Mariners Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki Transitioning to New Role  —  Beginning today, Ichiro will work as Special Assistant to the Chairman  —  Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto today announced that Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is transitioning to the role of Special Assistant to the Chairman, effective today.

Yankees rally past Astros for wild 6-5 win  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Aroldis Chapman struck out AL MVP Jose Altuve on three straight 101 mph fastballs with two on to end the game, and the New York Yankees got a key hit from rookie Gleyber Torres during a three-run rally in the ninth inning to seesaw past the Houston Astros 6-5 Thursday.

Braves, Mets duke it out for early lead in NL East  —  NEW YORK — Jason Vargas will take the mound Thursday afternoon for the New York Mets against the Atlanta Braves as the Mets try to return to first place after spending most of the season's opening five weeks atop the National League East.

Ryu out until after All-Star break with groin injury  —  PHOENIX (AP) — More bad news for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will be sidelined until after the All-Star break with a severe left groin strain.

Game Day: Diamondbacks take on defending World Series champion Houston Astros  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the defending champions when the Houston Astros visit for a weekend series.  Follow this page for news and scoring updates throughout the series.  —  NEXT MAN UP: Kris Medlen to start for Diamondbacks against Astros

MLB to announce Yankees-Red Sox games in London  —  Major League Baseball intends to announce next week that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will play two games at London's Olympic Stadium in June next year, a person close to the planning told The Associated Press.

White Sox's Joakim Soria says he won't let blown save have negative affect on him  —  White Sox starter Lucas Giolito discusses convincing manager Rick Renteria to keep him in the game against the Cardinals on Wednesday, May 2, 2018.  (Paul Sullivan/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Botte Shots: It's time for MLB to give umpires some help with the strike zone  —  Take away my Baseball Purist membership card.  The kids no longer will be chased off my lawn about this one.  —  After strongly residing in the “human element” camp for years when it comes to umpires …

Column: Did the Cubs get the extended warranty when they purchased Yu Darvish?  —  Cubs starter Yu Darvish discusses his “bad rhythm” in the team's 11-2 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday, May 2, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Did the Cubs also pay for the extended warranty with Yu Darvish?

Trout, Pujols, Upton HRs power Angels' 10-7 win over Orioles  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Albert Pujols reached 2,998 career hits with a home run and a double, and Justin Upton hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 10-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

Joey Votto reminds St. Louis Uber drivers that he won an MVP over Albert Pujols  —  Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was the National League MVP in 2010, beating out then-Cardinals star Albert Pujols, who had won the award the previous two years.  —  Votto is so proud of this that he brags …

Grading early returns on the MLB offseason's biggest moves  —  Grading a hot stove transaction in early May is the baseball equivalent of judging Tiger Woods' round when he's standing on the fourth tee at Augusta National.  In the face of such a limited sample size, the numbers are subject to constant re-evaluation.