Cubs pull away for 6-2 win over Giants  —  Photos from the Cubs-Giants game at Wrigley Field on May 25, 2018.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs stacked their lineup with right-handed and switch hitters Friday against Giants left-hander Derek Holland at Wrigley Field.

Matheny would rather have had Reyes earlier but understands  —  PITTSBURGH  • Cardinals manager Mike Matheny admitted he would have liked to have righthander Alex Reys before he will get him next week.  Reyes, recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery from February, 2017 …

Red Sox designate Hanley Ramirez for assignment  —  BOSTON (AP) Hanley Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, who are responsible for the $15.25 remaining on his contract but avoided him triggering a $22 million salary for 2019.  —  Boston made the move Friday to clear …

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.

Brewers Acquire Erik Kratz, Designate Jett Bandy, Option Orlando Arcia  —  The Brewers made a significant series of roster moves on Friday, acquiring veteran backstop Erik Kratz from the Yankees in exchange for cash and designating Jett Bandy for assignment to clear a spot on the roster.

Mets' Brandon Nimmo is on a tear, reaching base eight times straight  —  NY Mets lefty Steven Matz on his six scoreless innings in a 5-0 win over the Brewers Matt Ehalt, Staff Writer, @MattEhalt  —  MILWAUKEE— It all started for Brandon Nimmo with— what else?— a walk.

Yankees sign former Reds catcher Wilkin Castillo  —  The Yankees are one of baseball's best and hottest teams, and apparently they don't need beds to get comfortable when they're on the road.  Veuer's Nick Cardona has that story.  Buzz60  —  CONNECT  —  Wilkin Castillo …

Juiced baseballs, starting relievers and MLB's next big thing  —  It's a cliche to say something “came out of left field,” but when you're writing about baseball, you get to use that particular cliche.  MLB's league office sent out a press release Thursday that came out of that proverbial left field …

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 …

Tigers activate Jeimer Candelario from DL  —  The Detroit Tigers activated third baseman Jeimer Candelario from the disabled list on Friday.  —  Candelario, who went on the DL on May 14 with tendinitis in his left wrist, is tied for the team lead with five home runs this season.

Breaking down the advanced metric Gabe Kapler uses to evaluate his bullpen arms  —  One day, maybe, we will understand the method to Gabe Kapler's madness and we will not find it to be mad at all.  For now, however, we still must pick the brain of the Phillies' rookie manager to determine …

Angels C Rene Rivera out 4-6 weeks after knee surgery  —  Los Angeles Angels catcher Rene Rivera had surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee on Friday and is expected to miss four to six weeks, the team announced.  —  The veteran Rivera is hitting .259 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 22 games this season.

Paul Lo Duca on sports gambling: Pete Rose is why I never bet on baseball  —  MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Pete Rose and the Cincinnati Reds Wochit  —  An excerpt of the interview from Strang: … Earlier this week, a Boston columnist condemned MLB's hypocrisy with Pete and gambling.

Rays P Nate Eovaldi set to make first start in nearly two years  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nate Eovaldi is scheduled to make his first major league start since having a second Tommy John surgery when the Rays face Oakland on Tuesday night.

Commentary: Shohei Ohtani at All-Star Game and Home Run Derby?  Yes, please.  —  The Washington Post  —  Such is Shohei Ohtani's talent, allure and stature within the sport of baseball that getting only half of him constitutes a massive letdown.  Or at least that was the takeaway …