Indians' Trevor Bauer will pitch a few innings Friday in return from DL  —  CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer will start for the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Red Sox on Friday in his first appearance since breaking his right leg last month.  —  Indians manager Terry Francona says Bauer will pitch a …

Gio Gonzalez, Jesus Aguilar lead Brewers to win over Reds  —  Gio Gonzalez pitched six smooth innings on his 33rd birthday and Jesus Aguilar hit a three-run homer in the Brewers' 7-0 victory over the Reds on Wednesday night.  —  Manny Pina also had a three-run shot and Aguilar finished with four RBIs.

Braves snap 4-game losing streak behind Freeman, Toussaint  —  ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman spent the previous four seasons playing for an Atlanta team that averaged 90 losses a year.  —  Now that the Braves are back challenging for a division title, the All-Star first baseman knows his club can't afford any long losing streaks.

Mets, Phillies lineups for Wednesday night in season series finale  —  For the final time in the 2018 season, the Mets and Phillies will square off.  —  Noah Syndergaard will start for the Mets, who own a 11-7 record against the Phillies this season, as both teams announced their lineups.

Red Sox division title banner falls off truck; its return may cost them  —  The Red Sox know a thing or two about high-stakes negotiations — with marquee free agents, or sponsorship partners.  —  But now they have to contend with Louie Iacuzzi, a 44-year-old Malden resident who …

A's send 2nd-round pick Logan Shore to Tigers to complete Fiers deal  —  Oakland's deal for Mike Fiers is complete, six weeks after the fact, with the A's sending a well-regarded pitching prospect, Logan Shore, to the Tigers.  —  The A's previously had sent minor-league reliever Nolan Blackwood to Detroit as part of the deal.

Cubs' Joe Maddon philosophical about prior use of Brandon Morrow  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Manager Joe Maddon was philosophical about his decision to use closer Brandon Morrow for the third consecutive game on June 2 - after which the discomfort in his right forearm first surfaced.

Last Slide  —  NEW YORK - If the situation arises, Aroldis Chapman will be ready to save tonight's game against the Red Sox.  —  The flame-throwing, left-handed Yankees' closer has been activated from the 10-day disabled list, on the heels of slugging right fielder Aaron Judge's return to the lineup on Tuesday.

Last Slide  —  Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had four of his everyday players on the bench in Wednesday night's series finale against the Chicago Cubs, saying that rather than waving the white flag or trying to get a look at younger players, he's actually doing what he thinks will put the team in the best position to win.

Spot starter Jimmy Yacabonis, rookie DJ Stewart lift Orioles to 2-1 victory over Blue Jays  —  The Orioles' pitching situation has become so strained that manager Buck Showalter has had to announce the starters for two of the three games against the Toronto Blue Jays less than 24 hours before they took the mound.

Cano has 3 RBIs as Mariners rout Astros 9-0  —  Robinson Cano drove in three runs, three players homered and seven pitchers combined for a five-hitter in Seattle's 9-0 rout of the  —  Houston Astros on Wednesday night.  —  The Mariners took two of three in this series from Houston …

Giants fail to sweep Padres; Belt ‘likely’ done for '18  —  SAN DIEGO — Padres baserunners had a great chance to meet Giants rookie Aramis Garcia at first base.  Garcia started all three games there.  Brandon Belt kept hoping his right knee would allow him back into the lineup …