In erasing Yawkey Way from Fenway Park, Red Sox, Boston seize opportunity from shame  —  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been riding some hot hitting and stingy pitching.  Can they actually dethrone the Houston Astros in the AL West?  Time  —  CONNECT

Diamondbacks power past Phillies 8-2  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jarrod Dyson, Nick Ahmed and David Peralta homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks earned an 8-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.  —  The Diamondbacks improved to 17-7, matching the best 24-game start in franchise history.

Next Slide  —  Sergio Alcantara isn't the most heralded Detroit Tigers prospect, but the shortstop is garnering attention among front offices with his early-season play.  —  The 25th best prospect in the Tigers farm system according to MLB Pipeline, Alcantara entered Thursday hitting .311 …

Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn't want to rush Kris Bryant to return  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Kris Bryant met with team doctor Stephen Adams before taking batting practice Thursday as the Cubs await the third baseman's return.  —  “I don't anticipate anything awful or bad,” manager Joe Maddon said once again.

Miller put on DL by Indians due to strained hamstring  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Reliever Andrew Miller has been placed on the 10-day disabled list by the Cleveland Indians because of a strained left hamstring.  —  Miller grabbed the back of his leg after throwing a pitch to the Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo …

Gary Sanchez calls first walk-off homer a ‘special moment’ in his young Yankees career  —  As Gary Sanchez strode to the plate with the tying runs on base, a few teammates on the Yankees felt like something dramatic was about to happen.  —  Dellin Betances felt it.  Giancarlo Stanton said so, too.

White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar ‘progressing’ and on his feet after ruptured aneurysm  —  Photos of White Sox relief pitcher Danny Farquhar.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The White Sox took the field for batting practice Friday at Kauffman Stadium wearing a shirt that reflects the wishes of the players.

Tyler Austin's suspension cut from 5 games to 4  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Tyler Austin's suspension was cut from five games to four by John McHale Jr., a special assistant to baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, and the New York first baseman will start serving the penalty on Friday when the Yankees open a series at the Los Angeles Angels.

Orioles 3B Tim Beckham out at least 6 weeks after surgery  —  BALTIMORE — The bad news just keeps coming for the Baltimore Orioles.  —  Infielder Tim Beckham had core muscle surgery on Thursday morning and is expected to be out until at least early June, according to manager Buck Showalter.

A's send opening day starter Kendall Graveman to minors  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have optioned opening day starter Kendall Graveman and fellow right-hander Chris Bassitt to Triple-A Nashville.  —  The A's also announced Thursday that right-hander Wilmer Font …

Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Friday  —  Friday poses a standard schedule, with the typical afternoon game at Wrigley Field when the Cubs are hosting a weekend series.  Postponement and off days have scrambled rotations such that each slate has a little of everything.

A look back at the longest Brewers' winning streaks in franchise history  —  For the 16th time in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers have won at least eight consecutive games after dismissing the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.  As the Brewers head into a four-game series vs …

Absent for more than a year, Jung Ho Kang finally gets a visa and aims to rejoin Pirates  —  Ever the optimist, manager Clint Hurdle never let himself believe Jung Ho Kang was forever banished from the Pirates.  Yet it's not accurate to say Hurdle always was confident Kang would return.