Ray solid in return as Diamondbacks edge Mets 3-2 (Aug 24, 2017)  —  NEW YORK (AP) Robbie Ray returned to a big league mound for the first time since being hit in the head with a line drive last month, striking out nine in five innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Mets 3-2 on Thursday.

Way-too-early World Series preview: Who can beat the Dodgers?  —  According to the forecasts from our friends at FiveThirtyEight, the current pool of six leading championship contenders includes the same teams as before the season.  —  While the top six are the same, their order has shuffled quite a bit.

Detroit Tigers' Zac Reininger called up, gets to realize his ‘dream’  —  The Tigers promoted right-handed pitcher Zac Reininger from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday night.  Reininger began the season at High-A Lakeland  —  CONNECT  —  Right-handed pitcher Zac Reininger said his parents …

Twins put Castro on 7-day DL with concussion, recall Granite  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Twins have put catcher Jason Castro on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion and recalled outfielder Zack Granite.  —  Castro took three foul balls off his face mask in Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Phillies prospect Scott Kingery finishing strong at triple A  —  ALLENTOWN — Scott Kingery was so worn down at the end of last season that he struggled to find the energy to do anything before the first pitch.  —  He didn't want to take batting practice.  He loathed early fielding work.

New York Mets to activate Jeurys Familia from DL  —  The New York Mets will activate closer Jeurys Familia from the 60-day disabled list prior to Friday's game against the Washington Nationals, the team announced Thursday.  —  Familia has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery with the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Preview: Marlins try to secure series win in road trip finale against Philles  —  TV: FOX Sports Florida  —  CAN'T GET TO A TV?  WATCH IT LIVE ON FOX SPORTS GO  —  PHILADELPHIA — Attempting to chase down a National League wild-card spot, the Miami Marlins are running out of room for many more letdowns.

Schwarber homers, Cubs stay hot with 9-3 win over Reds  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run homer in the ballpark near his home, Tommy La Stella added a two-run shot while subbing for Kris Bryant, and the Chicago Cubs kept their second-half surge going with a 9-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.

Yankees' patience with Luis Severino has paid off in a big way  —  DETROIT — Luis Severino may not win the AL Cy Young Award.  He may not win the AL Comeback Player of the Year either.  —  But Severino's transformation from 2016 to 2017 is remarkable nonetheless.

Mets' Michael Conforto leaves game after suffering dislocated left shoulder on swing … Michael Conforto walked off the field holding his left shoulder and grimacing in pain Thursday.  The Mets' young outfielder suffered a dislocated left shoulder on the follow-through of his swing in the bottom of the fifth inning.

For seven years, Jayson Werth has called Washington home.  He wants one more run.  —  (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)  —  ALLENTOWN, Pa. — From the dugout at Coca-Cola Park, it's hard to see the major leagues, let alone a pennant race and an October full of possibility.

Battered Indians go against Boston's Sale in finale (Aug 24, 2017)  —  CLEVELAND — What's left of the Cleveland Indians will host the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night in the finale of a four-game series at Progressive Field.  —  The bruised and battered Indians will come limping into the game.

Would Mark McGwire be in Hall of Fame if not admitting PED use?  —  SportsPulse: Plenty of teams are fighting for two playoff spots.  USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale breaks down the madness.  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  ST. LOUIS — Mark McGwire plops down on a couch …

Amid historic binge, a big reason to think Rhys Hoskins is for real |  David Murphy  —  By the time you are done reading this story, Rhys Hoskins may have homered again.  Knowing full well that risk, let's take a look at the primary reason to believe that the big guy's historic start to his career will prove to be no fluke.

Carpenter out of lineup again, Wong back at leadoff  —  First baseman Matt Carpenter, who was sent home from Busch Stadium Wednesday with a virus, is out of the Cardinals' starting lineup again Thursday.  —  Whether or not Carpenter will be in attendance, and thus available off the bench …

Hosmer 3-run HR with 2 outs in 9th, Royals beat Rockies 6-4  —  Eric Hosmer got a lot of close-up looks at Greg Holland over the years.  So when it came time to face his former Kansas City teammate, Hosmer remembered what to do.  —  And what not to do, too.

Royals' Salvador Perez still appears to be in pain; Ned Yost says issue is ‘playable’  —  Royals catcher Salvador Perez has appeared in noticeable discomfort while playing in two games since returning from the disabled list.  He has winced in pain after swings and gone down to one knee on multiple occasions during at-bats.

Source: MRI on Orioles closer Zach Britton's knee shows no structural damage  —  Orioles closer Zach Britton watches from the dugout as teammate Miguel Castro finishes the ninth inning Wednesday.  (Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun)  —  An MRI performed on Orioles closer Zach Britton's left …