Zack Wheeler tinkers with pregame routine, produces strong outing loss to Reds  —  NY Mets outfielder Jay Bruce on the Mets batting out of order Matt Ehalt, Staff Writer, @MattEhalt  —  CINCINNATI — Zack Wheeler changed his pregame routine Wednesday, and it helped him produce a strong outing …

Inside the Yankees historic stretch of 16 wins in last 17 games, by the numbers  —  NEW YORK— The stars aligned at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, bringing the Red Sox and Yankees together at a point where both teams owned MLB's two best records.  —  According to Elias, that hadn't happened in a Yanks-Sox series June 2, 2002.

Homer-happy D-backs beat Dodgers 8-5 in 12 innings  —  LOS ANGELES — A belief they're going to win, even when they blow the lead or trail in a game.  That confidence used to belong to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Now, it's owned by the Arizona Diamondbacks  —  David Descalso hit a tiebreaking …

Closer Corey Knebel off 10-day disabled list but starter Wade Miley sidelined  —  The Milwaukee Brewers activated closer Corey Knebel from the 10-day disabled list Wednesday and placed left-hander Wade Miley on the DL in his place.  —  Knebel has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and he hasn't pitched since April 5.

Cubs rock Chen, sweep Marlins  —  Fish fall 13-4  —  CHICAGO - Kris Bryant hit his 100th career homer, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell connected in an eight-run third inning, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Miami Marlins 13-4 on Wednesday.  —  Rizzo also had a pair of doubles and finished …

Washington Nationals seek sweep against San Diego Padres' lackluster bats  —  SAN DIEGO — Gio Gonzalez makes his eighth start of the season Wednesday night at Petco Park as the resurgent Washington Nationals seek to complete a three-game series sweep of the Padres.

Pittsburgh Pirates end long road trip against lowly Chicago White Sox  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates will wrap up a 10-day, nine-game road trip when they play the Chicago White Sox in a series finale Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.  —  Pittsburgh (20-16) …

Orioles' Dylan Bundy has horrid start, allows four HRs before first out  —  Baltimore Orioles starter Dylan Bundy allowed four home runs and seven runs total before getting an out against the Kansas City Royals.  —  The right-handed hurler had the awful appearance in the Orioles' 15-7 loss Tuesday …

Springer gets 2 more hits, Astros beat A's 4-2  —  George Springer kept up his hitting surge with two hits and two RBIs, Alex Bregman homered and the Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Tuesday night.  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — As happy as AJ Hinch has been with the top of his lineup …

Rockies top Angels, win sixth in row … Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani heads to first on a ground-out against the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 8, 2018, in Denver.  (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)  — JACK DEMPSEY

At 53, Rafael Palmeiro says he's joining professional independent league team in Texas  —  Rafael Palmeiro says he is returning to professional baseball at the age of 53.  —  The longtime Texas Ranger and Baltimore Oriole told The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday that he has agreed to play …

Blue Jays get INF Urshela from Indians for player or cash  —  TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired infielder Gio Urshela from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named or cash.  —  Urshela hadn't played in the majors this season after a hamstring injury set him back in spring training.

White Sox prospect Jake Burger tears his Achilles tendon for a 2nd time  —  White Sox prospect Jake Burger out for the 2018 season: “It sucks but I have to stay positive.”  (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  A prospect many view as the White Sox's third baseman of the future has suffered another setback.

A's place Trevor Cahill on DL, recall prospect Dustin Fowler  —  The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander Trevor Cahill on the 10-day disabled list with an elbow impingement and called up outfield prospect Dustin Fowler on Wednesday.  —  The move with Cahill was made retroactive to Sunday.

Injury leaves more questions than answers for Dodgers' Kershaw  —  LOS ANGELES_Clayton Kershaw politely invited the media to his locker Tuesday afternoon for his first interview since being diagnosed with biceps tendinitis.  But, his left shoulder hurting, he wasn't really in the mood.

Why a 21-K game is MLB's best record that can actually happen  —  The coolest individual accomplishment we could reasonably hope to see this baseball season is a 21-strikeout start*.  This is just my opinion, which you might not share, and ordinarily that disagreement would be fine and we'd walk away friends.

Next Slide  —  Arlington, Texas — If you didn't know about the Tigers' rash of injuries, you might have thought the lineup card manager Ron Gardenhire presented Wednesday was from a spring training game in Port St. Lucie — you know, one of those long bus trips veteran players usually avoid.

Manning, Peterson lead West Michigan to 8-5 win over Clinton  —  COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (AP) — Cole Peterson tripled and singled twice, and Matt Manning hurled six scoreless innings as the West Michigan Whitecaps topped the Clinton LumberKings 8-5 on Wednesday.