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 …

Phillies rained out; Klentak offers optimistic, but realistic view of team's hot start  —  But he never pitched an inning for a Dodgers minor-league affiliate and was released by the organization in July 2016.  —  “They let me go because I wasn't pitching well,” Rosso said Monday through …

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.

Blue Jays crush Mets as Zack Wheeler, lineup struggle  —  NEW YORK - There's nothing more maddening for a manager and pitching coach than trying to put Zack Wheeler's starts into perspective.  —  There are days, says Mets manager Mickey Callaway, when the righthander is brilliant.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Carson Kelly goes to DL; Cards will call up catcher Steven Baron  —  Another day, another Cardinal bound for the disabled list.  Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold reports that catcher Carson Kelly is headed there because of a hamstring strain.  —  Steven Baron, a 27-year-old catcher …

How Jacob Hannemann became a minor league Gold Glove winner for the Iowa Cubs  —  Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982.  Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time.

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 …

Nelson leads Tampa to 6-2 win over Dunedin  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Nick Nelson allowed just three hits over six innings, leading the Tampa Tarpons over the Dunedin Blue Jays in a 6-2 win on Thursday.  —  Nelson (1-1) picked up the win after he struck out six and walked one while allowing one run.

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

Could We Be Entering the Dawn of the Mercenary LeBron Era?  —  With the Cavaliers up against the wall in the Eastern Conference finals, it's time to ponder the King's upcoming summer.  He could very well change the way we think about free agency ... again.  —  LeBron James has fallen on hard times in this postseason.