Ballbug: In Japan, Yankees' Kuroda Was Molded by Pain (David Waldstein/New York Times)

Ian Browne / MLB.com:

Thumb will likely land Pedroia on disabled list — BOSTON — The Red Sox have been dealt another injury blow, as Dustin Pedroia will likely go on the disabled list before the Red Sox open a four-game series against the Yankees on Friday night, a Major League source has confirmed.

Discussion: Boston Globe and Over the Monster

Pedroia headed to disabled list — This time, Dustin Pedroia is going on the disabled list. — The second baseman resisted the idea in May when he tore the adductor muscle at the base of his right thumb. He missed six games and hasn't been the same since, hitting .210 with a .282 on-base percentage and one home run in 105 at-bats.

Discussion: Red Sox Monster and MLB Daily Dish

Mark Gonzales / Boston Herald:

Kevin Youkilis leads White Sox to sweep of Rangers — CHICAGO — After they improved to eight games over .500 with a three-game sweep of the two-time defending American League champions, manager Robin Ventura carefully answered whether his White Sox are a very good team or a great team.

Discussion: baseballmusings.com and Baseball Prospectus

Discussion: South Side Sox, Boston Herald, Yahoo! Sports and CBSSports.com

Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Olney On Red Sox, Mariners, Smith, Rangers

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish

ESPN:
Previewing the AL trade market

Discussion: Bless You Boys, MLB and Twinkie Town

David Waldstein / New York Times:

In Japan, Yankees' Kuroda Was Molded by Pain — As a boy, he sneaked away from an abusive high school coach to gulp water from a polluted river. He saw some of his teammates, desperate with thirst, drink from a puddle, and he heard of others who would do so from a toilet.

Discussion: It's About The Money, Baseball Prospectus, The LoHud Yankees Blog, Deadspin, River Avenue Blues and USA Today

Fox Sports:

Red Sox could deal, if healthy — The Red Sox have waited all season to get healthy. They placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the disabled list on Thursday, and could do the same with third baseman Will Middlebrooks on Friday. So, imagining this team as healthy probably is unrealistic, not to mention premature.

Discussion: MLB Rumors and MLB Daily Dish

Associated Press:

Lynn pitches Cardinals past Rockies 6-2 — ST. LOUIS—Rookie right-hander Lance Lynn tossed six shutout innings and Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran drove in a pair of runs apiece, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Discussion: Yahoo! Sports

Discussion: Purple Row

Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:

Mills, Astros players react to Lee trade — PITTSBURGH — While the Astros were killing time in the clubhouse before taking batting practice on Thursday, some of the players were watching former teammate Carlos Lee go 2-for-4 in his debut with the Marlins, who traded for him on Wednesday.

Discussion: Fish Stripes and The Crawfish Boxes

Discussion: Associated Press

John Maffei / North County Times:

PADRES NOTES: Owings shifts from the mound to the plate — SAN DIEGO — Throughout his big-league career, Micah Owings has earned a reputation as a pitcher who could hit. — Now he's looking to turn the tables and become a hitter who can pitch. — After four-plus seasons as a pitcher …

Discussion: HardballTalk

Associated Press:

Dodgers Get to Miley, Beat D-Backs 4-1 — PHOENIX (AP) — Scott Van Slyke and Elian Herrera hit solo home runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers sent Arizona to its sixth straight loss with a 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday night. — Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley allowed four runs …

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish and Associated Press

Andy Martino / NY Daily News:

Shift in NY Mets' attitude brings change to NL East rivalry against Phillies — The Mets used this week's two-of-three series win, bookended by an 11-1 blowout and the ninth-inning thriller, to finally get all Rage Against the Machine: (— ) you, I won't do what ya tell me.

Discussion: MetsBlog.com and MLB.com

Marc Thaler / ESPN:

Red Sox OF Crawford hears racial slur in rehab — MANCHESTER, N.H. — Before many of the 18 pitches he saw in his third rehab start for Double-A Portland on Thursday night, Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford was forced to tune out a heckler behind home plate.

Discussion: Union-News and HardballTalk

Associated Press:

Braves Hit 4 Homers, Beat Cubs 7-3 — ATLANTA (AP) — Jason Heyward and Brian McCann each hit a two-run homer in the first inning, helping Mike Minor and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 on Thursday night. — Freddie Freeman and Juan Francisco also connected for Atlanta, which salvaged a split of the four-game series.

Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue, Talking Chop and Associated Press

Andrew Simon / MLB.com:

Storen pleased after first rehab outing — Tracy plays third base, reports improvement in groin — WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Nationals pitcher Drew Storen's first live game action of the season passed briefly but effectively Thursday, as the right-hander began a rehabilitation assignment with the High Class A Potomac Nationals.

Discussion: Federal Baseball

JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:

Sources: Royals willing to move Broxton — The Kansas City Royals have signaled to teams that they are willing to move closer Jonathan Broxton, major league sources told FOXSports.com. — The Royals entered Thursday with deficit of 7-1/2 games in the American League Central and .4 percent chance …

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and SI Tracking Blog