Ichiro Suzuki Moves To Front Office Role, Will Not Continue Playing In 2018  —  The Mariners announced today that future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki has is moving to a front office role where he'll serve as a special assistant to the chairman, effective immediately.

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.

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.

Gleyber Torres delivers clutch 9th inning hit as Yankees come back to win wild one vs. Astros, 6-5  —  HOUSTON — Leave it to the kid.  —  Gleyber Torres delivered a game-tying, two-run single in the ninth inning, as the Yankees rallied back from a 5-3 deficit to defeat the Astros, 6-5 …

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.

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.

Banged up Yoan Moncada out of White Sox lineup in series opener vs. Twins  —  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

LEADING OFF: Dodgers-Padres in Mexico, Kingham pitches again  —  A look at what's happening all around the majors Friday:  —  MEXICAN FLAVOR  —  Major League Baseball returns to Mexico in the regular season for the first time in nearly two decades when the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego play a three-game series in Monterrey.

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 …

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.

Jays' Solarte faceplants during horrible slide, hits game-winning grand slam … Toronto Blue Jays infielder Yangervis Solarte had one of the worst slides of the season Thursday against the Cleveland Indians.  —  He also hit a game-winning grand slam in the top of the 11th inning …

Did Lance McCullers Jr. have a foreign substance on his cleat against New York Yankees?  —  Not long after arguing with Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer about Houston Astros pitchers doctoring baseballs, some have speculated Lance McCullers Jr. had a foreign substance on his cleat in Thursday's start against the New York Yankees.

Tromp's double leads Pensacola to 7-1 win over Mississippi  —  PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — Chadwick Tromp hit a two-run double in the sixth inning, leading the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a 7-1 win over the Mississippi Braves on Thursday.  —  The double by Tromp started the scoring in a five-run inning and gave the Blue Wahoos a 3-1 lead.

Short hits two homers as Tennessee tops Birmingham 8-5  —  KODAK, Tenn. (AP) — Zack Short hit a pair of homers, leading the Tennessee Smokies to an 8-5 win over the Birmingham Barons on Thursday.  —  Jeffrey Baez and Jason Vosler also homered for the Smokies.

Souza activated from DL, makes D-backs debut  —  PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks activated right fielder Steven Souza Jr. from the disabled list and he was in the lineup for his debut with the team Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  Souza, acquired in a three-team offseason trade …

Frazier scores winning run, Scranton/WB beats Pawtucket 4-3 in walk-off finish  —  SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Ryan McBroom hit a sacrifice fly and drove in Clint Frazier with the winning run in the ninth inning, as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders topped the Pawtucket Red Sox 4-3 on Thursday.