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 …

Rangers scratch Cole Hamels from tonight's start with neck stiffness  —  CHICAGO  —  The Texas Rangers have scratched left-hander Cole Hamels from his scheduled Thursday start against the Chicago White Sox.  —  Doug Fister, who was slated to pitch Friday, will start in Hamels' place.

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 …

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 …

J.P. Crawford takes next step toward return to Phillies  —  ST. LOUIS — J.P. Crawford tested his right forearm one last time Thursday afternoon before he shuffled out of Busch Stadium and headed to Florida to ramp up his rehab.  —  The shortstop flew to Florida on Thursday night and expects …

MLB takes a step forward in solving large problem with inaugural class of diversity fellows  —  On the diversity scorecard, the numbers were poor again for Major League Baseball this season.  None of the 30 teams had a minority chief executive, three had a minority in charge of baseball operations, four had a minority as manager.

Tommy John surgery recommended for Angels closer Keynan Middleton  —  The Los Angeles Angels says doctors have recommended that closer Keynan Middleton have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.  —  Middleton had a second opinion on the elbow after he went back on the 10-day disabled list Monday.

Orioles star Adam Jones buys Cal Ripken Jr.'s former home, per report  —  The mansion and 25-acre estate where Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. once lived will soon become another Bird's house.  —  According to The Athletic, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones …

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.

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.

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

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers … CONNECT  —  Wednesday was not a good day for Diamondbacks right-hander Matt Koch, who allowed eight runs in a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers as the club dropped six of seven games on its homestand.  —  But prior to his latest start …

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.

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.

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.