MILWAUKEE -- At the start of what could be a series of moves this weekend to fortify the bullpen for a four-game series against the second-place Brewers, the Cardinals placed Michael Wacha on the disabled list and brought back John Gant from Class AAA Memphis.

Who will start Monday will depend who is needed in the next four days.

Wacha had the...Read more

As he walked across the Wrigley Field diamond on Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts burst into a smile. Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish had just completed a simulated game and came over to visit with former teammate Kenta Maeda. Roberts extended his hand to embrace Darvish. His affection for the player outweighed the ...Read more

Cubs starter Yu Darvish felt fine the day after his simulated game, but the Cubs haven't announced his next move.

"He's feeling good today, so it's all optimistic now," manager Joe Maddon said.

General manager Jed Hoyer said Wednesday that Darvish could go on a rehab assignment as early as Monday, but nothing is set in stone.

Darvish said he ...Read more

CINCINNATI -- The Cubs may not need a replacement closer for Brandon Morrow before he returns from the disabled list Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The logical choice would be Carl Edwards Jr., but Edwards has been on the DL with shoulder inflammation since the end of May.

So manager Joe Maddon plans to mix and match in the late innings, sharing ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- On the eve of the longest day of the summer, the Orioles endured one of the longest nights they'll face all season, a 3-0 win over the host Washington Nationals interrupted by a two-hour, 43-minute rain delay.

Mark Trumbo's two-run home run, his fifth of the year, came after a rare bunt hit from Jonathan Schoop early in the second...Read more

A video leaked last week that included the audio of an old argument between former Mets manager Terry Collins and a Major League Baseball umpiring crew chief got folks talking.

We were fascinated. We wanted more. We were on the edge of our seats, right where baseball wants us.

Naturally, baseball slammed the door in our faces.

The video ...Read more

NEW YORK -- Scott Servais wore an impish grin when media walked into the manager's office of the visitor's clubhouse a few hours before Wednesday night's game.

He knew what he had done earlier in the morning and he knew what the first question would be. But he tried to play coy at first.

"I don't know what you are talking about," he said ...Read more

SAN DIEGO -- Franklin Barreto reminded everyone why he's still considered the top hitting prospect in the A's organization.

The second baseman's flashy combination of speed and power was on display as he finished the day 2 for 5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 12-4 victory over the Padres.

It hasn't been a pretty season for Barreto. ...Read more

TORONTO -- After the surging Braves snapped the Blue Jays' seven-game winning streak Tuesday, Anibal Sanchez was knocked around by a nemesis and outpitched by Toronto's J.A. Happ in the finale of a brief two-game series.

Happ gave up two early homers to Kurt Suzuki and Peter Bourjos but nearly shut down the Braves the rest of the way in a 5-4 ...Read more

CHICAGO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers will delay the activation of Chase Utley from the disabled list until Friday, meaning Utley will return to action in a ballpark where he is despised: Citi Field, home of the New York Mets.

Utley earned the antipathy of Mets fans during a storied career with the Philadelphia Phillies. The aversion grew ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Odubel Herrera held his bat near home plate on Wednesday afternoon, as he lingered to watch what he had just done.

His seventh-inning home run -- the one that sealed a 4-3 win over St. Louis -- deserved to be admired. It was a blast, a no-doubt-about-it shot that rocked off the right-field video board, 422 feet from home plate. ...Read more

CLEVELAND -- The Chicago White Sox probably couldn't wait to board their flight out of Cleveland and forget the one-sided series that concluded Wednesday with a 12-0 Indians win, securing a three-game sweep.

The Indians (40-33) outscored the White Sox 24-5 in the series, easily dispatching their rebuilding American League Central foe each time....Read more

The Cubs placed closer Brandon Morrow on the 10-day disabled list due to back tightness on Wednesday.

Morrow, who has converted 16 of 17 save chances, was placed on the DL retroactive to June 17.

"We thought it would be wise to give him a couple days," manager Joe Maddon said. "It's like a back spasm, back tightness, and we just can't go with ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO -- Hunter Strickland had surgery to repair a broken right pinkie, which was termed successful by Bruce Bochy on Wednesday, but the Giants manager said he has still not talked to his closer about the loss of emotional control, which cost the team one of its most important pitchers.

"I have not seen Hunter, to be honest," Bochy said...Read more