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 …

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 …

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 …

Next Slide  —  SEATTLE — Everyone, even those who are injured and won't play in the four-game series against the Mariners, made the trip west for the Detroit Tigers.  —  Injured players like right-handed reliever Alex Wilson, who aren't going to return in the span of a road trip, may not travel with the club in the future.

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 …

Zimmermann, Encarnacion lift Rome over Asheville 1-0  —  ROME, Ga. (AP) — Jean Carlos Encarnacion homered and had three hits, and Bruce Zimmermann struck out nine hitters over seven innings as the Rome Braves defeated the Asheville Tourists 1-0 on Thursday.  —  Zimmermann (4-2) allowed two hits while walking one to pick up the win.

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.

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 …

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.

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.