Report: Elbow of Reds SP Johnny Cueto still not right Monday
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(11:55 am ET) Concern is growing that the right elbow ailment plaguing Reds ace Johnny Cueto is worse that first anticipated, per Associated Press.

Cueto is having the elbow examined Monday after missing his Sunday start in Cleveland with stiffness. Though he exclaimed Sunday that he was not worred about it, the elbow was still not feeling right Monday.

The loss of Cueto for any significant period would be devastating for a Cincinnati team on an eight-game losing streak. He has eight quality starts in nine outings and a 3.03 ERA.

Sandoval returns to Red Sox lineup, Holt out
by Elliott Smith | Staff Writer

(11:39 am ET) After missing five straight starts with a knee injury, third baseman Pablo Sandoval returns to the starting lineup for the Red Sox on Monday against the Twins. 

Sandoval pinch-hit from left side in Sunday’s game and with right-hander Ricky Nolasco starting for the Twins, he will be able to hit lefty against a pitcher he’s had a lot of success against, going .476 with three homers and seven RBIs. 

Sandoval’s replacement at third base, Brock Holt, is out of the lineup Monday after he was hit by a pitch on his arm Sunday and began to lose feeling in his hand. 

Struggling SS Danny Santana sits again for Twins
by Elliott Smith | Staff Writer

(11:25 am ET) Twins shortstop Danny Santana is out of the lineup for a second straight game Monday, replaced by Eduardo Escobar for the game against the Red Sox. 

Santana has had a rough week at the plate, going 1-for-16 with five strikeouts and no wallks. The free-swinging Santana has just two walks in 157 plate appearances this season. 

The Twins (+103) are slight underdogs per VegasInsider.com. 

Cubs happy 2B Javier Baez ‘calming things down’ at plate
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(11:23 am ET) It’s all good at the moment for Cubs premier second base prospect Javier Baez. He’t not trying to hit home runs at Triple-A Iowa, but baseballs are flying over the fence anyway.

The Cubs wanted Baez to stop swinging for the downs, which led to too many strikeouts in his stint with the team a year ago. He slugged two home runs Sunday, giving him five on the season, but his strikeouts are indeed down. He has 24 in 87 at-bats, which is still disturbing, but far off the pace he set last year.

“Both (home run at-bats Sunday), he laid off borderline pitches before getting good pitches to hit,” Iowa batting coach Brian Harper said via milb.com. “That’s the key for Javy. What he’s done the most lately is not overswinging. He’s not trying to hit 800-foot home runs any more. He’s just trying to hit 350 to 400-foot home runs, that’s all. He’s working really hard to calming things down.”

Baez owns a slash line of .322/.404/.540. He has fanned in 24.2 percent of his plate appearances, down from 30 percent a year ago.

Yankees’ Brian McCann in, Carlos Beltran out Monday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(11:10 am ET) Yankees catcher Brian McCann is in the starting lineup on Monday, while Carlos Beltran remains out for his team’s matchup with the Royals.

McCann left Sunday’s game due to cramping in his left foot/calf, but the issue won’t keep him from missing a start. Beltran is sitting for the second straight game due to an illness.

The Yankees are favorites (-125) at home on Monday, per VegasInsider.com.

Orioles RP Brian Matusz receives 8-game suspension
by Elliott Smith | Staff Writer

(11:09 am ET) Orioles reliever Brian Matusz was issued an eight-game suspension by MLB Monday as punishment for being caught with a “foreign substance” on his arm during Saturday’s game against the Marlins. 

Matusz was ejected in the 12th inning on Saturday after it was brought to the umpires’ attention that Matusz had a visible substance on his arm. When the home plate umpire determined it was an illegal substance, he discussed with Orioles manager Buck Showalter briefly before ejecting Matusz from the game.

Matusz will appeal the suspension, which is the same doled out to Brewers reliever Will Smith after he was caught with an illegal substance on his arm earlier in the week. Matusz is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 14 appearances this season. 

Brewers’ Khris Davis batting second Monday vs. RHP
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(11:02 am ET) Brewers left fielder Khris Davis is batting second on Monday against the Giants and righty starter Tim Lincecum.

It’s just the second time this season that Davis has been slotted second against the righty and his sixth time batting second against any pitcher. He’s been much better against righties than lefties this season, hitting .257/.361/.396 with two home runs in 101 at-bats, while posting a .452 OPS against lefties. Lincecum has also seen more struggles against righties (.720 OPS against) than lefties (.455 OPS against).

The Brewers are favorites (-120) on Monday, per VegasInsider.com.

Mets start Danny Muno at third base Monday vs. Phillies
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(10:50 am ET) Mets infielder Danny Muno is starting at third base and batting seventh in Monday’s matchup with the Phillies.

Muno was called up after Sunday’s game and will be immediately inserted into the lineup at third base. Normally a second baseman, Muno has seen 46 appearances at third base in the minors, with 20 coming this season.

Muno has hit .280/.354/.400 in 100 at-bats with Triple-A Las Vegas. His only other start with the Mets came in late April when he served as the designated hitter in an American League park.

The Mets are heavy favorites (-165) at home on Monday, per VegasInsider.com.

Mets’ Juan Lagares, Lucas Duda return to lineup Monday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(10:47 am ET) Mets center fielder Juan Lagares and first baseman Lucas Duda are back in the lineup for Monday’s game against the Phillies.

Lagares, who is batting second, was scratched from Sunday’s lineup with soreness in his armpit and elbow. Duda, who is batting third, was held out Sunday due to hamstring tightness.

The Mets are heavy favorites (-165) at home on Monday, per VegasInsider.com.

Cubs’ Miguel Montero out, David Ross in Monday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(10:45 am ET) Cubs catcher David Ross is starting over Miguel Montero in Monday’s matchup with the Nationals.

Ross typically receives his starts on the days that Jon Lester pitches, but he’ll be behind the plate on Monday to catch Tsuyoshi Wada. He has hit .182/.341/.303 in 33 at-bats.

The Cubs are home underdogs (+105) against the Nationals on Monday, per VegasInsider.com.