Francisco Alvarez hits 6th homer for Mets, Kodai Senga throws career-high 106 pitches in 4-2 loss to Cubs  —  CHICAGO — Francisco Alvarez did all he could to will his club to a victory Wednesday night at Wrigley Field going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer off former Mets right-hander Marcus Stroman.

Celtics' Malcolm Brogdon playing through right arm injury: Sources  —  BOSTON — Malcolm Brogdon has been playing through a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm, team sources told The Athletic.  —  Brogdon suffered the injury in Game 1 …

Michael Kopech ‘in complete control’ for the Chicago White Sox: 3 hits, 19 strikeouts over 15 straight scoreless innings  —  CLEVELAND — Michael Kopech had quite the encore.  —  In his first start since taking a perfect game into the sixth inning, the Chicago White Sox right-hander retired …

Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe propel Yankees past Orioles despite Gerrit Cole's rough night  —  Just before the Yankees began a three-game series with the second-place Orioles, Aaron Boone emphasized that he believes the American League East rival is for real.  —  “They're a really good team …

Updated top 50 2023 MLB prospects, according to Kiley McDaniel  —  We're almost two months into the 2023 MLB season, and several of the best prospects from my offseason top 100 list have now graduated from eligibility, which makes it a perfect time for an updated look at the best young players currently starring in the minors.

Why I sided with ‘every moron’ Reds fan ‘in deep despair’  —  Check out the top of an email I received about my last column: … - James  —  Quite a contrast from this comment on the online story: … - Greg  —  Guess which one I enjoyed more.  —  As a (relatively) normal human being, that would be Greg's.

How will Cardinals rotation, winless Steven Matz find relief in slog of 19-game sprint?  —  CINCINNATI — The zero suctioned to Steven Matz's name like a barnacle in every box score and stat sheet for more than 50 games now looms there as a reminder that, for almost 11 months now …

NJ baseball tournament: North Jersey first-round highlights  —  MONTVALE — St. Joseph didn't enjoy the same arms-preserving first-round bye as rivals Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco.  —  Solution?  Say hello to promising sophomores Brendan Lewis, Carter Grande and Neylin Navarro …

Pick-your-own cherries season has arrived in the Bay Area; here's where to go  —  The brief but glorious days of picking your own cherries is finally upon us.  —  It's been a wait, thanks to the cold and foul weather, but the most joyful time of the year for fruit lovers is finally here …

Elly De La Cruz becomes Reds' first No. 1 overall prospect in more than a decade  —  Cincinnati Reds prospect Elly De La Cruz hits the ball as hard as anyone in baseball, is one of the fastest runners and has one of the best arms from shortstop.  —  His latest feat?  Claiming the title of No. 1 overall prospect.

Former Chicago Cubs prospect sought by police in Dominican Republic in connection with a shooting death  —  Dominican Republic national police are searching for a former Chicago Cubs minor-leaguer in connection with a homicide.  —  The Cubs signed outfielder Josefrailin Alcántara …