Chris Flexen impresses as Mets rookies pace offense to beat Diamondbacks  —  Is Chris Flexen forcing the Mets to consider him in their plans for the future?  —  The rookie righthander is in the majors only because of all the Mets' pitching injuries, but after a rough first couple of starts …

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 …

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.

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.

Column A nearly perfect game by Rich Hill is spoiled by a Dodgers television blackout  —  Rich Hill threw nine hitless innings before coming out in the 10th inning and giving up a home run to the Pirates.  (Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)  —  Like many folks who follow the Dodgers …

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tim Anderson on first-career walk-off hit: ‘I wanted that moment’  —  White Sox infielders Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada discuss the team's victory against the Twins on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017.  (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  When Avisail Garcia reached second base …

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.

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.

Rumor Central: No long-term future for Profar in Texas?  —  The future of Jurickson Profar might be with a team other than the Texas Rangers, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News suggests.  —  Profar, the one-time elite prospect who is currently at Triple-A Round Rock …

Brewers stumble in 7th, fall to Giants in series finale  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Milwaukee Brewers would have much preferred to leave for an important road series against baseball's best Los Angeles Dodgers with momentum from a series win.  —  MORE BREWERS COVERAGE

Three-run 10th inning sends Rangers past Angels  —  ANAHEIM, CALIF.  —  Adrian Beltre connected for two solo home runs Wednesday night, and Robinson Chirinos homered and drove in two runs as the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-5 in 10 innings.  —  The Rangers scored three times …