All you need to know about Yankees' toughest stretch of 2018  —  The final weekend in April and the beginning of May will feel a whole lot like October for the New York Yankees.  —  The Bronx Bombers kick off a 13-game stretch Friday night in Anaheim that will see them play the four teams …

Rays on roll entering series with Red Sox  —  BOSTON — When the Tampa Bay Rays left Boston April 8, they were 1-8 with eight straight losses.  —  A lot has changed for Kevin Cash's team as it returns to Fenway Park for a three-game series this weekend.  —  The Rays open the series …

Davidson homers twice, White Sox beat Royals 6-3  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Matt Davidson is disproving the notion power hitters don't like Kauffman Stadium.  —  Davidson hit two of Chicago's five home runs, leading the White Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

With the worst behind them, new manager Gabe Kapler and the Phillies are thinking big … PHILADELPHIA — Gabe Kapler came striding into the postgame interview room late Thursday afternoon, resplendent in his full, throwback, powder-blue Philadelphia Phillies uniform.

Darvish faces Brewers in quest for first win  —  CHICAGO — When Yu Darvish signed a $126 million contract to join the Cubs in the offseason, he was viewed as a free agent prize.  —  But as Darvish prepares to make his fifth start of the season Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the 31-year-old right-hander has yet to deliver.

Media Views: Matt Holliday, dabbling in broadcasting, hasn't given up on playing again  —  Matt Holliday has played in nearly 1,900 big-league baseball games.  He'd like to be in some more.  —  Holliday is working out in Jupiter, Fla., where he lives with his family and is hoping for a call back to the majors.

Blue Jays attempt to regroup vs. Rangers  —  TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have finished a seven-game stretch against two tough American League East rivals and now they take on a rival of two recent postseasons in the Texas Rangers on Friday night.  —  The Blue Jays finished 2-5 …

The sad part of Rangers history pitcher Matt Bush is in danger of joining  —  Matt Bush is in danger of joining the Rangers' sad history of effective relievers who went south after trying to transform into starters.  —  The Rangers on Wednesday used Bush's final option to send him to Triple-A Round Rock.

Answering your NY Mets questions on Matt Harvey, the bullpen, Michael Conforto  —  Noah Syndergaard discusses his outing against St. Louis Matt Ehalt, Staff Writer, @MattEhalt  —  Following Thursday's 4-3 loss in 13 innings to the Cardinals, the Mets are 15-8 and still atop the NL East.

Column: Tank me out to the ballgame: MLB teams get early start in Race to the Bottom  —  Royals pitcher Jason Hammel rolls over after being hit by a ball off the bat of the Brewers' Lorenzo Cain during a game at Kauffman Stadium on April 25, 2018 in Kansas City.  (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

How many strikeouts is too many, and MLB's next big thing  —  Every year, baseball's strikeout rate increases.  That much we know.  What we haven't thought as much about is the victim of the strikeout pandemic: balls in play.  Without balls in play, we can't have hits.

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 …

Yankees rumors: Patrick Corbin interest mutual, report says  —  With CC Sabathia in in his twilight years and with the long-term futures of Sonny Gray and Jordan Montgomery in pinstripes uncertain, the Yankees could certainly use another quality starter.  Enter Patrick Corbin.

One small step sent Shohei Ohtani toward two-way success in MLB  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Eric Hinske began by leaving Shohei Ohtani alone.  He sat back and watched the 23-year-old two-way phenom get swallowed up by major league fastballs inside and above the belt for the better part of four weeks.