Mets To Designate Matt Harvey  —  The Mets will designate Matt Harvey tomorrow, GM Sandy Alderson tells reporters including MLB.com's Anthony DiComo (via Twitter).  The decision was made after Harvey declined to accept a minor-league assignment — as he has the ability to do given his MLB service time.

First-place Braves hit home to face Giants  —  ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are in first place for the first time past April since 2014 and their fans finally get a chance to see one of the reasons why in a home uniform.  —  Rookie sensation Ronald Acuna Jr. makes his SunTrust Park debut Friday night …

With Miggy on the mend, Detroit Tigers' prospect Grayson Greiner gets call  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was the longest game of Grayson Greiner's life.  It was, in a word, miserable.  —  The Tigers' catching prospect was going about his business on what figured to be a normal game day for Triple …

Cubs entering ‘constructive criticism’ phase with Yu Darvish  —  Photos of Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The evaluation period has ended, and the Cubs have seen enough to take the kid gloves off struggling starter Yu Darvish.  —  “Now we're ready to say things …

Trade Machado now, tracking aces and MLB's next big thing  —  When does reality become reality?  —  No, I'm not trying to pose a “Matrix"-style riddle here.  That was the question that popped in my mind when Orioles general manager Dan Duquette told the Baltimore Sun …

Christian Villanueva: Playing MLB game in Mexico ‘dream come true’  —  MONTERREY, Mexico — San Diego third baseman Christian Villanueva will become just the third Mexican to play a regular-season major league baseball game on home soil when the Padres begin a weekend series against the Dodgers on Friday.

Twins try to rebound from loss vs. White Sox  —  Jose Berrios will try to notch his 20th victory in the big leagues when the Minnesota Twins visit the Chicago White Sox on Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field in the second of a four-game series.  —  Berrios (2-3, 3.63 ERA) …

Giants haven't ruled out serious elbow injury as Johnny Cueto seeks second opinion  —  San Francisco Giants ace Johnny Cueto will see noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews on Monday to get his sore pitching elbow evaluated.  —  Cueto, who leads the majors with an 0.84 ERA …

Lankford, Coleman headline newest Cardinals Hall of Fame class  —  Cardinals outfielder Ray Lankford awaits a pitch in a 2000 game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium.  Post-Dispatch photo by Chris Lee.  —  Vince Coleman rounds third base in Game 3 of the 1985 National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium.

FANTASY PLAYS: A week at Coors Field perfect for streaming  —  For the first time this season, we get a week full of Coors Field games.  You'll want to load up on hitters from the Rockies, Angels and Brewers, while avoiding the pitchers in those matchups.  Don't worry, though.

Braves put shortstop Dansby Swanson on DL with sore wrist  —  ATLANTA — Shortstop Dansby Swanson was placed on the 10-day disabled list by the Atlanta Braves with left wrist inflammation.  —  Swanson was removed from Wednesday's game at the New York Mets in the sixth inning and did not play in Thursday's trip finale.

Radical Ideas Series: What if MLB teams could bid for more home games?  —  Welcome to the third and final installment of the Radical Ideas Series, in which we “fix” baseball not merely by limiting mound visits or even instituting pitch clocks but by revolutionizing the game's competitive structure …

Rangers try to keep momentum going vs. Red Sox  —  The Texas Rangers accomplished two things they haven't had much success with this season Thursday, getting hits and scoring runs off a left-handed pitcher and playing well enough to win at home.  —  Those achievements helped provide …

Golden's double leads Asheville to 4-3 win over Rome  —  ROME, Ga. (AP) — Casey Golden hit a run-scoring double in the first inning, leading the Asheville Tourists to a 4-3 win over the Rome Braves on Friday.  —  The double by Golden, part of a two-run inning, gave the Tourists a 1- lead …

Alexy, Jacobs lead Hickory to 5-1 win over West Virginia  —  CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Justin Jacobs had four hits and scored two runs, and A.J. Alexy struck out 12 hitters over six innings as the Hickory Crawdads beat the West Virginia Power 5-1 on Friday.  —  Alexy (1-2) allowed one hit while walking three to get the win.

Washington leads Salem to 9-7 win over Potomac  —  WOODBRIDGE, Va. (AP) — Kyri Washington hit three home runs and drove in five runs, as the Salem Red Sox defeated the Potomac Nationals 9-7 on Friday.  —  Matthew Gorst got Tres Barrera to fly out with a runner on first to end the game for his fourth save of the season.

Stephenson hits walk-off homer, Daytona beats Lakeland 6-5  —  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Stephenson hit a walk-off solo homer, as the Daytona Tortugas beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers 6-5 on Friday.  —  Chad Sedio hit an RBI double, scoring Daz Cameron in the first inning to give the Flying Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Cubs' Ben Zobrist to bat leadoff, Javier Baez returns to No. 8 spot against Cardinals  —  Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward discusses the team's 11-2 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday, May 2, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  In the latest attempt to jump-start …

Swanson, Avelino lead Trenton to 9-0 win over Harrisburg  —  TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Abiatal Avelino homered and had three hits, and Erik Swanson allowed just four hits over seven innings as the Trenton Thunder topped the Harrisburg Senators 9-0 on Friday.  —  Swanson (5-0) picked up the win after he struck out five and walked two.

Gordon gives Ichiro fitting tribute in Mariners' win vs A's  —  SEATTLE (AP) - Dee Gordon had a big night on the bases, Nelson Cruz hit a two-run home run and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1 on Thursday night in their first game since Ichiro Suzuki was moved from the roster to the front office.