MLB, USA Baseball modify youth game to pick up pace  —  NEW YORK (AP) — MLB and USA Baseball are promoting a modified version of youth baseball with fewer innings, batters and pitches to pick up the pace.  —  Hit and Run Baseball is part of the MLB's Play Ball initiative announced Tuesday.

Phillies' Gabe Kapler: Jorge Alfaro and Pudge Rodriguez are ‘neck-and-neck, at worst’  —  PHILADELPHIA — Even at this early stage of the season, a series for first place in the National League East elicits extra excitement from already-pumped up Phillies manager Gabe Kapler — and more than a touch of hyperbole.

Cubs-Indians: Five stark differences since their 2016 World Series showdown  —  SportsPulse: MLB insider Bob Nightengale looks at the historic season Shohei Ohtani is putting together and if he truly can become the ‘next Babe Ruth.’ USA TODAY Sports  —  It hasn't yet been two years since Kris Bryant …

Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers … MILWAUKEE - When the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded in the first inning on Monday night, Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Chase Anderson leaned on his fastball.  He used it to strike out Jarrod Dyson, climbing the ladder for Strike 3 …

Do the White Sox really think Manny Machado would want to play for a team like theirs?  —  Orioles slugger Manny Machado fields questions about being the focus of trade rumors on Monday, May 21, 2018.  (David Haugh/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  You know what's worse than the White Sox not getting any better?

Rangers GM Jon Daniels not blaming coaching staff for struggles  —  As the Texas Rangers continue to fall off the pace in the American League West, president and general manager Jon Daniels isn't looking for scapegoats on his coaching staff.  —  “When we took the approach we took this offseason …

Cards' Alex Reyes to start, could return next week  —  Cardinals pitching prospect Alex Reyes will return to the majors as a starter and could rejoin St. Louis' rotation as early as next week.  —  Reyes, 23, has been dominant in three minor league starts this month and is eligible to return from the 60-day disabled list next Monday.

Ex-Royals lefty Tim Collins pitches in majors for first time since 2014 World Series  —  Obviously, there is never a good time for an injury in baseball.  —  But for left-hander Tim Collins, Tommy John surgery in spring training of 2015 meant he had to watch his teammates win the World Series that fall.

Cardinals' O'Neill carries HR streak into game vs. Royals  —  Tyler O'Neill is muscling his way into the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup, one homer after another.  —  The outfielder figures to be back in there Tuesday night for the middle game of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium …

Detroit Tigers developing a theme for this season.  It's frustrating.  —  Albert Pujols picked up his 3,000th hit on May 4.  Which active player will be the next one to reach the milestone?  Video by Ryan Ford/DFP Wochit  —  CONNECT  —  MINNEAPOLIS - Ron Gardenhire's phone rang …

Mets have interest in outfielder Jose Bautista; Does signing him make sense?  —  The New York Mets have interest in outfielder/third baseman Jose Bautista, a source confirmed.  The Atlanta Braves recently released Bautista, and he's free to sign with another team.

Matt Harvey's home debut for Reds comes five years after Sports Illustrated cover  —  As Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Matt Harvey prepares to make his home debut at GABP Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, The Athletic's Richard Deitsch points out that Harvey was on the cover …

Mariners put Dee Gordon on DL with fractured toe  —  Seattle Mariners second baseman Dee Gordon has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured toe, marking the latest setback at the position for Seattle.  —  The Mariners have not announced a timeline for how long Gordon will be sidelined …

The Shohei Ohtani experiment isn't just working — it's been perfect  —  I just got a calendar reminder that I set a little more than a year ago, to make fun of my friend Daniel.  “There's no way a major league team will let Shohei Ohtani hit,” he swore to me last spring.  “Zero chance.  Way too risky.”

Scavuzzo's single leads Okla. City over Memphis in 10 innings  —  MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jacob Scavuzzo hit an RBI single in the top of the 10th inning to help lead the Oklahoma City Dodgers to a 10-3 win over the Memphis Redbirds on Tuesday.  —  Henry Ramos scored the go-ahead run on the single …

Boston columnist condemns MLB hypocrisy with Pete, gambling  —  MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Pete Rose and the Cincinnati Reds Wochit  —  Some on Twitter and elsewhere who point out the hypocrisy of Major League Baseball embracing gambling while refusing reinstatement of Hit King …

There's more to Hicks' 105.1 than meets the eye  —  In the span of five pitches Sunday at Busch Stadium, Jordan Hicks not only ended one of the longest on-base streaks in Phillies history by striking out (sure, sure, wild pitch) Odubel Herrera, he also threw the five fastest pitches in baseball this season.

Reds Beat Blog: Starting pitching halting momentum, updates on the Reds' top prospects  —  Welcome to the first edition of the Reds Beat Blog: a new home for updates on the Reds' top minor league prospects, some tidbits about the big topics across MLB and another place for more opinions on the Reds.