Blue Jays add to villainous reputation in loss to Braves  —  ATLANTA — Whatever happened when Kevin Pillar struck out in the top of the seventh inning of the latest unsightly Blue Jays loss to the Atlanta Braves, he was quick to apologize.  —  And if teammate Jose Bautista offended anybody …

Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley: ‘He was a great guy, everyone loved him’  —  Exterior of Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2016.  A Wheaton man died May 17, 2017, after falling over a railing at the ballpark on May 16, 2017.  —  A Wheaton man died a day after falling …

Danny Duffy strikes out 10 Yankees in dealing Royals a 5-1 victory  —  Danny Duffy reported for duty in the second inning in a flash.  When things are going this well, you can't wait to toe the rubber.  —  After two nights of watching Yankees circle the bases, the Royals needed a line …

Angels To Sign Doug Fister  —  The Angels are in agreement with free-agent right-hander Doug Fister on a Major League contract, reports SB Nation's Chris Cotillo (via Twitter).  Fister is a client of PSI Sports Management.  —  As of last week, the 33-year-old Fister was said to be close to signing …

Rangers reaction wonders if they'll ever lose again in Arlington  —  ARLINGTON  —  Is this becoming old hat?  Do people even use the expression “old hat” anymore?  The Rangers' 8-4 win over the Phillies Thursday afternoon, which capped a three-game sweep, an 8-0 homestand …

Despite loss, Tuivailala growing into role  —  Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com  —  Sam Tuivailala's role with the Cardinals seemingly has always been in flux.  —  Originally drafted out of high school as a shortstop in 2010, Tuivailala transitioned to the mound two years later …

Road has been a (7-home run) blast for White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu  —  Photos of White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Jose Abreu's two-run homer off Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker on Wednesday night in Anaheim was his seventh on the road this year.

Rob Manfred acknowledges pace of game in MLB has gone ‘backwards’  —  NEW YORK — Acknowledging that games have gotten even slower this season, commissioner Rob Manfred says MLB with will meet with players in an attempt to find a solution.  —  The average time of a nine-inning game is a record 3 hours …

Mets' Steven Matz, Seth Lugo pitch to Travis d'Arnaud in minors  —  NEW YORK — Help may be on the way for the hobbled New York Mets.  —  Steven Matz and Seth Lugo made their first minor league rehab appearances Thursday night, pitching to Travis d'Arnaud in a game with Class A St. Lucie.

Rangers finish undefeated homestand with ninth straight win  —  ARLINGTON  —  The Rangers won their ninth consecutive game Thursday afternoon, sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies with a 8-4 win at Globe Life Park.  The Rangers went 8-0 on their homestand.  They begin a nine-game road trip Friday in Detroit.

Matheny named to MLB's reorganized competition committee  —  ST. LOUIS  • Within his first few years as manager of the Cardinals, Mike Matheny found himself standing before the commissioner and other baseball officials making a case for a rule change that he, as a catcher, would have been adamantly against.

Rays Acquire Michael Martinez, Place Brad Miller On Disabled List  —  The Rays have acquired infielder/outfielder Michael Martinez from the Indians in exchange for cash or a player to be named later and placed fellow infielder Brad Miller on the 10-day disabled list due to a left abdominal strain.

Twins ace Ervin Santana struggles early in rare loss  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Nolan Arenado got Colorado going with a first-inning home run, Mark Reynolds added a two-run single and the road-tough Rockies beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 on Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader.

United Gets L.A. Coliseum Naming Rights In College-Record Deal … United Airlines is buying the naming rights to L.A. Memorial Coliseum for more than $70M over 15 years, according to sources, making it the richest naming-rights deal among college football stadiums.