Bring him off the bench some days. Start him other days. At the moment, it doesn't seem to matter. Once Will Middlebrooks gets a chance, he generally does something to help the Red Sox win. In Thursday's 6-5 victory over the Marlins, the Red Sox were fortunate enough to have Middlebrooks up in a key spot.

Cleveland traded Beau Mills to Cincinnati in exchange for cash in a Minor League deal. Mills has been assigned to Double-A Pensacola in the Reds' organization after spending the beginning of this season with Triple-A Columbus.

After a restless night following a 15-5 loss to the Red Sox, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria held a team meeting in Boston, offering words of encouragement for his slumping club.

Chris Nelson hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning and the Rockies won the finale of a three-game set, 4-1, against the Phillies on Thursday.

Not so long ago, the Twins were the envy of a lot of Major League teams with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau forming the heart of their lineup, and Reds right-hander Homer Bailey was considered on his way to becoming one of the next big things in baseball. The trio converges in Friday's series opener.

The Blue Jays are trying to stay afloat in the competitive American League East, but recent injuries, which have depleted their starting rotation, are only making that task more difficult.

The Tigers and Pirates find themselves in similar situations, just a couple of games out of first place in their respective divisions. Both cases are a bit surprising, though for different reasons.

Each day, MLB.com selects one player from each game whose performance stands out.

The Phillies may be in last place, but with some returning superstars and a division whose teams all have some flaws, it's still possible for them to get hot and into the playoffs.

Jair Jurrjens' audition to regain his spot in the Braves' starting rotation begins at Fenway Park on Friday night, when the Braves take on Jon Lester and the Red Sox.

Cliff Lee will have the chance to notch his first win in his 12th start on Friday, when the Phillies take on James Shields and the Rays in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park.

The Pirates encroached within two games of division-leading Cincinnati with Thursday night's 9-1 drubbing of the Twins, behind James McDonald's habitual tenacity and an opportunistic offense.

James McDonald moved his record to 6-3 with a complete-game performance, the first of his career. He struck out five batters and walked none in the Pirates' 9-1 win over the Twins.

Roy Oswalt will make his Rangers debut when Texas takes on Christian Friedrich and the Rockies on Friday at Rangers Ballpark.

Reggie Jackson was honored Thursday, when famed artist Charles Fazzino's latest piece, a three-dimensional depiction of the great slugger hitting three homers in a 1977 World Series game, was unveiled.

Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation, developed by the Yankees shortstop in his rookie season, continues to help so many kids, and on Thursday night held its 16th annual dinner with a star-studded guest list.

Each Tim Lincecum start this season has brought with it a sense of hope for the Giants that their two-time Cy Young Award winner might eventually return to his old form. Next up for Lincecum is Friday night's Bay Area showdown against Oakland.