Seven-inning doubleheaders and runners on second base to start extra innings will return for a second straight season under an agreement for 2021 health protocols reached Monday between Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

The deal didn’t include last year’s experimental rule to extend the DH to the National League or expanded playoffs.

The agreement includes more sophisticated contact tracing for COVID-19, and more league rules on behavior to comply with coronavirus protocols.

Spring training opens Feb. 17 and the season starts April 1.

MLB will slightly deaden its baseballs amid a years-long surge in home runs, The AP reported. In a memo to teams last week, the league cited an independent lab that found the new balls will fly 1 to 2 feet shorter when hit over 375 feet. ... The Cardinals and nine-time All-Star C Yadier Molina agreed to a one-year deal, according to reports. Financial terms weren’t yet available. Molina, 38, has played his entire 17-year career with the Cards.

College basketball: David McCormack had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Christian Braun added 15 and 10 and and Jalen Wilson 11 and 11 to help host Kansas beat No. 23 Oklahoma State 78-66. Earlier in the day, the Jayhawks dropped out of The AP poll for the first time in 12 years, ending a record streak of 231 consecutive weeks ranked in the Top 25. ... No. 2 Baylor postponed three more games due to Big 12 COVID-19 protocols. The unbeaten Bears already were on pause. ... UNC’s home game against Miami on Monday was postponed. The decision came hours after The Daily Tar Heel posted a Snapchat video showing UNC players Day’Ron Sharpe and Armando Bacot partying without masks on, along with other people not wearing masks after UNC’s 91-87 win over Duke on Saturday.

NBA: LaMelo Ball made a career-high seven 3s and finished with 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and the host Hornets downed the short-handed Rockets 119-94. The Rockets were without three of their top four scorers — John Wall, Eric Gordon and Christian Wood. Gordon and Wall were given a night of rest, while Wood missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle.

NHL: Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin scored 2:05 apart in the third and Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves for his third shutout of the season as the visiting Islanders beat the Rangers 2-0. Islanders coach Barry Trotz earned his 850th victory, passing Ken Hitchcock for third place on the league’s all-time list. ... The league extended postponements for the Sabres, Wild and Devils as the teams recover from COVID-19 outbreaks. The Avalanche also are on hold but may return Thursday. ... Maple Leafs winger Wayne Simmonds will miss six weeks with a broken left wrist. ... Ralph Backstrom, a six-time Stanley Cup winner with the Canadiens, college coach and founder of a minor league team, died Sunday. He was 83.

Women’s basketball: Freshman Paige Bueckers scored 31 points, including her team’s final 13, to lead No. 2 UConn to a 63-59 OT win over No. 1 South Carolina. The host Huskies moved to 14-1. South Carolina lost for the first time in 13 games and fell to 15-2.