Hall of Famer George Brett is returning to the dugout as the Royals’ interim hitting coach, with Pedro Grifol also joining Kansas City’s coaching staff as a special assignment coach, the club announced on Thursday.

Felix Hernandez bounced back from a pair of tough outings to allow just one run on three hits over eight innings and rookie second baseman Nick Franklin hit a pair of home runs as the Mariners topped the Padres, 7-1, on Thursday at Petco Park.

The Dodgers placed center fielder Matt Kemp on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday, the result of a mild right hamstring strain, and catcher Tim Federowicz was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced on Thursday that veteran lefty Andy Pettitte will return from the disabled list and take the mound on Monday against the Indians.

Travis Wood carried the Cubs past the White Sox, 8-3, on Thursday at Wrigley Field. Wood tossed six innings of two-run ball and crushed a grand slam in the fourth inning to break open a one-run game. Nate Schierholtz and Luis Valbuena also homered.

The Rangers had 15 hits, including a two-run homer from Mitch Moreland, as they snapped a season-high three-game losing streak with a 9-5 victory over the D-backs Thursday afternoon.

Will Venable’s single with the bases loaded went just under the glove of Mariners first baseman Kendrys Morales to send the Padres to a 3-2 victory in 10 innings on Wednesday night.

Carlos Beltran’s solo homer triggered a four-run eighth inning that sparked the Cardinals to a 5-3 win over the Royals — their sixth straight in the I-70 Series — on Wednesday night before a sellout crowd at Busch Stadium.

Jered Weaver returned from the disabled list to strike out seven in six strong innings, giving the Angels their ace in a 4-3 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night in Anaheim.

For this night of intracity baseball in New York, MLB.com delivers news bits and observations from the pressbox that might not have made the cut otherwise.

Not only has Scott Rice’s splitter helped bring the 31-year-old to the Majors, but it’s turned him into a consistent and dependable reliever for the Mets.

Samuel Deduno turned in seven-plus strong innings and was backed by Aaron Hicks, who had an impressive night both at the plate and in center field, to lead the Twins to a 4-1 win over the Brewers on Wednesday night at Target Field.

Former Brave Melky Cabrera had three hits, including a two-run single in the second inning, and scored a run, and four pitchers combined for a 3-0 win for the Blue Jays.

In one at-bat, you saw what the Mets are waiting for. You could see why they’re so hesitant to cut the cord with Ike Davis, why they remain patient as Davis endures a brutal slump.

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman made it a career day at Camden Yards on Wednesday night in Washington’s 9-6 loss, hitting home runs in each of his first three at-bats against the Orioles.

Pedro Alvarez hit a game-tying, two-run double in the seventh, and Travis Snider knocked him in as part of a four-run inning that vaulted the Pirates past the Tigers, 5-3, at PNC Park.

Jason Giambi’s clutch three-run homer broke the game open and backed a strong start from Justin Masterson, who struck out seven batters in a 5-2 win over the Reds on Wednesday. The victory snapped a five-game losing streak.