about Marcus Stroman, and the Mets lost to the Phillies …

MLB April takeaways: The Giants built a rotation from scratch - and may be creating a juggernaut  —  They will finish April in first place or within a whisper of it, the definition of a Nice Little Story if ever there was one.  —  Yet while the San Francisco Giants' 16-9 start has a nifty narrative …

Trainers quick to trade up for higher-profile jockeys in 2021 Kentucky Derby  —  John Sadler's obligation is to the owners.  He is paid to win races, not friends, and that means putting his horses in the best possible position, beneath the best available jockey.  —  “I'm a little sentimental,” the California-based trainer said.