Pirates break out of funk, topple Dodgers 11-9  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle had a sense of deja vu while watching his team take and then threaten to blow three four-run leads during an 11-9 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Ibandel Isabel has seven homers in seven games for Daytona Tortugas  —  The Cincinnati Reds couldn't have received that much in return for a pitcher they designated for assignment after he posted a 5.18 ERA and walked 22 in 24 1/3 innings for the team last season and was optioned to Triple-A Louisville in early March, right?

Gibbons' job becoming a hot topic around Blue Jays  —  Prior to Thursday's game against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons read part of a text he received from his friend, former O's pitching great Jim Palmer, now a noted broadcaster.

Rangers, Jon Daniels agree to multiyear contract extension  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have given general manager Jon Daniels a multiyear contract extension at a time when the team is focused on developing young players at the big league level.

Fans share their stories of encounters with Red Schoendienst  —  St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famers Red Schoendienst (left) and Bob Gibson return to the dugout after pregame festivities before a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, April 13, 2015, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Twins ride Jose Berrios to 7-2 win over White Sox  —  Jose Berrios is heating up just as the Twins were cooling down.  —  The right-handed starter retired the first 14 White Sox hitters he faced Thursday afternoon en route to a 10-strikeout, complete-game gem as Minnesota cleaned up its act …

What the Yankees are talking about ahead of weekend Subway Series with Mets  —  This isn't exactly the Subway Series everyone was hoping for.  Not with the Yankees surging and the Mets reeling.  Still, at least from a fan perspective, there are bragging rights at stake.

Thor, deGrom to Bronx?  Yankees' hunt for arms just got real  —  NEW YORK — The New York Yankees' hunt for starting pitching just got more intense.  —  When the organization learned this week that left-hander Jordan Montgomery would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2018 season …

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny frustrated over lack of communication  —  St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny voiced his frustrations Wednesday over the importance of players “being honest with us” about injuries and that he “can't read their minds.”  —  His comments come on the heels …

Rays Designate Brad Miller For Assignment  —  The Rays have designated infielder Brad Miller for assignment, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports on Twitter.  His roster spot will go to Jake Bauers, who has been called up as expected.  —  Miller, 28, was a non-tender candidate …

Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants … SAN FRANCISCO - Paul Goldschmidt stood near his locker deep in the visitors' clubhouse at AT&T Park, a strong series against the San Francisco Giants still large in the rearview mirror.  Asked to reflect on whether the past three games constituted a breakout …

Miguel Andujar has been a hitting machine since his childhood days, but Yankees believe young slugger has even more potential  —  It all started with a uniform.  —  Long before he become an extra-base hit machine for the Bombers as a 23-year-old rookie at the hot corner …

Rockies' first-round pick regrets 2012 tweet calling for Obama assassination  —  Was it a character flaw or just high school immaturity?  —  Either way, University of Mississippi pitcher Ryan Rolison addressed the issue of his controversial tweet from 2012 when he was introduced to the media …

Cubs' draft provides balance in farm system  —  Cubs' senior vice president of player development/scouting Jason McLeod on the Cubs' draft.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs believe this week's amateur draft allowed them to address shortcomings caused …

Buyers, sellers and holders: Where does your team fit?  —  Amazingly, very little has changed since last month's Stock Watch.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS  —  What's the ceiling for these former top prospects whose stats suggest they were touted for more than they could deliver?

Olney: My new MLB rule — four pitchers per nine innings, max  —  Over the past 18 months, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has been all but begging major league players for ideas and input on ways to make the product better.  He seems ready to discuss even radical ideas …

Mets will listen to Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard offers if team doesn't turn things around: source  —  The Mets are not listening to offers for Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard — but that doesn't mean they wouldn't.  —  Despite GM Sandy Alderson's recent comments that he is not thinking about a rebuild …

Phillies waste great opportunity and it gets only tougher from here  —  BOX SCORE  —  Phillies wasted a great opportunity against the wildest pitcher in baseball and lost another series because of it.  —  Cubs right-hander  —  Tyler Chatwood walked seven - yes, seven - but the