Why the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry matters again  —  CHICAGO — Like the latest episode of HBO's “Game of Thrones,” the battle to take place at Wrigley Field this weekend has been brewing for some time.  In fact, the rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals goes back about as far as Westeros.

Mike Trout homers in Angels' win over Jays as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sits  —  Rookie phenom Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had the day off as Mike Trout led the Los Angeles Angels over the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  Guerrero had the first rest day of his career since being called up April 26.

Three reasons why Indians fans should not lose hope after Corey Kluber injury  —  Here are three reasons why Cleveland Indians fans should not lose hope for the 2019 season despite Corey Kluber's injury.  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians got a bad break, literally …

Lighter but feeling better, Fowler returns to clubhouse and is available off bench  —  CHICAGO — The norovirus that kept him away from teammates, sent him to a medical center in Washington, D.C., and led him to shed weight in a few days has cleared, allowing outfielder Dexter Fowler to return …

Cody Bellinger off to one of best starts in MLB history with Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019  —  Cody Bellinger is on pace to hit nearly 70 home runs this season.  —  But he's doing so much more than hit home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  The former Chandler Hamilton High standout recently wrapped …

Blame Dave Martinez for the Nats' struggles?  Mike Rizzo would rather you blame him.  —  The Washington Nationals have sacrificed their first lamb: the pitching coach.  Won't be enough for some, but something had to happen to indicate they understood the gravity of the situation.

Giants To Select Mike Gerber, Designate Gerardo Parra  —  3:01pm: This move is now official.  In other news, the club has bumped catcher Erik Kratz to the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain to make way for the promotion of Tyler Beede.  —  2:19pm: The Giants are planning a bit of a shake-up in the outfield.

Giants return to house of horrors in Cincinnati led by promising new arm  —  Tyler Beede will make his 2019 debut on Friday  —  CINCINNATI — It's hard to fathom any National League team suffering more defeats than the Giants did during the two-year stretch from 2017-2018.  —  The Cincinnati Reds managed to do it.

Who the Detroit Tigers are leaning toward in 2019 MLB draft  —  With a month left before the draft, the Detroit Tigers' intentions are becoming clear.  —  To no surprise, the team is leaning toward selecting a position player with their top pick, according to industry sources polled recently by the Free Press.

Reds Promote Nick Senzel  —  The Reds announced that they have selected the contract of Nick Senzel, making the promotion of one of baseball's premier prospects official.  Senzel will join the active roster in place of right-hander Matthew Bowman, who has been optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

Berrios, Castro carry AL-leading Twins past Astros 8-2  —  MINNEAPOLIS — After a lopsided sweep of the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles to start their homestand, the Minnesota Twins faced a much better test of their strong start to the season with a four-game series against the Houston Astros.

Five legitimate excuses for the Tampa Bay Rays' struggling attendance  —  If you're trying to explain why the Rays fail to fill Tropicana Field, you can start with these five factors.  —  Where big dreams meet small paychecks  —  This is the one thing the lords of baseball never understood.

Rays journal: Yet another win for Tyler Glasnow, as he's named AL Pitcher of the Month  —  Morton gives the Rays a strong start vs. Royals; Wood heads to injured list and Duffy to rehab games.  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tyler Glasnow has been one of the biggest early-season success stories …

Suns tap 76ers assistant Monty Williams as new coach  —  Considered one of the frontrunners for Lakers job, Williams chooses Phoenix  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers assistant Monty Williams will be the new coach of the Phoenix Suns, replacing Igor Kokoskov, who was fired last week after one disappointing season.

Cubs Reinstate Oscar De La Cruz, Transfer Tony Barnette To 60-Day IL  —  The Cubs announced Friday that they've reinstated minor league right-hander Oscar De La Cruz from the restricted list now that his 80-game suspension has been completed.  In order to open a spot for De La Cruz on the 40-man roster …

Dom Smith providing starter-level production from deep Mets bench  —  As Jed Lowrie begins to make his way back from the injured list, the Mets will have to send one of their many infielders back down to the minor leagues.  Fans can find solace in the fact that Dominic Smith is expected to make the cut.