Mets and Yankees Have Identical Records, if Not Identical Expectations  —  The Mets and the Yankees arrived at the soggy end of April on Wednesday with identical 15-11 records.  Twice in the last decade they have finished the season with the same mark: in 2006, when both made the playoffs, and in 2008, when both missed.

Rules give Rays no say in playing doubleheader  —  BOSTON — The Rays had their reasons for not wanting to make up Wednesday's rainout as part of a split doubleheader today, likely including how they've been struggling, losing six of seven with their pitching staff tattered.

Giants think Cain will return to mound Monday  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Giants manager Bruce Bochy scanned the field during Wednesday night's warmups to make sure right-hander Matt Cain wasn't trying to play catch somewhere.  —  Cain, who was scratched from Tuesday night's start after cutting …

Kershaw whiffs nine in second rehab start  —  Likely to rejoin LA rotation next week, he allows one earned run in five innings  —  MINNEAPOLIS — With a likely return to the rotation next week in Washington, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw made his second Minor League rehab start Wednesday night …

Chavez Pitches A's to Sweep of Rangers in 12-1 Win  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Jesse Chavez allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings, Eric Sogard matched his season total with three RBIs on Wednesday night and the Oakland Athletics completed a three-game sweep with a 12-1 rout of the sloppy Texas Rangers.

Major League Baseball Shakes Up Its Investigative Unit  —  In the wake of the Alex Rodriguez doping case, which drew accusations of unethical behavior by Major League Baseball's top investigators, the league has fired some members of its investigative team and moved to restructure the unit.

One month down: Early MLB award contenders  —  One month into his third season Mike Trout is exactly where he ended his first two: in second place in the AL MVP race.  —  With the calendar turning to May, it is time for Awards Watch to get down to business.

Renteria optimistic about closer options  —  CINCINNATI — When a team has only had six save opportunities through most of the first month of the season, it's fair to assume closer options aren't first and foremost on the mind of a manager guiding a struggling team.

This Date In Baseball  —  1917 — Fred Toney of the Cincinnati Reds and Hippo Vaughn of the Chicago Cubs pitched a double no-hitter for nine innings, but the Reds won 1-0 on two hits in the 10th.  Jim Thorpe drove in the winning run.  —  1923 — Walter Johnson recorded his first shutout …

Montero leads off with 10th homer, D'Backs beat Rockies  —  PHOENIX — Miguel Montero hit a leadoff homer in the 10th inning after Martin Prado hit a two-run single in the ninth, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks end a four-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies Wednesday night.