With the bases loaded and nobody out in the eighth inning of a tie game Wednesday night, Vinnie Pestano wanted to give his team a chance. He did more than that, pitching himself out of the jam without allowing a single run in the Indians' 4-2 win over the Tigers.

Travis Hafner's two-run home run and a solid start from Zach McAllister set the stage for the Indians to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a 4-2 win over the Tigers on Wednesday at Progressive Field.

Mets right-hander Jeremy Hefner is scheduled to make the first start of his career Thursday against the Padres, the organization he made 120 starts for in the Minor Leagues. Left-hander Eric Stults will get the nod for San Diego at Citi Field.

The meeting between Cole Hamels and Bryce Harper had been hyped, much like this week's series between the Phillies and Nationals had been hyped.

Manager Joe Girardi was not willing to call Tuesday's eked-out victory the end of a slump at the plate, but the Yankees appeared to be cured of whatever ailed them during Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Royals.

Ten days after they met in a good pitchers' duel won by the Reds, Homer Bailey and Randall Delgado meet again in Thursday evening's series finale at Great American Ball Park. The Reds are looking to sweep a four-game series at home vs. the Braves for the first time in 32 years.

The big league debut for every Minor Leaguer is a crystallizing moment. When that debut is for his hometown team, the moment is further magnified. That is the spot Cole De Vries will find himself in on Thursday night when he takes the mound for the Twins in their series finale against the White Sox.

The Reds' season-best winning streak moved to five games Wednesday when Todd Frazier hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth for a 2-1 walk-off victory over the Braves.

If their series in San Francisco at the start of the month is any indication, expect four close, low-scoring games between the Giants and Marlins this weekend.

Jimmy Rollins will rejoin the Phillies Thursday in St. Louis after missing the last three games following the birth of his first child.

After blowing early leads of four and three runs in the first two games of the series, the Rockies were the ones who erased an early deficit and turned it into a win Wednesday, taking the series finale, 8-4, in front of 23,985 at Marlins Park.

With his single in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 8-3 Yankees win over the Royals, shortstop Derek Jeter tied Hall of Famer Paul Waner for 15th place on baseball's all-time hits list.

Long story short: If you're looking for a soap opera, nothing to see here. No brushbacks thrown, no benches cleared. Just Cole Hamels' flirtation with a no-hitter in an outstanding outing, Bryce Harper's continually jaw-dropping speed and hustle and a 4-1 win for the Phillies to avoid a three-game sweep.

Reigning American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander will take the mound in Cleveland on Thursday as the Tigers conclude a three-game series with the Indians, who will send Justin Masterson to the hill in search of a sweep.

Major League Baseball currently is exploring the expansion of instant replay with the World Umpires Association, and no timetable has been specified for any adjustments to the current policy.

Injured Dodgers Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera and Jerry Hairston could be back with the team by next week.

Contrary to a series of online reports last week, as of Wednesday there were no indications that the Blue Jays placed veteran first baseman Adam Lind on outright waivers.