Can Nick Senzel ignite the Cincinnati Reds' slumping offense?  Yasiel Puig knows from experience  —  A team that entered the season with high expectations sat in last place with a slumping offense.  —  Searching for a way to ignite the lineup, that team called up its top prospect …

Addison Russell ‘not far off’ from being ready to return to Cubs, Joe Maddon says  —  Photos of Cubs shortstop Addison Russell.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Friday was supposed to be the day Addison Russell returned from his 40-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy.

Nine years after watching his dad play for Rangers, Guerrero Jr. faces them with Blue Jays  —  This weekend doesn't mark the first time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been to Globe Life Park, though this three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays is his first time here as an MLB player.

Ailing Yankees to activate Andujar on Saturday  —  NEW YORK — The banged-up New York Yankees are finally starting to get some of their bats back.  —  Third baseman Miguel Andujar is set to come off the injured list on Saturday, and the team hopes infielder DJ LeMahieu will return to the lineup that day as well.

Former Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock undergoes third elbow surgery since 2010  —  Former Diamondbacks outfielder A.J. Pollock underwent surgery Thursday to rectify a bacterial infection in his elbow, the same elbow Pollock had surgically repaired in 2010 and again in 2016.

Reynaldo Lopez to face off against former White Sox ace Chris Sale and the visiting Red Sox  —  Chicago Tribune  —  All eyes will be on the starting pitchers Friday night when the White Sox host the Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.  —  Reynaldo Lopez is on the mound for the White Sox …

On deck: Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels  —  Where/when: Saturday at 6:05 p.m., Sunday at 3:05 p.m.; Estadio de Béisbol in Monterrey, Mexico.  —  TV/radio: ATTSW both days, plus ESPN on Sunday; 790 AM and 101.7 FM (Spanish) both days, plus 740 AM and 850 AM (Spanish) on Sunday.

WATCH: Yankees' Gary Sanchez CRUSHES 429-foot home run vs. Twins … NEW YORK — Watch Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez demolish a 429-foot home run in the video above.  —  Sanchez's blast went 429 feet to left field and traveled at 111.7 mph, according to MLB's Statcast.

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 …

Boyd strikes out 9 as Tigers beat Royals 4-3  —  Matthew Boyd struck out nine in another solid outing, and the  —  Detroit Tigers scored three runs in the first inning of a 4-3 victory over the  —  Kansas City Royals on Friday night.  —  It was the sixth straight quality start for Boyd …

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.

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.

Touki Toussaint recalled for game in hometown  —  The minors-to-majors conveyor belt dropped right-hander Touki Toussaint off in his hometown Friday, but he may not stay in the bigs for long - at least not this time.  —  Toussaint, a 22-year-old South Floridian (Pembroke Pines) …

Jeter explains Bowers dismissal and why he's ‘not happy’ with the Marlins' on-field performance  —  Derek Jeter took responsibility for the move but didn't dive into details.  —  The Miami Marlins on Thursday parted ways with president of business operations Chip Bowers, who Jeter hired just 14 months earlier.

GM Mike Hazen's offseason gambles paying off so far for Diamondbacks  —  His team has played well for more than a month, but Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen doesn't feel validation - or, at least, he isn't ready to admit it.  He took his club down an offseason path that was not met with universal approval.

A's Vs. Pirates Lineups: Brett Anderson Looks to Continue Success at PNC Park  —  To say the A's need this next win is an understatement.  —  The Green and Gold is coming off its second consecutive sweep falling to both the Blue Jays and the Red Sox on the road.

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.