Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Saturday  —  We've officially hit the second half of the MLB season, with more than half of 2018's games now in the books.  To celebrate, we have a smorgasbord of hurlers, ranging from Chris Sale and Justin Verlander at the top …

MLB: Yu Darvish heads to Texas for opinion on sore triceps muscle  —  Yu Darvish went to Texas to get another opinion on the sore triceps muscle that flared up again in a bullpen session on Thursday.  —  The setback ended plans for the right-hander's return to the Chicago Cubs rotation this weekend.

Shortstop or third base?  Why scouts - and maybe Phillies - believe Manny Machado can play either position |  Scott Lauber  —  For two months, the Phillies have played rookie second baseman Scott Kingery at shortstop.  They were using a shortstop at third base, too, at least until …

Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire unsure if he'll speak to Chris Bosio again  —  TORONTO — Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire hasn't spoken to fired pitching coach Chris Bosio and isn't sure when or if he will again.  —  Gardenhire initially said he wasn't going to say much about the latest …

Rays face another tough Astros pitcher — Cole  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays were beaten by the slimmest of margins in the series opener, and the Houston Astros' dominating starting pitching gets another chance to showcase itself at Tropicana Field on Friday night.

No reason Brian Cashman should stop pushing for Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard in deal with Mets  —  Brian Cashman understandably has been talking nonstop over the past few days about one of his team's biggest rivals.  —  Even with the Red Sox arriving in the Boogie Down for a first-place …

A.J. Pollock begins rehab assignment, should rejoin Diamondbacks by All-Star break  —  When it comes to injured players, minor-league rehab assignments and, most importantly, timetables for when his athletes are ready to rejoin the Diamondbacks, manager Torey Lovullo tries to offer as much information as he can.

Prodigal Panda: Pablo Sandoval enjoying renaissance with Giants  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Pablo Sandoval's loud banter resonates often throughout the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse.  Fans at AT&T Park greet the announcement of his name cheerfully.  Some teammates wear T-shirts bearing his likeness.

Padres happy to be back home vs. Pirates  —  SAN DIEGO — There will be a double homecoming Friday night at Petco Park.  —  Right-hander Joe Musgrove, who was born and raised 20 minutes east of San Diego in El Cajon, will be facing the Padres for the first time as the starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Alcantara wins first MLB start as Marlins beat Mets 8-2  —  MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara allowed just one run over five innings to win his first career start as the  —  New York Mets 8-2 on Friday night.  —  JT Riddle hit a three-run homer and  —  Lewis Brinson, who had three hits, also homered in a pivotal six-run third inning.

Midseason awards, bad All-Star positions and MLB's next big thing  —  At some point Friday evening, the 1,215th final score of the 2018 Major League Baseball championship season will be entered in the logs.  It's the natural halfway point — peak baseball — when we have as many games behind us as we do ahead.

Braves' Tyler Flowers sidelined by hamstring cramp  —  ST. LOUIS — Atlanta Braves catcher Tyler Flowers was removed from Friday's game at St. Louis after flying out to end the sixth inning.  —  Flowers, who came in hitting .248, left due to a right hamstring cramp, the team announced.

Trout HR helps Angels beat Orioles 7-1, ending 6-game skid  —  Mike Trout celebrated his return to center field with a solo home run and an impressive catch, and the Los Angeles  —  Angels snapped a six-game skid by beating the floundering  —  Baltimore Orioles 7-1 on Friday night.

Eddie Butler to join Iowa Cubs on rehab assignment  —  Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982.  Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time.  Mark Marturello and Michael Zamora/The Register

Kris Bryant's injury eases the Cubs' Albert Almora Jr.-Ian Happ debate  —  Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. on Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw's exit: ‘It worked for our favor’ (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  In assessing the Albert Almora Jr.-Ian Happ situation …

Next Slide  —  Detroit Tigers right-handed pitching prospect Alex Faedo took the latest questions about his velocity dip in stride.  He said he was asked similar questions early in 2017 as a junior at Florida, before being named Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series.