Verlander sharp against old team, Astros top Tigers 5-1  —  Verlander (7-1) struck out nine in his second start at Comerica Park since his 2017 trade from Detroit to Houston.  —  Author: The Associated Press, NOAH TRISTER  —  DETROIT — Justin Verlander allowed two hits in seven impressive innings …

Mets fall as Font spot start fails  —  WASHINGTON — Patrick Corbin dominated, and Wilmer Font was bad.  That's a formula for a short and hard loss, which is exactly what happened as the Mets fell 5-1 to the Nationals on Wednesday night.  —  The Washington left-hander got 11 strikeouts …

Cincinnati Reds complete comeback against Chicago Cubs with Yasiel Puig walk-off single  —  Standing at the plate with the bases loaded in the 10th inning Wednesday, one out, and facing a five-man infield, Yasiel Puig's teammates knew Puig was exactly where he wanted to be.

'I don't think I've ever been through anything quite like this': A look at Marlins' woes  —  With more than a quarter of the season done, the Miami Marlins are well on their way to one of the worst seasons in MLB history.  With a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday …

Real or not?  Mike Soroka the best rookie over first quarter of season  —  Everything about Braves right-hander Mike Soroka is a little funky.  —  He's Canadian, for starters.  That's a rarity.  There are only eight Canadians who have played in the majors this season …

Dodgers' Kenta Maeda carves up Padres behind dominant performance  —  The stuff has rarely wavered.  Since Kenta Maeda joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, he has relied primarily on a fastball that he throws from between 90 and 93 mph, a slider ranging from 82 to 85 mph and a split-fingered change-up he throws between 83 to 86 mph.

Not a fan of the ‘opener’ tactic in MLB?  You won't like the Rangers' weekend plans  —  The Texas Rangers have their pitching rotation set for this weekend's series against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Sort of.  —  Adrian Sampson is expected to get the majority of the innings on Friday …

Is the .300 hitter a thing of the past?  —  The history of baseball is so remarkably well chronicled in both statistical and narrative forms that there are countless good stories through the eons that we've forgotten.  They happen every day, even now, events notable enough that they might lead …

Yanks' Andujar to have season-ending surgery  —  NEW YORK — Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar will have season-ending surgery to repair a small labrum tear in his right shoulder.  —  New York announced the decision Wednesday night during the second game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles that the Yankees swept.

'It's a special trip.' Royals players will bring their fathers to upcoming road stops  —  A few hours before the final game of a home stand, Royals rookie Nicky Lopez sat at his locker, packing a couple of things into his getaway bag.  The first road trip of his MLB career is on the horizon …

Rockies Expected To Promote Brendan Rodgers  —  The Rockies are expected to promote top prospect Brendan Rodgers, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.  Corresponding moves remain to be seen, but a recent injury to shortstop Trevor Story is said to have played a role in the decision.

Torres' three homers lift Yankees over Orioles in doubleheader sweep  —  THE BRONX (AP) — Gleyber Torres hit three home runs during a doubleheader sweep, including a solo shot in the nightcap, and Domingo Germán became the majors' first eight-game winner in the New York Yankees' 3-1 victory …

Joey Gallo, king of baseball's Three True Outcomes era  —  About a minute into an explanation of what it's like trying to evolve from the strikeoutingest hitter in baseball history into something more, Joey Gallo wanted to make sure he wasn't misrepresenting himself.

Games of the weak: This month's not-so-great events to (maybe) watch  —  You could give Pops a Lowe's gift card again for Father's Day (June 16).  Or ... give him the gift of laughter by watching these games together.  —  WNBA  —  Liberty at Fever  —  Three Father's Days from now …

The MLB players union can make up lost ground by getting more for its non-stars  —  Analytics and foolishness have achieved what collusion could not: the destruction of baseball's fundamental labor covenant, whereby teams controlled athletes early in their careers and rewarded the best with big contracts once they hit free agency.