Familiar Forces: Pham scores twice, Mikolas makes that enough in 2-1 win vs. Padres  —  SAN DIEGO  • As much as the Cardinals have been waiting for some of their stalwarts to halt their struggles and catch fire, they remain in first place as Mother's Day approaches because of a trio of constants they've been able to count on.

Contreras keeps on slugging, Cubs pound White Sox 11-2  —  CHICAGO (AP) - Willson Contreras had two homers, two doubles and drove in a career-high seven runs on his bobblehead day, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the crosstown White Sox 11-2 on Friday.  —  Contreras capped a five-run …

Meet the Mets, but can the Phillies beat the Mets?  |  Extra Innings  —  Only five teams in baseball — Boston, the New York Yankees, Houston, Atlanta and Arizona — have a better record than the Phillies after the Phils' four-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants.  The Phillies are 22-15.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals … Archie Bradley isn't one to pussyfoot around.  If he feels strongly about something, the Diamondbacks' bearded relief pitcher is going to tell you exactly how he feels.  Ask him for his opinion and Bradley will look you in the eye and give it to you straight.

Gardy party: Tigers manager talks injuries, video games & ‘Karate Kid’  —  Albert Pujols picked up his 3,000th hit on May 4.  Which active player will be the next one to reach the milestone?  Video by Ryan Ford/DFP Wochit  —  CONNECT  —  Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire addressed injury updates …

Martinez homers, Red Sox rebound to cool off Yankees, 5-4  —  Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, left, center fielder Mookie Betts, center, and right fielder J.D. Martinez celebrate after the Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 5-4 in a baseball game in New York, Thursday, May 10, 2018.

Evan Longoria on the Rays: ‘I feel like an outsider looking in’  —  PHILADELPHIA — There's still a couple pieces of the Rays with Evan Longoria on the field every day, a blue rubber bracelet in honor of Joshua Fisher, one of the many cancer-stricken kids he met at the Trop …

Cardinals bring back Cecil as lone lefty, place Lyons on DL  —  SAN DIEGO  • The ongoing refresh and resort of the Cardinals' bullpen continued Friday afternoon when the team placed Tyler Lyons on the disabled list with a sore back and brought Brett Cecil back from his rehab assignment.

Struggling Jason Vargas to skip next start with Mets  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The New York Mets will skip struggling left-hander Jason Vargas' next turn in the rotation on Tuesday.  —  Manager Mickey Callaway said Friday that Vargas will instead throw a simulated game before the Mets host Toronto.

Baseball roundup: Albies hits grand slam as Braves beat Marlins  —  Albies, Freeman key Braves' rout of Marlins  —  Ozzie Albies hit Atlanta's first grand slam of the season to highlight a seven-run sixth inning, Freddie Freeman had a career-high five hits and the NL East-leading Braves beat the Marlins 9-2 in Miami on Thursday night.

Jim Kaat says 7-inning games would enhance pitching staffs, bring in new fans  —  Jim Kaat has been around baseball for most of his 79 years, and he doesn't like what he sees in the game today.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS  —  Should the Pirates build a statue for their former MVP?  Not if you ask him.

Orioles place ineffective RHP Tillman on DL with back strain  —  Baltimore Orioles have placed struggling right-hander  —  Chris Tillman on the 10-day disabled list with a lower back strain.  —  The move comes less than 24 hours after Tillman yielded six runs in 1 1/3 innings against the

CC Sabathia, pride of Vallejo, has plans in case Yankees win the World Series  —  What do you do when you've done it all?  —  If you're CC Sabathia, pride of Vallejo, you do it again.  —  Then you walk away.  —  Sabathia, 37, a left-handed pitcher who has been picked to six All-Star teams …

Iowa Cubs manager Marty Pevey on brain tumor: ‘My little friend living up there between my eyes’  —  Iowa Cubs manager Marty Pevey tries not to think about his tumor.  But it's impossible to accomplish for so many reasons.  —  The saying Pevey likes to tell is this: His tumor is literally always on his mind.