Nationals GM Mike Rizzo agrees to extension through 2020 season … After an offseason of uncertainty, President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo will lead the Nationals beyond this year.  In a move that showed nearly unprecedented awareness of optics, and turned a spring of internal unrest …

Corbin strikes out 12 as Diamondbacks sweep Dodgers  —  PHOENIX — Patrick Corbin finally found a way to end his long losing streak against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  And he did it emphatically.  —  Corbin shut out the Dodgers on one hit over 7 1/3 innings, striking out a career-high 12 in the Diamondbacks' 3-0 win on Wednesday.

Facebook Watch, MLB hope to build off Phillies-Mets broadcast  —  Luckily baseball didn't add the designated hitter in the age of Facebook, which debuted its exclusive MLB broadcast package on Wednesday.  —  The rain-delayed Philadelphia Phillies-New York Mets game brought the first round of gripes …

Ranking the 2018 Cardinals fan giveaways: From grand slams to strikeouts  —  Like most big-league teams, the St. Louis Cardinals offer plenty of freebies for ticketholders who attend games.  As if offering $5 beer wasn't enough.  Of course, not all giveaways are created equal.

Ohtani homers again, Cozart lifts Angels past Indians in 13  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his second homer in two games at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning, and Zack Cozart had walk-off homer in the 13th inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

Gray, Rockies shut down Villanueva and Padres in 5-2 win … SAN DIEGO — Jon Gray pitched seven scoreless innings, Trevor Story and Ian Desmond each drove in two runs and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Wednesday night.  —  Gray (1-1) shut down the Padres a night …

Michael Conforto likely to rejoin Mets on Thursday after opening season on DL  —  New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway said after Wednesday's 4-2 home win over the Philadelphia Phillies that outfielder Michael Conforto likely will be activated from the 10-day disabled list on Thursday.

Aaron Judge, Yankees take aim at reeling Orioles  —  Aaron Judge described Giancarlo Stanton's first Yankee Stadium home run succinctly.  —  “It was loud,” Judge said after he, Stanton and Gary Sanchez homered in the same game for the first time this season during Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

What Bronson Arroyo and Shohei Ohtani have in common  —  After a rough spring, Shohei Ohtnai impressed in his first pitching start of the year against the Oakland A's.  Was it enough to silence his doubters?  Time  —  CONNECT  —  One of Shohei Ohtani's rarest feats in his first week …

Nolan Arenado thrilled about Charlie Blackmon's new deal, not concerned about his own contract  —  Bud Black: “I'm excited for Charlie.  I'm excited for the organization.  I'm excited for the fans.”  —  SAN DIEGO — Nolan Arenado quickly dismissed the question, and then steered …

Astros sweep away Orioles with 3-2 victory  —  Josh Reddick had three hits and Alex Bregman's tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.  —  HOUSTON (AP) - Josh Reddick had three hits and Alex Bregman's tiebreaking RBI single …

Royals' series finale at Tigers postponed because of weather  —  DETROIT — For the second time in a week, the Royals will not to play a previously scheduled game.  —  Wednesday's series finale with the Tigers at Comerica Park was postponed.  A weather system encroached on the Detroit area overnight …

Patriots' Julian Edelman May Have Thwarted a School Shooting  —  The New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman was in Texas visiting his former teammate Danny Amendola late last month when he received a direct message on his Instagram account: “Dude, there is a kid in your comment section …

Chicago Cubs' top pitching prospects rising through the ranks, likely to play to play in Iowa  —  The first few years of the Chicago Cubs' rebuild was spent stockpiling position players who could rapidly rise through the system and help at the big-league level.  —  The attention has now turned toward pitching.