Mets' Michael Conforto is back for Thursday's game vs. Nationals — and he's leading off  —  WASHINGTON — Michael Conforto is back.  —  The Mets activated the outfielder for Thursday's series opener against the Nationals.  Conforto, who started the year on the disabled list …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast: Answering your questions on Rays, Bucs, Lightning  —  Rick Stroud answers your questions on today's Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast, including the one word he would use to describe the Rays' start.Plus, what will the Bucs do in the draft?  Has your outlook

Manaea goes 8 innings, pitches A's to 6-2 win over Rangers  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Even as Sean Manaea eased through a 1-2-3 eighth inning and retired his 10th consecutive batter, Oakland manager Bob Melvin had no intention on sending the young lefty back out for the ninth.  —  Not yet anyway.

Matheny: Decision to start Waino ‘not about sentimental reasons’  —  MILWAUKEE  • It was a good day for Adam Wainwright although not so much for Jack Flaherty, or even Michael Wacha.  —  After undergoing two days of intensive running and movement drills and a final review …

Winning homer on a 3-0 count?  White Sox's Jose Abreu ‘was ready’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu isn't exactly fond of taking a big swing on a 3-0 count, as he did Wednesday night in the team's 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays.  —  “Because I miss a lot,” Abreu said through an interpreter.

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.

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 …

A look at where the Mets prospects will be to start the minor league season  —  The minors season opens Thursday, and the Mets will have their top prospects sprinkled throughout their various affiliates.  Here's a look at where you can find most of the organization's top 30 prospects as ranked by MLB.com.

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 …