‘I felt our progress certainly stalled’: Tigers owner Ilitch fires GM Avila  —  Detroit — For the most part, Christopher Ilitch delivered the news like you would expect from the CEO.  Directly.  Unemotional.  —  “I'm looking for us to make progress each and every year and if we do that …

Mets can't be stopped, thrash Reds, 10-2  —  The only people who want the Mets to take an off day are the players around the league that are probably tired of losing to them.  —  After undressing the Cincinnati Reds 10-2 on Wednesday, the Mets have Thursday off, putting some scheduled brakes on the runaway train out of Willets Point.

Yankees waste strong start by Nestor Cortes, another Aaron Judge homer and lose to Mariners, 4-3  —  SEATTLE — It used to be enough.  Get a good start from Nestor Cortes, a home run from Aaron Judge and another dinger from the supporting cast and the Yankees could pull out a win.  Not these days.

MLB won't return to Field of Dreams site in 2023 due to construction, owner Frank Thomas says  —  DYERSVILLE — Major League Baseball won't be back to Dyersville in 2023, one of the Field of Dreams site owners told the Des Moines Register on Tuesday.  —  Hall of Famer Frank Thomas …

The latest on Kevin Durant to the Celtics, more Bill Russell memories, and other thoughts  —  Emptying out the notebook as the start of Celtics training camp is somehow just six weeks away ...  ▪ A league source said there has not been any real traction on a deal that would send Kevin Durant from the Nets to the Celtics.

Now batting for the Rays (in practice Friday): Wander Franco  —  The shortstop's recovery from a broken hamate is progressing to taking batting practice and soon starting a rehab assignment.  The same goes for Harold Ramirez.  —  MILWAUKEE — The Rays are looking forward to having Wander Franco …

New details on Yankees' Matt Carpenter injury, timetable  —  SEATTLE — Reporters told Matt Carpenter he could sit down for his interview, but he insisted on standing, wearing a walking boot on his left foot and leaning on a pair of crutches.  —  “I'll be back this season,” Carpenter said.

Chicago White Sox bounce back for a doubleheader split vs. the Kansas City Royals after falling to 12-23 in series openers  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chicago White Sox began another series on the wrong foot Tuesday, but a pair of rookies helped them rebound to split a doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals.

Castro loses phone in Pirates' 6-4 loss to Diamondbacks  —  Rodolfo Castro got the call-up and dropped a call in his return to the big leagues.  The Pittsburgh infielder lost his phone during a slide into third base and the Pirates lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 on Tuesday night.