Jimmy Rollins started his second consecutive game as the Phillies’ designated hitter on Thursday. He has not started at shortstop since Sunday, when he tweaked his right groin.

So many of them throw hard, but so few ultimately translate it into success as a Major League starting pitcher. Angels righty Garrett Richards can tell you all about it. Richards has come into his own now, at 25 and in the early stages of his sixth professional season.

The Indians claimed a 9-4 win over the Twins at Progressive Field behind the outstanding combined effort of Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley, who each homered and tallied seven total hits.

With one of his typically mighty swings, rookie George Springer sent a rocket into the right-center-field seats at Comerica Park in the fifth inning of Thursday’s 6-2 win over Detroit for the first of what the Astros hope are many Major League home runs.

Curtis Granderson is trying to help someone like you get to this summer’s All-Star Game, spreading the word on his off-day Thursday by promoting Aquafina’s new “Pledge. Drink. Win!” campaign and photo-upload sweepstakes at MLB.com/Aquafina.

The Blue Jays activated designated hitter and first baseman Adam Lind from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday and optioned right-hander Chad Jenkins to Triple-A Buffalo.

Joe Torre’s uniform No. 6 will become the 17th number to be retired by the Yankees in a ceremony to be held on Aug. 23 at Yankee Stadium. He, Hall of Famer Rich “Goose” Gossage, Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill will all be honored with plaques in Monument Park this summer.

Perhaps as soon as Friday, the Reds’ bullpen door could open and closer Aroldis Chapman will cross its threshold for the first time in this regular season. On a baseball level, it will be very big for the club. On a purely human level, it will mean even more.

Joe Mauer was not available to play in Thursday’s 9-4 loss to the Indians, but the All-Star first baseman made important progress toward his return and may not go on the DL.

Derek Jeter cleared the left-center-field wall with a solo blast off Hector Santiago, accounting for one of the six runs that the left-hander surrendered as the Yankees rolled to a 9-2 victory over the Angels on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado wasted no time Wednesday night putting himself alongside teammate Michael Cuddyer at the top of the Rockies’ hit-streak chart.

Gordon Beckham hit a go-ahead homer for the second straight night and Paul Konerko smashed a three-run double to lead the White Sox to a third straight win, 8-3, over the Cubs on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

After two lopsided victories in Denver, the Rockies put up 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings against Rangers starter Colby Lewis — 16 overall — en route to a 9-2 victory at Globe Life Park on Wednesday night in front of 29-467.

Cubs manager Rick Renteria was ejected in the fifth inning Wednesday night after questioning home-plate umpire Tom Woodring’s strike zone.

Miguel Cabrera homered for the second straight night and Rick Porcello went 6 2/3 strong innings as the Tigers topped the Astros, 3-2, on Wednesday at Comerica Park.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Indians second baseman Mike Aviles ripped a pitch from reliever Casey Fien into center field for a walk-off single, scoring Asdrubal Cabrera to lift Cleveland to a 4-3 victory over the Twins on Wednesday.

Will Middlebrooks ripped an RBI single up the middle with one out in the eighth to snap a tie and lead the Red Sox to a 4-3 victory Wednesday night over the Reds at Fenway Park. “I didn’t think it would take until May 7 to do it, but we’re back to par and ready to go down to Texas,” said manager John Farrell.