A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

STEPPING DOWN

The Mets march on in their difficult season a day after learning general manager Sandy Alderson had effectively stepped down because his cancer has returned. Officially Adidas Alex Ovechkin Jersey , Alderson will take a leave of absence, but he said Tuesday that he was essentially ending his tenure both for his health and because he doesn’t think he’s been successful enough to continue. Assistant general manager John Ricco and special assistants J.P. Ricciardi and Omar Minaya will run the club’s baseball operations in Alderson’s absence. Minaya preceded Alderson as Mets general manager, and Ricciardi was GM of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2001-09.

CAIN NOT ABLE

Lorenzo Cain is missing the chance to face his former teammates this week due to a left groin strain. The Brewers center fielder was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, just as Milwaukee opened a series against Kansas City. Cain left the Royals last offseason for an $80 million, five-year deal with the Brewers, and he’s batting .291 with eight homers, 48 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and an .832 OPS for the NL Central leaders.

MADBUM MATH

Madison Bumgarner is one strikeout shy of 1,500 for his career going into a start against Colorado. The Giants ace will appear in his 239th game, making him the fourth-fastest left-hander to reach 1,500 Ks in the live-ball era Adidas Nicklas Backstrom Jersey , according to stats. This will be Bumgarner’s fifth start this season, and he’s 1-2 with a 3.20 ERA.

MAKING BELIEBERS

Indians rookie Shane Bieber is off to a strong start and gets his first interleague test in a game against St. Louis. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA through three starts, including seven scoreless innings against Detroit last time out. Bieber has 22 strikeouts and three walks in 18 1/3 innings after walking just 18 batters in 274 career minor league innings. The Cardinals will counter with another promising young righty, Jack Flaherty (3-2, 2.50).

HEATING UP

Dallas Keuchel (4-8, 3.90) has been the weakest link in Houston’s rotation – which says more about the Astros than Keuchel – but he’s been sharp of late. Over his past two starts, he’s thrown 12 innings without allowing an earned run, and now he’ll face a Toronto team that struck out 13 times against Charlie Morton in a 7-0 loss Tuesday to Houston.

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The Latest on Super Bowl activities on Wednesday including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s annual Super Bowl week news conference. (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says he was aware of the announcement of the return of the rival XFL, but hadn’t had time to think much about what it means for the NFL.

Goodell said during his annual Super Bowl address Wednesday said league officials ”want to make sure our game stays strong for the long term.” He said he would ”have to see” if the NFL is asked to be involved, saying he didn’t know ”enough specifics of that proposal.”

WWE boss Vince McMahon last week announced the return of the XFL in 2020, during the NFL’s offseason. The gimmicky original version lasted just the 2001 season.

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2:10 p.m.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL wants to build on its relationship with Mexico City after the league announced that Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams will play there in 2018. The Rams will be the host team.

Goodell was asked during his annual Super Bowl news conference Wednesday if other sites in Mexico Adidas T. J. Oshie Jersey , including Monterrey and Guadalajara, would be considered. He said it was something the league ”may consider in the future” but for now was enjoying ”such a good situation in Mexico City.”

The Raiders are set to play in London for their fourth international game in five years as they finish their stay in Oakland before the move to Las Vegas in 2020.

While Goodell acknowledged that the NFL has teams ”in transition from temporary stadiums to long-term facilities,” he said the Raiders are ”an attractive team globally.”

The Rams and Chargers have temporary homes in Los Angeles while a stadium that will house both is being built.

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1:50 p.m.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has reiterated his stance that it’s not the NFL’s place to get involved in whether Colin Kaepernick gets a chance with another team.

Goodell said during his annual Super Bowl address Wednesday that teams ”have to make their own decisions as far as who’s on their roster.”

Kaepernick, who sparked the protests involving the national anthem early in the 2016 season, wasn’t signed this past season following his release in San Francisco.

The comments from Goodell came a day after Philadelphia Eagles receiver Torrey Smith said Kaepernick not getting a chance with another team ”kind of falls in the category of an injustice in itself.”

As it relates to roster decisions, Goodell said the NFL won’t ”get involved in that in any way.”

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1:30 p.m.

The NFL has hired an independent investigator to look into claims of sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace against Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said during his annual Super Bowl address Wednesday that former U.S. attorney Mary Jo White will lead the investigation. White has led similar investigations in other fields, including a recent one at the University of Rochester.

Richardson stepped away from day-to-day operations after allegations surfaced and is seeking to sell the team. The NFL has said it didn’t pressure Richardson to sell based on the allegations.

Goodell said he wants the team to remain in Carolina.

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1:20 p.m.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says the NFL will emphasize ways to cut down on longer replay reviews while focusing on the rule book as a way to improve officiating.

Goodell said Wednesday in his annual Super Bowl address that the focus on rules will include ways to refine the catch rule, which has been widely criticized.

The commissioner said the focus for reviews will be on ”making sure it doesn’t interrupt the flow of the game.”

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1 p.m.

Commissioner Roger Goodell is holding his annual Super Bowl week address the same day as the NFL’s announcement of a new Thursday night TV deal with Fox.

There are other issues as backdrops for Goodell’s news conference Wednesday near the site of Sunday’s meeting between New England and Philadelphia.

The league recently announced a player-owner committee to address causes of social justice in the wake of player protests involving the national anthem. The nickname issue involving the Washington Redskins is likely to come up again after baseball’s Cleveland Indians decided this week to remove the Chief Wahoo logo in 2019.

Goodell signed a contract extension in December that runs into 2024. The deal was a source of conflict between Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the six owners on the committee in charge of negotiating the extension.

Jones threatened to scuttle the contract, but denied his opposition to the deal was related to Goodell’s decision to suspend star Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games.

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