Morton stays unbeaten, leads Astros over Indians  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Charlie Morton remained unbeaten this season with six solid innings, Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-2 on Thursday night.

Steven Matz continues Mets' pitching hot streak with six scoreless innings in 5-0 win  —  MILWAUKEE — One by one, the starters each put forth a strong effort.  —  This Mets' team is built to win on the strength of its starting pitching, and these past five games marked the best turn through the rotation this season.

Baseball notebook: Castillo suspended 80 games  —  Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance.  —  The commissioner's office cited use of EPO.

Cubs' Kyle Schwarber showing improved defense in left field  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses how starter Jon Lester has maintained his success and the play of Ian Happ on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Left fielder Kyle Schwarber …

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 …

Closer Roberto Osuna's absence really starting to be felt by Blue Jays  —  Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker let out sort of half laugh, half gasp on Thursday when asked how much his team misses closer Roberto Osuna.  —  “(Wednesday) night was certainly one time we really, truly recognized Osuna's absence,” said Walker.

Rays ‘bullpenning’ experiment continues: Relievers to start next three games vs. Orioles  —  The Tampa Bay Rays will spend the holiday weekend taking their pitching revolution to another level.  —  The Rays announced on Thursday that relief pitchers will start all three games of their series …

Oldest in majors, Rangers' Bartolo Colon celebrates 45th birthday  —  From across the diamond, Kansas City closer Kelvin Herrera marveled at the oldest player in the major leagues, Texas Rangers pitcher Bartolo Colon, who turned 45 on Thursday.  —  “I used to have pictures of him in my bedroom …

Carlos Rodon appears OK after taking line drive off forehead in minor-league rehab start  —  Carlos Rodon delivers a pitch on Thursday, May 24, 2018 in Charlotte, N.C. Rodon was taken out of the game after he was hit with a line shot to the forehead off the bat of Norfolk Tides D'Arby Myers during the third inning.

Like his father, Cardinals' Pena knows future depends on work behind the plate  —  Kansas City Royals' Alcides Escobar is caught in a rundown between third base and home plate in the tenth inning during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium on Wednesday …

Snell goes 6 scoreless innings, Rays beat Red Sox 6-3  —  Blake Snell threw six scoreless innings,  —  Wilson Ramos drove in two runs, and the  —  Tampa Bay Rays avoided a three-game sweep by beating the  —  Boston Red Sox 6-3 on Thursday night.  —  Snell (6-3) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out eight.

Noll's single leads Potomac to 10-7 win over Wilmington  —  WOODBRIDGE, Va. (AP) — Jake Noll hit a two-run single in the fifth inning, leading the Potomac Nationals to a 10-7 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Thursday.  —  The single by Noll came in the midst of an eight-run inning and gave the Nationals a 5-4 lead.

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

Reyes fans 13, allows one hit at Memphis  —  Alex Reyes emphatically answered Thursday night in Memphis any questions that somehow might have lingered after his first three starts on the Cardinals' medical rehabilitation program.  —  After making three outings covering 16 scoreless innings …

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.

Video: Ramon Torres hits little league home run in first at-bat of season  —  The Royals recalled infielder Ramon Torres from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.  He didn't get into a game until starting Thursday night's game against the Rangers, batting ninth.  —  In the top of the second inning …

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

Margevicius, Ornelas lead Fort Wayne to 3-0 win over West Michigan  —  COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (AP) — Tirso Ornelas tripled and doubled twice, and Nick Margevicius allowed just five hits over seven innings as the Fort Wayne TinCaps defeated the West Michigan Whitecaps 3-0 on Thursday.

Latcham gets big strikeout, leads Palm Beach to 7-6 win over Clearwater  —  JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Will Latcham struck Mickey Moniak out with the bases loaded to end the game, leading the Palm Beach Cardinals to a 7-6 win over the Clearwater Threshers on Thursday.

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 …

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...

Carpio's double leads St. Lucie to 4-2 win over Daytona  —  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Luis Carpio hit a bases-clearing double in the third inning, leading the St. Lucie Mets to a 4-2 win over the Daytona Tortugas on Thursday.  —  Matt Pobereyko struck Mitch Nay out with runners …