Next Slide  —  Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann threw eight pitches in the top of the first inning on Wednesday afternoon.  They looked crisp enough, like they would carry him through another quality start.  —  Trouble would soon arrive.  —  After stranding two runners in the second inning …

Puig takes swing at Hundley before Giants rally past Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) Yasiel Puig took a swing at Giants catcher Nick Hundley during a benches-clearing scrap in the seventh inning, then Alen Hanson hit an RBI single in the ninth to lift San Francisco over the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Mets Are Just What the Struggling Orioles Needed  —  BALTIMORE — Chris Davis, Adam Jones and Tim Beckham each homered to back a strong performance by starter Andrew Cashner, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Mets, 6-3, on Tuesday night to stop a five-game skid.

Acuna still sizzling, homers twice in Braves' 10-6 win over Marlins  —  ATLANTA - Ronald Acuna Jr. became the youngest player in major league history to homer in five straight games, hitting a leadoff shot on the first pitch and adding a three-run long ball in the seventh inning to help …

Are position players actually good pitchers?  Yes — and definitely no  —  From 1992 through 2006, 58 position players pitched in major league games.  This year, 54 have already done so.  In that 15-year period, a fan who watched every game his or her favorite team played would have seen …

Where would the Red Sox be without J.D. Martinez?  —  The Boston Red Sox were an excellent team in 2017, going 93-69 and winning the AL East before losing to the Astros in the Division Series.  —  The Red Sox made one major transaction in the offseason, signing J.D. Martinez as a free agent.

Upton homers, drives in 3 to lift Angels past Padres 7-3  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) Taylor Ward acted like it was his first day in the majors everywhere but in the batter's box.  —  Ward went with a pitch and hit an opposite-field RBI double in his first major league at-bat, and had two hits …

Liner knocks Paxton out as A's edge Mariners  —  Felix Hernandez replaced Paxton  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Jed Lowrie hit his 100th career homer after his line drive knocked Mariners ace James Paxton out of the game, and the Oakland Athletics beat Seattle 3-2 on Tuesday night to move within …

For starters: Rays at Yankees, with Jake Faria on the mound  —  The Rays will try again tonight to end their struggles at Yankee Stadium and will have RHP Jake Faria on the mound.With Tuesday's 4-1 defeat, the Rays have now lost 14 of their 17 games at Yankee Sta

Last Slide  —  Let me guess: The Diamondbacks missed an opportunity to sweep through some last-place teams and get way up on the Dodgers and Rockies in the National League West divisional race.  Archie Bradley all of the sudden can't get anybody out.  And the bats keep falling asleep!

Arenado's 30th HR helps Rockies over Verlander, Astros 5-1  —  HOUSTON — Nolan Arenado hated his first career appearance at designated hitter Tuesday night.  —  However, the Colorado slugger couldn't be mad at his results at the plate.  —  Arenado and Trevor Story each went deep …

Cubs Acquire Terrance Gore  —  The Cubs have acquired outfielder Terrance Gore from the Royals, per an announcement from the Kansas City organization.  Cash considerations will head back in return.  —  Gore, 27, will presumably reprise his role as a late-season/postseason threat on the bases.

J.A. Happ shines again as New York Yankees take care of Rays  —  NEW YORK - Maybe J.A. Happ and the Yankees just needed each other.  —  The 35-year-old lefty has easily been as good as advertised with his new team.  Maybe even better.  —  Happ (13-6) delivered another gem on Tuesday …

‘Hawk Day’ kicks off series of final send-offs for ‘Hawk’ Harrelson  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The White Sox on Wednesday announced more details about their slate of events and giveaways centered around the final stage of their season-long send-off for longtime broadcaster Ken “Hawk” Harrelson.

David Bote a ‘good person for baseball’ who never stopped improving, recalls former Cubs scout  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Rick Schroeder initially wondered what he got himself into when he consented to being transferred from Northern California to the north central region of the country as an amateur scout for the Cubs six seasons ago.

Right-hander Yu Darvish lined up for 3 rehab starts; Brewers' Jimmy Nelson likely out for year  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The forecast for Cubs pitchers Yu Darvish and Brandon Morrow is brighter than the one for the Brewers' Jimmy Nelson.  —  Manager Joe Maddon acknowledged that there's …

Marlins' Austin Dean: Headed up to big leagues … The Marlins plan to select Dean's contract from Triple-A New Orleans prior to their game Wednesday against the Braves, Craig Mish of Sirius XM reports.  —  It's been quite the ascent for the 24-year-old Dean, who was largely off the prospect radar …