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.

Joe Maddon dislikes bat flips — a ‘generational thing’ — but lets his Cubs players do what they want  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Tim Anderson bat-flipping episode has caused so much debate some are afraid to even discuss it.  —  “That's a minefield,” said one longtime MLB employee.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker one of the best in MLB in late-inning production  —  (Photo: Dale Zanine / USA TODAY Sports)  —  CHICAGO — Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker said his late-game success has been nice, but within the numbers he sees an area ripe for improvement.

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 …

Martinez says ‘I feel great’ after throwing at Busch Stadium  —  Carlos Martinez continued his rehabilitation Friday at Busch Stadium by playing catch and making 30 to 40 throws from about 70 feet, he said.  —  He will have a bullpen session Saturday, when he plans to throw about 30 pitches as he recovers from a shoulder strain.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Yankees Sign Logan Morrison  —  3:20pm: The Yankees have announced the signing.  —  11:16am: ESPN's Jeff Passan tweets that Morrison's deal comes with a July 1 opt-out and a $1MM base salary at the MLB level (though that salary would presumably be pro-rated).

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 …

Kyle Hendricks looks to get out of rut as Cubs face Diamondbacks at windy Wrigley Field  —  The Cubs played the Diamondbacks Friday at Wrigley Field.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Daniel Descalso will lead off and start at second base Friday as the Cubs begin a three-game series against the Diamondbacks.

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 …