Padres, Preller prepared to sell and buy  —  Change, not fire sale, coming as trade deadline approaches  —  San Diego Padres A.J. Preller talks on the phone during a spring training practice.  — K.C. Alfred … PITTSBURGH — As it was in the offseason, predicting exactly what Padres General Manager …

Trout Hits 2 HRs, Giavotella Lifts Angels Over Rockies 3-2  —  DENVER — Mike Trout homered twice and Johnny Giavotella singled in the tiebreaking run with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Angels over the Colorado Rockies 3-2 Wednesday night for their fifth straight win.

Kershaw Strikes Out 13 in Shutout, Dodgers Beat Phillies 5-0  —  LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw struck out 13 in an eight-hit shutout that snapped a five-start winless streak, and Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer against his former team to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 Wednesday night.

Peralta Hits 2-Out, 2-Run HR in 9th, Cardinals Jolt Cubs 6-5  —  CHICAGO — Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals jolted the Chicago Cubs 6-5 Wednesday night.  —  The Cardinals trailed 5-4 and Cubs reliever Pedro Strop (1-4) quickly retired the first two batters in the ninth.

Defying Time and Space … He looks out of place, at least at first.  Wearing a Mets uniform that grants no slimming effect to his block of a body, he could easily be mistaken for an overinvested fan who has wandered past assorted “Authorized Personnel Only” signs at Citi Field, onto the outfield grass.

DeGrom dominates as Mets top Giants, 4-1  —  Jacob deGrom tossed eight shutout innings and the Mets got a solid offensive output as they beat the Giants, 4-1, on Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco.  —  The Mets opened the scoring in the sixth when a Brandon Crawford throwing error allowed Ruben Tejada to score from first base.

Teixeira Homers Twice to Help Sabathia, Yankees Beat A's 5-4  —  NEW YORK — All-Star slugger Mark Teixeira homered twice after Scott Kazmir left his start with triceps tightness, and CC Sabathia won for the first time in a month when the New York Yankees held off the Oakland Athletics 5-4 Wednesday night.

Porcello Ends 7-Game Skid; Red Sox Beat Marlins 6-3  —  BOSTON — Rick Porcello held Miami to two runs in six innings to snap a career-worst, seven-game losing streak, David Ortiz hit a two-run homer and the surging Boston Red Sox won their season-high fourth straight, 6-3 over the Marlins on Wednesday night.

Royals could lose Alex Gordon for months after left fielder strains groin  —  Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) was taken off the field on a cart after being injured chasing a fly ball by Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe in the fourth inning Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Tigers should accept reality and become trade deadline sellers  —  The Outside Corner  —  Yardbarker  —  Manager Brad Ausmus of the Detroit Tigers removes starting pitcher David Price during a June 2015 game.  Price is not expected to return to the club in 2016.

The Royals' defense isn't just good in 2015 — it is historically elite  —  19h - LORENZO CAIN ALEX GORDON KANSAS CITY ROYALS + more