Terry Collins likely to return as manager as Mets fall to Nationals, 3-2  —  It was not a disaster, but the Mets and Collins know that eventually they are going to have to find a way to compete with the best in the National League East.  The Mets' offense was too late and too little.

Owners to vote for new Commissioner today  —  Announcement to be carried live on MLB Network and MLB.com  —  Major League Baseball owners are voting to name a new Commissioner today at their quarterly meetings in Baltimore.  —  The three finalists under consideration are MLB chief operating …

ROCKIES' CARLOS GONZALEZ IS LIKELY DONE FOR THE SEASON AFTER PLAYING IN JUST 70 GAMES  —  The Denver Post  —  Carlos Gonzalez (5) of the Colorado Rockies runs for third base before making a bad slide and hurting himself against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field.

Mets Sign No. 13 International Prospect Kenny Hernandez  —  The Mets have signed Kenny Hernandez, the No. 13 international prospect, for $1 million.  Hernandez became eligible to sign yesterday, his 16th birthday.  —  At 6 feet, 160 pounds, Hernandez has a simple, low-maintenance swing …

Braun out of lineup with lingering thumb issue  —  CHICAGO — Little has changed since Ryan Braun first spoke in depth in early April about the nerve issue in his right hand that has bothered him since last season.  It still flares up on occasion, forcing him out of the lineup as it did Thursday for the first time in a month.

Pedro: Clemens, Bonds deserve HOF nod  —  BOSTON — Former Red Sox pitcher and future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez believes Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  —  Martinez, who has always been outspoken about players accused of using performance-enhancing drugs …

Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero: “Best I've ever seen” of Trevor Bauer  —  Though he and Trevor Bauer were infamously unable to get on the same page during their time as teammates two years ago, Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero seemed genuinely happy to see how well Bauer threw on Wednesday afternoon.

Ernesto Frieri Accepts Assignment To Triple-A  —  Here are the day's minor moves ...  - After clearing waivers, righty Ernesto Frieri has accepted an assignment to the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reports on Twitter.  After starting the season as the Angels' closer …

Criticism of coaches annoys Matheny  —  • By Derrick Goold dgoold@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8285  —  MIAMI  • The Cardinals' season-long search for a more productive offense — one like they had when leading the league in runs last season — has prompted a trade …

Report: Encarnacion to rejoin Blue Jays for Chicago series  —  It appears that Edwin Encarnacion will be rejoining the Toronto Blue Jays in time for their weekend series in Chicago against the White Sox.  —  The Buffalo News reported that Encarnacion has left the Bisons to rejoin the major league squad.

Searching for Racial Earnings Differentials in Major League Baseball  —  CC Sabathia is nearly in a class by himself (via Chris Ptacek).  —  African-Americans and Latinos earn significantly less than white people in the United States.  Overall, incomes for African-Americans are about 35 percent lower …

Tulowitzki To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery  —  The Rockies received more bad news on the injury front today, as Thomas Harding of MLB.com tweets that MVP candidate Troy Tulowitzki will miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip.