Anthony Alford promoted to MLB by Blue Jays  —  Former Petal star Anthony Alford was called up to the big leagues by the Toronto Blue Jays Friday.  —  The 22-year-old outfielder was hitting .325 with three home runs and 11 runs batted in 33 games with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Toronto's AA affiliate.

The NL East is so bad, it's hard to tell if the Nationals are any good  —  The Atlanta Braves have already endured two six-game losing streaks this season, plus a separate five-gamer.  They haven't spent a single day above .500 and haven't been within five games of first place since the third week of April.

BAR Mailbag: Who's to blame for the pitching?  —  114 Shares  —  Amir Garrett lasted just four innings and the Reds were swept in Chicago, losing 9-5 to the Cubs on Thursday.  The Enquirer/C. Trent Rosecrans … Happy Friday.  Let's get to your Reds questions. … I don't think it's a coaching staff issue.

Turner injures right hamstring, Dodgers beat Marlins 7-2  —  Justin Turner left in the seventh inning after injuring his right hamstring, curbing the celebration for the Los Angeles Dodgers after a 7-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.  —  Turner was hurt running from second base to home in the seventh inning.

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 …

Yankees baffled by Danny Duffy, fall to Royals in series finale  —  A-Rod may have been in the broadcast booth, but the Yankees could've used him in the batter's box on Thursday.  Maybe he could've hit Danny Duffy.  No one else seemed to be able to.  Duffy was dominant …

Tigers' opponents preview: Rangers ride into Comerica Park on nine-game winning streak  —  Series: Texas at Tigers for three games, Friday-Sunday night.  —  TV/radio: Friday — 7:10 on Fox Sports Detroit, Saturday — 7:15 on Fox (Channel 2 in Detroit), Sunday — 8:05 on ESPN.

The bullpen revolution has not been televised  —  There comes a point each spring when the buds of a bullpen revolution seem to be everywhere.  One team's closer competition between two great relievers inspires a managerial pledge to “play matchups” and get both pitchers saves.

Braves' Julio Teheran hits Jose Bautista in thigh day after bat flip  —  Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran hit Toronto's Jose Bautista in the left thigh with his second pitch of the at-bat in the top of the first inning Thursday night at Atlanta.  —  The Braves weren't pleased …

Todd Frazier, Tim Anderson homer as White Sox pull even with Mariners in 8th  —  Photos from the White Sox-Mariners game on Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Seattle.  —  Todd Frazier and Tim Anderson hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to push the White Sox into a 4-4 tie with the Mariners on Thursday night at Safeco Field.

Series preview: Giants at Cardinals  —  Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com  —  Scouting report  • The Cardinals welcome in the San Francisco Giants this weekend for a three-game series.  Coming off a two-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, the Cardinals have fallen …

Monken: DeSean Jackson took the money and better be great  —  If you think the Bucs will pressure DeSean Jackson to live up to his contract, well, you're right on the money.  —  At least that's the message from offensive coordinator/receivers coach Todd Monken to the 30-year-old Jackson …

A's spoil Velazquez's debut with 3 HRs in 8-3 win vs Red Sox  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis hit first-inning homers to spoil Hector Velazquez's major league debut and the Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 8-3 on Thursday night.  —  Chad Pinder added a homer …

Source: Doug Fister agrees to minor league deal with Angels  —  The Los Angeles Angels have reached agreement on a major league deal with veteran right-hander Doug Fister, a source told ESPN's Buster Olney.  —  Because of his service time, the 33-year-old Fister has agreed to be optioned to the minors …