John Henry says Red Sox will lead effort to change name of Yawkey Way  —  The Red Sox have had enough.  —  At a moment when racial tensions have escalated rapidly and the removal of Confederate statues acts as a flashpoint for violent and racially divisive protests, the Red Sox are ready …

Kershaw, Price, Strasburg: As MLB playoffs near, pitchers on mend may tip balance of power  —  With fewer than 50 games to go we're approaching the summer's 11th hour, which is why transactions matter, especially to the clubs making plans for October.  There are several key pitchers on the verge …

Toronto Blue Jays escape Tampa Bay Rays  —  TORONTO — Justin Smoak hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning, Josh Donaldson hit two solo homers and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Thursday.  —  Smoak hit his 33rd homer of the season with one out against Tommy Hunter (2-4) after Donaldson walked.

Young Phillies back to basics with unusual mandatory workout  —  SAN FRANCISCO — It was 2:20 p.m. here, about five hours until first pitch Thursday, when the Phillies trickled onto the AT&T Park field.  Mandatory workouts are not common in August, not before Game 118 in the middle of another West Coast slog.

Ervin, Votto lead Reds past Cubs despite Chicago's 6 homers  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Phillip Ervin hit a two-run homer to snap a tie in the seventh inning and had four RBIs in his first major league start as the Cincinnati Reds rebounded from blowing a nine-run lead to defeat the Chicago Cubs 13-10 on Thursday.

Steven Matz knocked out early, Luis Severino dominates as Yankees win 7-5 to sweep Mets  —  The Yankees finished off a Subway sweep of the Mets on Thursday night in this four-game, two-borough series thanks to the Kraken.  —  Gary Sanchez powered the Bronx Bombers to the club's second-ever …

Beantown meltdown: Cardinals furious after Fenway fiasco  —  Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr. slides home with the winning run as the relay throw gets away from St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday.  The Red Sox won 5-4.  (AP Photo)  —  BOSTON

Arizona Diamondbacks ride Patrick Corbin for split with Houston Astros  —  HOUSTON — Patrick Corbin came within an out of his first complete game in nearly four years, scattering four hits in 8 2/3 innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks earned a split of their four-game, home-and-home interleague series …

Rick Renteria on receiving Cubs World Series ring: ‘A classy gesture’  —  White Sox manager Rick Renteria called receiving a Cubs World Series ring “a classy gesture” by the team on Wednesday, AUg. 16, 2017.  (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Indians split doubleheader with Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Max Kepler made up for a fielding mistake in the top of the inning with the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the seventh, sending the Minnesota Twins to a 4-2 victory over Cleveland in the second game on Thursday night to salvage a doubleheader split with the Indians.

Mets put infielder Jose Reyes on 10-day disabled list  —  NEW YORK (AP) Jose Reyes has been placed on the 10-day disabled list by the New York Mets with a sore left ribcage.  —  Fellow infielder Wilmer Flores remains out of the lineup Thursday night against the Yankees with a similar injury.

The Top 10 Rookies Of 2017  —  With the 2017 Major League Baseball season three-quarters of the way over, we've seen no shortage of rookies* burst on the scene as potential long-term building blocks for their respective teams.  Here, we'll take a look at those who have enjoyed the finest introductions to the big leagues thus far.

Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Friday  —  Friday offers the standard full slate with the traditional matinee at Wrigley Field when the Cubs are home for the weekend.  Max Scherzer and Corey Kluber are the main events on the card, along with the 2017 debut of Andrew Heaney.

Robbie Grossman Diagnosed With Fractured Thumb  —  Twins outfielder/DH Robbie Grossman has been diagnosed with a fractured left thumb, the club announced (h/t Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press, on Twitter).  Grossman is expected to miss at least three weeks, manager Paul Molitor said (also via Berardino, on Twitter).

Detroit Tigers ‘curious’ about Joe Jimenez's velocity drop  —  Right-handed reliever said after the 12-5 loss to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday that there are no issues with his health  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - Brad Ausmus isn't concerned.  —  But the manager admitted after the Detroit Tigers' 12-6 loss …

Pirates knock Wainwright from game after third inning  —  PITTSBURGH  • The hex Adam Wainwright was able to hold over the Pirates for an inning ended in the third inning.  —  With two outs, Wainwright was unable to retire a batter to finish the inning before the Pirates had opened …