Tim Hudson, the Giants’ most consistent starter this season, has been scratched from his Friday assignment against the Marlins because of a strained left hip, Bruce Bochy said on Thursday. Yusmeiro Petit will take the hill in Hudson’s stead.

Thanks to Jacob deGrom, the Mets no longer have to worry about challenging a dubious 100-year-old record. A former college shortstop, deGrom singled in his first big league plate appearance in the third inning of a scoreless Subway Series finale against the Yankees to record the first hit by any Mets pitcher this season. His teammates had been 0-for-64, establishing the longest hitless streak to start a season in Major League history.

Jose Fernandez will undergo Tommy John surgery in Los Angeles on Friday, Mike Redmond confirmed before Thursday night’s game with the Giants.

Carlos Beltran was unable to dodge a stint on the disabled list with a bone spur in his right elbow, but the Yankees outfielder is still hopeful that he will be able to avoid surgery.

At the one-quarter mark of the 2014 season, the Milwaukee Brewers are still playing better than .600 baseball. Can they be this good? Can anybody be this good?

The Rangers’ offense is far from settled and could potentially use another bat, but a rash of injuries has forced general manager Jon Daniels and Co. to put most of their attention on the pitching staff.

With run support lacking for Michael Wacha in recent weeks, the 22-year-old starter seized his own opportunity to ensure that the Cardinals wouldn’t lose for a sixth straight time behind him. Wacha was timely with his first hit of the season, a two-run, two-out single that extended what would become a four-run second. It helped lift the Cardinals to a 5-3 win and series victory over the Cubs in front of 42,501 at Busch Stadium on Thursday.

Aaron Hicks delivered in a big way on Thursday, connecting on a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the 10th to give the Twins a 4-3 win over the Red Sox at Target Field.

Khris Davis came through with a two-run single with no outs in the bottom of the ninth off Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon, giving the Brewers a heart-stopping 4-3 victory at Miller Park on Thursday.

In a 5-0 Reds win over the Padres in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader at Great American Ball Park, Johnny Cueto faced just two batters over the minimum in his ninth straight quality start to open the season.

Replacing Bud Selig will be a herculean task. During the past 22 years, under his leadership, MLB has been reshaped by labor peace, revenue sharing, new ballparks, competitive balance, Interleague Play and a long list of other accomplishments.

Commissioner Bud Selig and Major League Baseball’s executive council announced Thursday the formation of a succession committee, whose work will include the selection process of the game’s next Commissioner.

On Thursday morning, MLB announced the first wave of participants for the July 13 Taco Bell Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Target Field.

Instant replay and the spate of injuries to pitchers’ arms were among the topics discussed at the quarterly Owners Meetings that concluded on Thursday at Major League Baseball headquarters.

Anthony DeSclafani rose to the occasion in his big league debut, allowing two runs in six innings and driving in two runs in the Marlins’ 13-3 rout of the Dodgers.

Not even the 94-mph fastball he used to strike out Marcell Ozuna could bring a smile to the face of backup catcher-turned-reliever Drew Butera after Wednesday night’s 13-3 loss to the Marlins.

Matt Dominguez’s single in the ninth inning scored Dexter Fowler from second base and sent the Astros to a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Rangers for their first Lone Star Series win since June 2008.