Pederson hits 2 HRs, Bellinger goes deep again for Dodgers  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joc Pederson went deep twice, Cody Bellinger hit his third home run in as many games and the Los Angeles Dodgers used nine pitchers to hold off the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 on Thursday.

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?

Phillies' difficult road trip proves offense could use a boost  —  CHICAGO — Asked why he decided to elevate Scott Kingery to the No. 3 spot in the batting order for the last three games, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler explained that the rookie infielder has swung the bat better lately …

Jake Bauers' promotion to majors continues Rays' youth movement  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The promotion of Jake Bauers is just one more part of the Rays' youth movement this season.  The 22-year-old made his major-league debut Thursday night, starting at first base and batting sixth in the order against the Mariners.

Top prospect Adbert Alzolay out with injury but promotion to Cubs is ‘close’  —  Cubs' senior vice president of player development/scouting Jason McLeod on the Cubs' draft.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs hope Adbert Alzolay will be wiser once he returns …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

Red Sox hope to keep flow going vs. Tigers  —  BOSTON — Jalen Beeks was not the first member of his family to learn the young left-hander was going to the major leagues to start for the Boston Red Sox against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.  —  And you can thank social media for that.

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 …

Cubs-Pirates a baseball rivalry worth watching: 'I don't care what they think'  —  It's hardly Yankees-Red Sox, or Dodgers-Giants, or even Cardinals-Cubs.  —  But suddenly, we have a blossoming rivalry in baseball, and it's starting to attract a whole lot of attention.

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 …

Past and present collide as Oakland A's host Kansas City Royals  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Two pitchers representing the good and bad of recent Oakland Athletics trades go head-to-head Thursday night when the A's open a four-game home series against the Kansas City Royals.

Valiaka brothers reunite at Principal Park for Iowa Cubs series  —  Iowa Cubs hitting coach Chris Valaika talks about his team playing against his brother's Tommy Birch, tbirch@dmreg.com  —  When Iowa Cubs co-hitting coach Chris Valaika walked out to coach third base this week …

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.

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 …