The nights in April can be cold. It can stay 100 degrees all game in some parts of the country in July. And when you’re stranded beyond the outfield wall for six, maybe seven and maybe all nine innings or a lot more, it can get lonely. Especially during a season that lasts 162 games. Relief pitchers don’t seem to mind, though.

It’s a topic that, remarkable as it might seem to outsiders, ignites plenty of passion in the industry of baseball: To bunt or not to bunt?

More often than not, it seems that All-Star voting decisions are a matter of priorities, as much as performance. When fans click that button or punch that hole, they’re making a statement as to what they value and what they want to see in the Midsummer Classic.
The decision at designated hitter on the American League ballot this year exemplifies this balance perfectly.

Robinson Cano collected his 1,500th career hit Thursday, becoming the 52nd player to accomplish the feat through his first nine big league seasons.

“Strikeout stuff” is a day at the office for Yu Darvish. In fact, Darvish is a pitcher for whom the term “no-hit stuff” can be not a reach, but a reality.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel turned in a scoreless ninth inning in Thursday night’s 6-3 win over the Giants to record career save No. 100, a milestone that proved elusive this week.

Brian McCann highlighted a three-hit performance with his first home run of the season and aided the four-run fifth inning that gave Julio Teheran the support he needed in the Braves’ 6-3 win over the Giants on Thursday night.

In a wild game that featured a controversial call by crew chief Fieldin Culbreth, an official protest by manager Mike Scioscia, injuries to shortstop Erick Aybar and reliever Scott Downs and plenty of back-and-forth, the Angels avoided a sweep against the last-place Astros with a 6-5 win Thursday night.

The Angels’ 6-5 victory over the Astros rescinded manager Mike Scioscia’s official protest of Thursday night’s game at Minute Maid Park, while somewhat downplaying another umpiring controversy one day after the replay dispute in Cleveland.

Patrick Corbin tossed 6 1/3 innings and allowed just one run against the Phillies on Thursday night, becoming the first player in franchise history to open a season with seven straight starts of at least six innings and allowing two runs or less.

Tommy Hanson continues to deal with family issues and will not make his scheduled start against the White Sox on Friday, Mike Scioscia announced after Thursday’s 6-5 win over the Astros. Scioscia did not say who will take Hanson’s place, but there aren’t many options.

Bob Costas, the most decorated sportscaster in the history of the Emmy Awards, received the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday night.

A walk proved to be as good as a hit Thursday night when Luke Scott drew one with the bases loaded in the 10th to give the Rays a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field.

Mike Baxter approached home plate with a hostile mindset in the ninth inning Thursday, two days removed from a walk-off single against the White Sox. Swinging at the first two pitches, he converted yet again, singling to send the Mets to a 3-2, walk-off win against the Pirates at Citi Field.

Major League Baseball is proud of its initiatives in the areas of affirmative action and diversity. It wants to be a mirror of America — all of America, black and white, male and female. As part of that effort, the MLB Diversity Business Summit, to be held June 18-19 in Houston, will allow job seekers and entrepreneurs to meet teams at both the Major League and Minor League level, as well as an array of sponsorship partners.

Prior to Thursday night, Granderson had seen just five pitches, and thus was excited to play his first rehab game. The three-time All-Star, recovering from a broken right forearm, played right field for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and went 1-for-3.

Robinson Cano singled for his 1,500th big league hit and then homered following a two-hour rain delay to help the Yankees secure a series victory over the Rockies with a 3-1 victory Thursday. New York moved into a three-way tie atop the AL East.