Verlander throws 5-hit shutout, Astros blank Angels 2-0  —  Houston took two of three in the series and holds a two-game lead in the AL West over the Angels.  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Justin Verlander pitched a five-hitter for his first shutout in three years and Evan Gattis hit a two-run homer …

Fixing Matt Harvey: Reds and erstwhile Dark Knight still believe it can happen  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Matt Harvey's first two outings with the Reds have provided occasional glimpses of the pitcher who earned a starting nod in the 2013 All-Star Game, such as his stretch of striking out five …

Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood fixes flaw in delivery to limit walks  —  Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood discusses getting pulled in the sixth inning against the Braves on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Tyler Chatwood isn't sure where he developed a bad habit …

Red Sox avoid sweep with 6-4 win over A's  —  Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts, right, is congratulated by J.D. Martinez as he crosses home plate after his three-run home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Ryan Dull during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

Baseball notebook: Mets place Cespedes on the disabled list  —  Yoenis Cespedes spent about a week trying to play through his latest lower body injury.  Now, he and the New York Mets are opting to play it safe.  —  The team placed Cespedes, an outfielder, on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday …

Dodgers GM gives manager Dave Roberts vote of confidence  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers are making history with their poor start, but manager Dave Roberts' job appears to be safe.  —  General manager Farhan Zaidi said Thursday that the team's front office has “confidence” in Roberts' performance this season.

Messages received: Carpenter, Fowler stir to send Cards to win vs. Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS  • It's become customary for Cardinals manager Mike Matheny to let his position players know who is in the lineup and where before the game, often with a message he sends to their phones the night before.

Giants' Brandon Belt says plate umpire cheated him to ‘get the game over with’  —  A series-ending loss to the National League-worst Reds wasn't the only thing that left Giants slugger Brandon Belt raw on Wednesday.  —  It was how that 6-3 defeat ended that rubbed the left fielder the wrong way.

Phillies finally have tough decisions with starting rotation |  Extra Innings  —  What will Gabe Kapler do today?  Kapler has certainly kept it interesting so far, and Wednesday's 4-1 win over Baltimore was no different.  He called on Hector Neris to record just the final out of the ninth inning …

Phillies minor leagues: Lakewood starting rotation dominating opponents  —  LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Marty Malloy did not know what to expect from his starting rotation as he prepared for his second season as manager of the Phillies' low-A Lakewood affiliate.  —  He had been blessed in his first season.

With mom by his side, Franmil Reyes looking to stick with Padres  —  SAN DIEGO  —  A mother emerged from the tunnel leading out to the field at Petco Park and searched for her boy.  At 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, Franmil Reyes is one of the most imposing figures to ever pull a Padres jersey …

Nationals catcher Wieters has surgery on left hamstring  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals say catcher Matt Wieters had an operation on his left hamstring.  —  The team announced Thursday that Wieters had the surgery on Wednesday.  —  The Nationals indicated more information …

Keith Law's 2018 Mock Draft 2.0  —  Just as he did during my first mock draft, Auburn's Casey Mize appears at the No. 1 spot in our current edition.  But as we near the two-week mark from draft day, buzz around how the rest of the first round will play out is starting to pick up.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS

Houston Astros outfield prospect Myles Straw showing base stealing prowess with Hooks  —  Back in spring training, Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch told Myles Straw they were thinking about pulling him up for the 2017 playoffs to run bases.  —  The move did not happen but it was an eye opener and motivator for Straw.