MLB Weekend Watch: Predictions, questions for all the top games  —  The defending champion Red Sox head to Tampa still mired in a season-long slump.  Fresh off an onslaught of the Cardinals, Christian Yelich leads the Brewers against the Dodgers in a rematch of last week's series.

Indians prospect Benson hits 4 HRs in A-ball  —  Cleveland Indians prospect Will Benson hit four home runs for Class-A Lake County on Thursday night.  —  He's the first minor leaguer to hit four homers in a game since 2014, when Yankees prospect Mike Ford hit four for Class-A Charleston …

MLB Headlines  —  WASHINGTON (AP) Now this is what the Washington Nationals were looking for when they plunked down $140 million to add Patrick Corbin to the rotation.  —  Corbin took a one-hitter into the eighth inning to earn his first win with Washington, and the Nationals beat …

Robert Stephenson, pitching well out of Cincinnati Reds' bullpen, lets go of expectations  —  LOS ANGELES - There was no moment during the spring when Robert Stephenson suddenly gained more confidence on the mound.  He just knew he was running out of time to prove himself.

White Sox' Tim Anderson hit with 1-game ban for crime of getting beaned while black … What exactly did Tim Anderson do to deserve a one-game ban?  —  The White Sox shortstop was the victim of a fastball to the butt in retaliation for the high baseball crime of celebrating a home run earlier this week.

The Rays are once again out ahead of baseball — and the AL East  —  ST. PETERSBURG - This isn't funny anymore.  —  For the past couple of years, we've been making fun of the Tampa Bay Rays for trying to re-invent the game with all their unconventional analytic gimmickry …

Rays add pitcher Casey Sadler to bullpen, put Mike Zunino on paternity list in series of moves  —  Pitcher Emilio Pagan optioned to Triple-A, catcher Nick Ciuffo called up.  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays added right-hander Casey Sadler to their bullpen and placed catcher Mike Zunino on the paternity list in a series of moves.

Yankees need to light a spark against Royals this weekend  —  NEW YORK — Suddenly, the New York Yankees are searching for a new spark, with CC Sabathia set to make his second start of the season Friday night.  —  Sabathia is scheduled to oppose Kansas City Royals right-hander Jakob Junis …

Sources: A's slugger Davis gets $33.5M extension  —  Oakland Athletics slugger Khris Davis has signed a two-year extension that will keep him under contract through the 2021 season, the team announced Thursday.  —  The A's did not disclose financial terms, but sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan that the deal is for $33.5 million.

Pete Alonso would love to get a crack at Home Run Derby in Cleveland  —  If they asked, the Mets' rookie first baseman “absolutely” would like to be involved and said doing the Derby is something he has long thought about.  —  PHILADELPHIA — The question was going to come eventually, so mid-April seems as good a time as any.

Bellinger, Muncy, Urias lead Dodgers past Brewers 3-1  —  Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich chatted in the outfield after batting practice ended.  Once Thursday's game started, the bats of the National League home run co-leaders kept the exchange going.  —  Bellinger hit his 10th home run …

Kevin Durant, Warriors dominate Clippers in Game 3, take 2-1 series lead  —  LOS ANGELES — Oh yeah, that bear was ticked.  —  Landry Shamet is new to the NBA, but he was right in assuming the Golden State Warriors weren't going to take kindly to the rude awakening the Clippers gave …

Real or not?  World Series hangovers are a bunch of nonsense  —  Last spring training, after the Astros had won the World Series, then-Houston starter Dallas Keuchel was asked about the possibility of a World Series hangover.  Keuchel's response: “We're not the Cubs.”

Fantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Saturday  —  Saturday brings us plenty of aces, with Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Nola and Trevor Bauer all taking the mound.  In the next tier, we have Jameson Taillon, Luis Castillo, Charlie Morton, Zack Greinke …

Rangers option lefty Bird to Triple-A Nashville  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have optioned left-hander Kyle Bird to Triple-A Nashville after his second stint in the majors this season.  —  Bird has a 6.75 ERA with a save in five relief appearances for the Rangers in his first big league action.

Two Royals players want to race The Freeze during series in Atlanta  —  The Royals' schedule this year includes games against the National League East teams, so they'll be in Atlanta for a two-game series in July.  —  That will give the team a chance to watch Nigel Talton do his thing.

Ryan Burr and Josh Osich represent two extremes of the White Sox bullpen  —  Chicago Tribune  —  White Sox relievers Josh Osich and Ryan Burr suit up next to each other in the clubhouse — but there situations couldn't be more different.  —  Burr, 24, was a late-summer call-up last season …

Red Sox Farm Report: Bryan Mata hasn't given up an earned run since his first start  —  Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata hasn't made too many mistakes on the mound in his three starts for Class-A Advanced Salem this season.  He has given up one earned run (0.54 ERA), three walks and 11 hits (0.90 WHIP) over 16 2/3 innings.

5 things to know about the Braves on Friday  —  Here are five things to know about the Braves on Friday:  — Toussaint gets first start of season: Righthander Touki Toussaint will make his first start of the season as the Braves face the Indians in Cleveland.