Aaron Boone plans to pair struggling Sonny Gray with Austin Romine in his next start  —  Aaron Boone is leaning toward going with a Sonny Gray-Austin Romine battery for Thursday's game.  Gray, 28, has struggled this season, posting a 8.27 ERA in his first four starts, while going a combined 16.1 innings in those outings.

Olney: Giants should consider a Bumgarner blockbuster  —  The San Francisco Giants played according to the script of their front office on Monday night.  Chris Stratton, who is quickly establishing himself as a reliable force in the rotation, threw well against the Nationals, and there was some power …

Cards setting prospect Flaherty up for Saturday start vs. Pirates  —  ST. LOUIS  • Although the team wouldn't go so far as to announce who will start Saturday at PNC Park, they have altered Class AAA Memphis' rotation for the coming days and set up the schedule so that Jack Flaherty will be available to return to the majors.

MLB tanking: Nine teams that can wait 'til next year after a wretched first month  —  Much as baseball likes to tout its parity, a substantial number of teams entered the season with what seemed like virtually no shot at reaching the playoffs.  —  Now we have confirmation.

Yankees: Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres' roles unclear for Greg Bird, Brandon Drury return  —  Aaron Boone will have some tough decisions to make.  And that's the way the Yankees' first-year manager would like it.  —  Two of the Yankees' top prospects have earned prominent roles …

Skaggs shuts down Astros; Angels win 2-0 after call reversed  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Yuli Gurriel was thrown out at third base by catcher Martin Maldonado to end the game after an original safe call was reversed on replay, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 2-0 win over Houston on Monday night that ended the Astros' six-game winning streak.

White Sox call up Daniel Palka to replace the injured Avisail Garcia  —  White Sox starter Carson Fulmer discusses the team's offensive outpouring and his outing against the Mariners on Monday, April 23, 2018.  (Teddy Greenstein/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Buehler!  Top prospect shines in Dodgers' 2-1 win over Miami  —  Miami Marlins center fielder Lewis Brinson runs into the wall as fans catch a ball hit for a solo home run by Los Angeles Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 23, 2018, in Los Angeles.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Diego Padres … PHILADELPHIA - Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin said he didn't mean for his recent comments to be taken as anything more than what they were - an honest answer to a topic he's not focusing on.  —  Corbin, who is a free agent at the end of the year …

A's hope to keep momentum going vs. Rangers  —  The Achilles' heel for the Texas Rangers through the first month of the 2018 season has been relief pitching.  —  That situation reared its ugly head again Monday when two relievers allowed six runs in the ninth inning to all but hand …

Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Wednesday  —  The fourth Wednesday of the 2018 regular season carries plenty of aces but also batting-practice machines, with little in between that can be used as a fun streamer.  At least we're back to a full 15-game schedule, including the continuation of a Coors Field series.

Jenny Cavnar prepared for Rockies play-by-play duties by practicing with ‘MLB The Show’  —  Fire up “The Show.”  —  Jenny Cavnar became the first woman to do TV play-by-play for a Major League Baseball game since 1993 when she called the Rockies-Padres game Monday night at Coors Field in Denver.

Cincinnati Reds notes: With team going so badly, Joey Votto's slow start looks even worse  —  This is not the first time that Joey Votto has endured a slow April, which is typically the worst hitting month of his Reds career.  —  Votto entered Tuesday with no home runs and just one extra-base hit (a double) all year.

Gabe Kapler goes to Reading for Phillies prospect Seranthony Dominguez and a ‘great steak’  —  Gabe Kapler ventured to Reading Monday night and polished off a 20-ounce ribeye.  —  “Medium rare,” the Phillies manager said.  “Great steak.”  —  But dinner was not Kapler's lone takeaway from his trip to Berks County.

Gibson's triple leads Lakeland to 2-1 win over Dunedin  —  LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Cam Gibson hit a run-scoring triple in the eighth inning, leading the Lakeland Flying Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Tuesday.  —  Isaac Paredes scored on the play after he reached base on a walk.

Detroit Tigers couldn't continue using ‘misfiring’ Drew VerHagen  —  PITTSBURGH — Manager Ron Gardenhire said right-hander Drew VerHagen was “misfiring” too much to remain part of the Detroit Tigers' bullpen.  —  “Hopefully he'll clear and will get back in our system,” …

Rockies Select Contract Of Brooks Pounders, Designate Zach Jemiola  —  The Rockies announced on Tuesday that they've selected the contract of right-hander Brooks Pounders from Triple-A and cleared a spot on the 40-man roster by designating fellow righty Zach Jemiola for assignment.