Detroit Tigers observations: The defense was bad, and then the game got embarassing  —  It hasn't been a good week for the Detroit Tigers.  —  They haven't won a game — and haven't even led for an inning — and were thoroughly shellacked again on Thursday afternoon by the Athletics, 17-3.

Steven Matz ‘feels good,’ expected to make start in Miami this weekend  —  WASHINGTON - While the Mets remain hush-hush on Steven Matz's next start, the left-hander said he feels good and is waiting for the green light from the team.  —  Matz is forging ahead in his recovery from a nerve irritation in his left forearm.

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 …

Inconsistent White Sox welcome Jays for 4-game set  —  Cleveland Indians to two runs and two hits in a Chicago victory on Monday night.  —  The following afternoon, the Indians torched White Sox hurlers for nine runs behind a five-homer barrage.  —  Pitching has remained inconsistent as Chicago keeps pushing to reach the .500 mark.

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.

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.

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 …

‘This year is going to be the year’: Adbert Alzolay ready to make big-league debut  —  Adbert Alzolay on coming back to Iowa Cubs and his spring training injury  —  Cubs pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay can't help but think about what could have been in 2018 had injures not slowed him down and even cost him the end of his season.

'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 …

Ten things to know about new Rays catcher Travis d'Arnaud  —  For one, the name may sound familiar.  For another, he happened to be at the Trop for a pretty big moment in Rays history.  —  NEW YORK — There's an apartment in Manhattan with a rented couch waiting to be picked up, and a couple weeks of mail in the box to be collected.

Mariners recall outfielder Mallex Smith from Class AAA Tacoma, send down Shed Long  —  With the hope that his timing issues at the plate and mistakes in the field that seemed to follow are fixed, outfielder Mallex Smith will return to his center field spot for a Mariners team that desperately needs …

Bruce Willis bounces in first pitch before Phillies game  —  Actor Bruce Willis watched his ceremonial first pitch Die Hard in the air before it could make it to the plate prior to the Philadelphia Phillies' loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.  —  Willis walked out of the dugout to heave …

Tigers Designate Reed Garrett For Assignment  —  The Tigers have designated right-hander Reed Garrett for assignment, the team announced.  Righty Sandy Baez is on the way up from Triple-A to take the open spot on Detroit's 25-man roster prior to Friday's game.

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.

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.

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 …

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.