Jake Arrieta, Cubs set to open series against Blue Jays  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon on Jon Lester's injury that will send him to the 10-day DL.  (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Former Cubs Darwin Barney and Miguel Montero are in town with the Blue Jays this weekend …

Persistent ‘stiffness’ leaves David Price's potential return to Red Sox in limbo  —  BOSTON — David Price hasn't thrown a ball since Tuesday, and it's fair to begin wondering if he will pitch again this season for the Boston Red Sox.  —  Price, whose balky elbow has landed …

Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez ‘not going to sit there and complain’ about playing time  —  With the Los Angeles Dodgers in the midst of a historic season, it's easy to forget that the team's opening day first baseman has barely played this year.  —  Adrian Gonzalez hasn't played since June 11 due …

Zimmerman's homer lifts Nationals to 2-1 win vs Padres  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — With 33-year-old Edwin Jackson mostly frustrating the San Diego Padres for seven innings, Ryan Zimmerman and the rest of the Washington Nationals figured out a way to win on just four hits.

Yankees Twitter account trolls Mets with ‘Game of Thrones’ quote following Subway Series sweep  —  In the Game of Thrones you either win or you're the Mets.  —  The Yankees took back the Iron Throne this week when they swept the Subway Series with four straight wins against their cross town rivals.

Yankees will turn to Aroldis Chapman on Friday, if needed, against Red Sox  —  BOSTON — After getting the last two days off Aroldis Chapman is available and will be Joe Girardi's closer if needed Friday.  —  Chapman, who has struggled, had been dealing with a tight hamstring as well as some confidence issues.

What You Need to Know  —  Engel in the Outfield  —  The Thursday Takeaway  —  There were 38,675 fans in attendance at Wrigley Field for the final game of a four-game series between the Reds and Cubs, and I'd imagine that two or three times that many people would've claimed …

New Marlins owners to replace Samson, source says  —  David Samson, the loquacious and occasionally polarizing president of the Marlins for the past 15 years, will be looking for a new job when new owners take over the franchise.  —  A source said prospective owners Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter …

Take heart, Phils fans, it could be - and has been - worse |  Frank's Place  —  For all the torment inherent in being a longtime Phillies fan, there has always been one small salvation: No matter how bad things are, they were once worse.  —  How many other franchises can offer fans that kind of psychic cushion?

Detroit Tigers LHP Daniel Norris keeps sanity, begins rehab assignment  —  The Dodgers are 85-34 entering this three-game series with the Tigers.  A look at the other nine teams with at least 85 wins in their first 119 games since 1901.  Video by Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press Wochit  —  CONNECT

Mark Melancon Weighing Surgery For Unknown Injury  —  Giants reliever Mark Melancon is considering undergoing surgery, he told reporters today, including Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (links to Twitter).  The veteran righty declined to disclose the precise nature of the injury …

Michael Lorenzen: 'I'm learning how to pitch now'  —  In early April, Michael Lorenzen was riding high.  —  The Cincinnati Reds right-hander was coming off a strong 2016 season as a reliever, and he'd just tossed three perfect innings of relief against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Catcher Salvador Perez could return to Royals as early as Tuesday  —  Royals catcher Salvador Perez snared the ball in the dirt and fired a dart to first base.  —  There wasn't a baserunner who needed to scamper back to the bag, because this wasn't in a game.

Jose Abreu steps in after White Sox rookie Reynaldo Lopez tries to pitch through soreness  —  White Sox manager Rick Renteria on removing Reynaldo Lopez from Thursday's game against the Rangers with right side soreness on Aug. 17, 2017.  (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Wong scratched with a hip injury, could come off bench  —  PITTSBURGH  • At some point during Thursday's victory at PNC Park, in addition to a few RBIs and a few hits, Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong also experienced some pain in his hip.  —  The discomfort didn't not relent …

Lucas Giolito to make White Sox debut Monday; Michael Kopech being promoted to Triple-A  —  Chicago Tribune  —  White Sox prospects Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech each have a promotion coming Monday.  —  The Sox announced Friday that Giolito, currently pitching with Triple-A Charlotte …

Mayers joins Cardinals as Wainwright likely to go on the DL  —  PITTSBURGH  • Reliever Mike Mayers has joined the Cardinals in Pittsburgh, and the team is expected to move Adam Wainwright to the disabled list while he's back in St. Louis to meet with team physicians.

CAN'T GET TO A TV?  WATCH LIVE ON FOX SPORTS GO  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Seattle Mariners continue to hover at .500, which is enough to remain in the thick of the American League wild-card chase with 40 games to play.  —  The Tampa Bay Rays, who host Seattle in the opener …

Kris Bryant: Joey Votto is ‘the best player ever’  —  In the midst of arguably his best career season, Reds first baseman Joey Votto received the highest of praises from reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant.  —  “He's the best player ever,” Bryant said Wednesday, per CSN Chicago.