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 …

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.

Mets chase Wainwright in fourth, lead Cardinals 4-1  —  The New York Mets chased Adam Wainwright from the game in the fourth inning as they scored four runs off the Cardinals starter and missed out on an opportunity to blow the game open.  —  Wainwright allowed eight hits and walked three while throwing 86 pitches.

Yoan Moncada stays hot with a long home run as the White Sox top the Tigers 7-3  —  Yoan Moncada hit a mammoth home run in the first inning, and the White Sox broke open the game with five runs in the seventh on the way to a 7-3 victory over the Tigers on Friday night at Comerica Park.

Marlins hold on to defeat Nationals after another strong performance from Caleb Smith  —  The Miami Marlins hoped that their off day came at the right time.  After enduring a 15 game stretch that included five shutout losses and just two wins, maybe a 24-hour respite would be enough for the team …

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 …

Ohtani joins team BP for first time since surgery  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani's drives into the seats at Angel Stadium came with an audience on Friday, when the Los Angeles Angels' two-way standout took another step toward his return from Tommy John surgery.

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.

Off-season talk with an ex coach who died two weeks later fueled this lefty's turnaround  —  Every player who comes to the major leagues for the first time has a story to tell, and left-hander Brett Martin is no different.  —  Recalled for the first time Friday from Triple A Nashville …

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 …

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.

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?

Francisco Lindor homers again in rehab appearance for Columbus; Will Benson crushes four home runs at Lake County  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — If Thursday was Francisco Lindor's final rehab game for the Columbus Clippers, he certainly went out with a bang.  —  Lindor, playing in his third game …