All you need to know about Yankees' toughest stretch of 2018  —  The final weekend in April and the beginning of May will feel a whole lot like October for the New York Yankees.  —  The Bronx Bombers kick off a 13-game stretch Friday night in Anaheim that will see them play the four teams …

Rays on roll entering series with Red Sox  —  BOSTON — When the Tampa Bay Rays left Boston April 8, they were 1-8 with eight straight losses.  —  A lot has changed for Kevin Cash's team as it returns to Fenway Park for a three-game series this weekend.  —  The Rays open the series …

Flaherty arrives for Saturday start; Cardinals continue bullpen shuffle  —  St. Louis Cardinals' Jack Flaherty pitches to the Milwaukee Brewers on April 3, when he allowed one run and struck out nine in five innings.  (AP Photo)  —  PITTSBURGH  • The Cardinals continued Friday …

Ronald Acuna, baseball's latest sensation, hits Philly |  Extra Innings  —  So the Phillies got hammered yesterday.  But there is some good news: That was their last Facebook game for two weeks.  The Phillies will welcome the Braves to South Philly tonight to start a three-game series …

Davidson homers twice, White Sox beat Royals 6-3  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Matt Davidson is disproving the notion power hitters don't like Kauffman Stadium.  —  Davidson hit two of Chicago's five home runs, leading the White Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Rays' Kevin Cash unhappy with Chris Archer's sprint  —  BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay's Chris Archer was about to pitch to Baltimore's Chris Davis when the Rays pitcher noticed Jace Peterson attempting to steal third base, which was uncovered because of an infield shift.

Darvish faces Brewers in quest for first win  —  CHICAGO — When Yu Darvish signed a $126 million contract to join the Cubs in the offseason, he was viewed as a free agent prize.  —  But as Darvish prepares to make his fifth start of the season Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the 31-year-old right-hander has yet to deliver.

Blue Jays attempt to regroup vs. Rangers  —  TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have finished a seven-game stretch against two tough American League East rivals and now they take on a rival of two recent postseasons in the Texas Rangers on Friday night.  —  The Blue Jays finished 2-5 …

EXCLUSIVE: Ed Burns to direct documentary on life of Hall of Fame Mets pitcher Tom Seaver  —  This certainly sounds Terrific.  —  The Daily News has learned lifelong Mets fan and Queens native Ed Burns will direct a documentary on the storied life of Hall of Fame Mets pitcher Tom Seaver.

Against the Pirates, Gibson's historic 1968 season first took sail  —  PITTSBURGH  • Fifty years ago yesterday, Bob Gibson's season was three starts old, he had to win a game, and the lineup he was about to face had a former MVP who changed the game and three future Hall of Famers.  No biggie.

The sad part of Rangers history pitcher Matt Bush is in danger of joining  —  Matt Bush is in danger of joining the Rangers' sad history of effective relievers who went south after trying to transform into starters.  —  The Rangers on Wednesday used Bush's final option to send him to Triple-A Round Rock.

How many strikeouts is too many, and MLB's next big thing  —  Every year, baseball's strikeout rate increases.  That much we know.  What we haven't thought as much about is the victim of the strikeout pandemic: balls in play.  Without balls in play, we can't have hits.

Column: Tank me out to the ballgame: MLB teams get early start in Race to the Bottom  —  Royals pitcher Jason Hammel rolls over after being hit by a ball off the bat of the Brewers' Lorenzo Cain during a game at Kauffman Stadium on April 25, 2018 in Kansas City.  (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)

Mets' deGrom looks to continue mastery of Padres  —  SAN DIEGO — To paraphrase a cliche, Friday night's matchup between New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom and the San Diedo Padres' offense is akin to a rusty gate swinging in the path of a block wall.