Cincinnati Reds took a risk on Matt Harvey, will be it rewarded?  —  Every trade involves an element of risk.  —  The Reds took a big one Tuesday when they sent Devin Mesoraco to the New York Mets for troubled pitcher Matt Harvey.  —  In terms of baseball, it's not much of a risk at all.

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.

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.

With less hair but more playing time, Wilmer Difo has given the Nationals a jolt … Last week, a Washington Nationals clubhouse attendant approached Wilmer Difo with a batting helmet and, later, a baseball cap to try on.  Difo needed a fresh batch of smaller headwear.

Chicago Cubs seek sweep of Miami Marlins  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are trying to get rolling, but will need their depth in order to do so for the time being.  —  After losing five straight games, the Cubs enter Wednesday attempting to finish off a sweep of the Miami Marlins following Tuesday's come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

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 …

White Sox bullpen blows it in 6-5 loss to Pirates  —  Photos from the White Sox-Pirates game at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 9, 2018.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  One bad inning wiped away eight good ones.  —  The result: The White Sox blew a three-run, ninth-inning lead to the Pirates, losing 6-5 Wednesday afternoon.

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 …

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

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.

Wins and answers in short supply as Orioles' 2018 season careens toward disaster … BALTIMORE — It was somewhere around the seventh batter of the game Tuesday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards that the sheer, historic depth of the Baltimore Orioles' hopelessness revealed itself.

Under the cover of Lightning, the Rays aren't as bad as previously thought  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Rays left-hander Blake Snell, off to a great start in 2018, was talking about his team's life as a Tampa Bay second banana.  He spoke at his locker, next to and nearly behind a blue banner that hung from the ceiling in the home clubhouse.

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.

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.

Wainwright: Cards ‘being real hush-hush’ about his return  —  No decision may be reached on the return of Cardinals righthander Adam Wainwright, who has been disabled with a sore elbow, until after he throws a bullpen session Thursday in San Diego.  —  “They're being real hush-hush about it,” said Wainwright.

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.

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.

Aaron Nola dominates; Hector Neris rebounds |  Extra Innings  —  Aaron Nola pitched, and the Phillies won.  That combination is starting to become as commonplace as peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs, and surf and turf.  The Phillies have won five of Nola's last six starts, but his brilliance dates to June 22 of last season.

Greg Bird expected to begin playing in minor-league games as Yankees first baseman nears return  —  Greg Bird will move from extended spring games to Class-A Tampa on Thursday.  —  Once Bird starts there, he could be back in anywhere from 10-20 days depending on how he progresses.