Angels push back Shohei Ohtani's next outing as starting pitcher  —  TORONTO — The Los Angeles Angels are pushing back Shohei Ohtani's next outing as a starting pitcher to manage the workload of the two-way rookie.  —  Angels manager Mike Scioscia made the announcement Thursday.

Ex-bat boy on working for 1948 White Sox: ‘I learned an awful lot as a 14-year-old’  —  Ron Meadows, former White Sox bat boy, throws the first pitch before the Sox played the Orioles Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field.  (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Switch to relief pitching paves the way for the Cubs' Justin Hancock to reach the major leagues  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses Jon Lester's outing and Javier Baez's bunt against the Indians on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers … OAKLAND - A year ago, right-hander Taijuan Walker was a steady presence in the rotation and infielder Ketel Marte was a late-season lifesaver from Triple-A Reno.  Both came to the Diamondbacks in the same offseason trade with the Seattle Mariners …

ON DECK: Blue Jays at Phillies  —  STARTING PITCHERS  —  Series kickoff features two hurlers with a combined four starts this season.  How Gaviglio fares after a terrific, but heartbreaking, first start for the Jays last Saturday against the A's, will be important to the team's immediate pitching plans.

GIF: The evolution of Bartolo Colon  —  Happy birthday, Bart!  —  Texas Rangers pitcher Bartolo Colon, who turns 45 today, has come a long way since breaking into the big leagues with the Cleveland Indians in 1997.  Since his MLB debut 21 years ago, he has won a Cy Young Award …

Suspected spider bite lands Astros OF Josh Reddick on the disabled list  —  Houston Astros outfielder Josh Reddick believes a spider bite is responsible for his trip to the disabled list.  —  Reddick was placed on the 10-day DL on Wednesday with a leg infection, which he believes is the result …

Greg Bird expected back to New York Yankees on Saturday, Aaron Boone says  —  NEW YORK - Greg Bird could be back in the Yankees' lineup as early as Saturday.  —  The plan is for the lefty-hitting first baseman to be activated from the disabled list for Saturday's game against the Angels at Yankee Stadium …

Column: ESPN's Matt Vasgersian to call Cubs-Giants from bleachers, maybe ‘wearing a Hawk Harrelson T-shirt’  —  Matt Vasgersian, left, Alex Rodriguez, center, and Jessica Mendoza will call the Cubs-Giants game on ESPN's “Sunday Night Baseball” from the bleachers this weekend.  (Bob Levey/Getty) Chicago Tribune

Neidert's single leads Jacksonville to 8-1 win over Mississippi  —  PEARL, Miss. (AP) — Nick Neidert hit a run-scoring single in the second inning, leading the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to an 8-1 win over the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday.  —  The single by Neidert, part of a two-run inning …

Eugenio Suarez blasts grand slam, Luis Castillo solid in Cincinnati Reds win over Pittsburgh Pirates  —  Utility player Brandon Dixon was promoted from Triple-A Louisville to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.  He discusses how he found out and what he expects his role will be in the big leagues.

Jacob deGrom has been stellar, but NY Mets haven't taken advantage  —  Chris Iseman, Staff Writer, @chrisiseman  —  NEW YORK — Jacob deGrom has delivered solid outing after solid outing this season, but the Mets haven't been able to take advantage.  —  Wednesday's start was the latest example.

Memo to the Braves: The National League is there to be seized  —  The Braves moved into first place May 2.  They've been there since.  They were there when they left Philadelphia.  Their lead has never been more than 1-1/2 games, but it remains a lead.  —  It's not as if the Braves sit atop a division of mediocrities.

Will Trevor Bauer-Gerrit Cole beef ever die?  ‘Not going to happen,’ says one  —  Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer won't bother to sugarcoat it: They can't stand one another.  —  These two celebrated pitchers, former collegiate teammates at UCLA, still don't talk to one another.

Why the Phillies are so confident Rhys Hoskins' slump is nothing to worry about  —  It's one thing for Rhys Hoskins to stand tall, puff out his chest, and, in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary, insist there's nothing to see here.  How else is a 25-year-old who has played fewer …

Plutko, Miller pitch Indians past Cubs 1-0  —  Adam Plutko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Andrew Miller provided stellar relief work, helping the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Wednesday night.  —  CHICAGO (AP) - Adam Plutko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning …

Prospectus Feature: MLB Commission Confirms That The Baseball Has Changed  —  For extended interviews with Committee Chair Dr. Alan Nathan and Committee Member Dr. Dan Brooks, download or stream Episode 24 of The Stolen Signs Podcast.  —  On July 17, 2015, Mike Trout hit one of the first home runs after the All-Star break.

Cubs' Theo Epstein Calls Manny Machado Trade Rumors ‘Fantasy Land At This Point’  —  “It's honestly something we're looking at and just rolling our eyes,” Epstein says.  —  Mully & Hanley Show  —  MLB  —  Cubs  —  (670 The Score) The Cubs may end up beingquite involved on the trade market ahead …

Minor league report: Mercado stays hot in Memphis win  —  Cardinals outfielder Oscar Mercado slides into second during the Cardinals' 6-4 loss to the Miami Marlins in their 2018 exhibition season opener Friday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter Fla. (David Santiago photo/Miami Herald via AP)

Gleyber Torres thriving with the Yankees while also rewarding his evaluators  —  NEW YORK - Didi Gregorius came up with a sore shoulder at the World Baseball Classic - a March 2017 injury that would keep him sidelined for the season's first month.  —  Meanwhile...