Diamondbacks land versatile Blake Swihart in trade with Red Sox, won't use him at catcher right away  —  CHICAGO - In acquiring Blake Swihart from the Boston Red Sox on Friday afternoon, the Diamondbacks added a catcher whom they don't plan on using behind the plate - at least not right away, according to General Manager Mike Hazen.

Arizona Diamondbacks fall to Chicago Cubs 5-1 in chilly afternoon game  —  CHICAGO - Kyle Hendricks struck out a season-high 11 over seven scoreless innings in his first win, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Friday.  —  Hendricks (1-3) became the third consecutive Cubs starter …

Mets score twice in first inning against Wainwright  —  The New York Mets scored twice on three hits in the first inning at Busch Stadium after Adam Wainwright retired the first two batters.  —  Robinson Cano started things with a double over right fielder Jose Martinez's head.

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.

Jacob deGrom going for elbow MRI in Mets' catastrophe  —  ST. LOUIS — Turns out strep throat was the least of Jacob deGrom's concerns.  —  The Mets ace won't make his pushed-back start on Saturday, after all.  Instead, deGrom flew to New York on Friday and will undergo an MRI Saturday on his right elbow …

Despite record, Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation has exceeded expectations  —  SAN DIEGO - During the offseason, the Reds made improving their starting pitching their top priority.  They added three starters, Tanner Roark, Sonny Gray and Alex Wood, and hoped that their young starters would improve with more competition around them.

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.

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 …

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 …

Detroit Tigers' Joe Jimenez takes struggles in stride: 'It's not going to last'  —  With a bit of distance, Joe Jimenez was able to process things as he ran his left foot over a vibrating massage ball.  —  The back-to-back bad outings?  In the past.  The temporary demotion from his setup spot in the Detroit Tigers bullpen?

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.

Nick Anderson was a fringe player to make the Marlins' roster.  Now, he's setting records  —  At this time last month, Nick Anderson was considered a relative long shot to make the Marlins' Opening Day roster.  He was in a battle for one of the last few bullpen spots as spring training entered its final days.

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 …

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.