Kelly Pitches Cardinals to 6-2 Win Over Braves  —  ST. LOUIS — Joe Kelly pitched six effective innings, Matt Holliday broke out of a slump with two doubles and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Thursday night.  —  David Freese drove in two runs as St. Louis won for the fifth time in six games.

Mets sign Daisuke Matsuzaka, to start Friday  —  The Mets announced they have signed RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, and he has been named tomorrow night's starter against the Tigers.  —  Matsuzaka will wear number 16.  —  To make room on the active roster for Matsuzaka, the Mets option RHP Greg Burke to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Big Papi defends A-Rod, 'didn't like' drilling  —  SAN FRANCISCO — In an era of increasing intolerance for users of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, Alex Rodriguez has been the target of sharp criticism from his peers and, on Sunday, a fastball at his midsection from Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster.

Braun issues statement  —  Ryan Braun released this statement tonight:  —  Now that the initial MLB investigation is over, I want to apologize for my actions and provide a more specific account of what I did and why I deserved to be suspended.  I have no one to blame but myself.

Herrmann's Late Double Lifts Twins Over Tigers 7-6  —  DETROIT — Chris Herrmann's second RBI double of the game broke an eighth-inning tie and helped the Minnesota Twins to a 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.  —  With two out, Herrmann lined a ball into the right-center field gap.

Nationals beat Cubs after Strasburg blows lead in 9th inning  —  CHICAGO — Denard Span scored the go-ahead run on pinch-hitter Chad Tracy's grounder in the 13th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Thursday after Stephen Strasburg blew a three-run lead in the ninth.

Rays Claim David DeJesus Off Revocable Waivers  —  11:37am: Rogers tweets that the Rays are the team that has claimed DeJesus.  —  11:22am: The Braves are not the team that claimed DeJesus, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago (Twitter link).  —  10:58am: An unknown team …

Giants torn on how to wrap up the Barry Zito era  —  SAN FRANCISCO — So many times over so many seasons, it seemed the Giants would never reach the end of Barry Zito's seven-year, $126 million contract.  —  Zito is in his last stages of guaranteed life as a Giant now.

Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer rests as his future is debated  —  DETROIT — Joe Mauer's ears must have been burning Wednesday evening.  As the Twins catcher started his seven-day concussion stay in his hotel, his future behind the plate dominated pregame talk at Comerica Park.