A.J. Pollock showed why he’s regarded as one of the better outfielders in the National League as the D-backs center fielder robbed Giants pinch-hitter Jarrett Parker of a home run in Friday night’s 2-0 Arizona victory at AT&T Park.

The Indians refuse to go quietly in the American League Wild Card race. Behind a grand slam from Carlos Santana and a strong start by rookie Cody Anderson, Cleveland continued its recent surge with an 12-1 rout of the White Sox on Friday at Progressive Field.

Justin Verlander’s outing started later than he would’ve liked, thanks to a 23-minute lighting delay, and ended earlier than he would’ve liked after manager Brad Ausmus’ move to go to the bullpen with Salvador Perez up in the ninth.

Joey Votto has had his suspension reduced to one game, and the Reds first baseman will serve it on Friday night in Milwaukee. Votto was initially suspended two games for what Major League Baseball termed as “inappropriate actions” after he was ejected by home-plate umpire Bill Welke on Sept. 9.

Here’s a look at some key developments from Friday’s action that helped shape the playoff picture:

Don’t even think about trying to take the ball away from Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer. Manager Matt Williams found that out in the bottom of the seventh inning of Washington’s 5-4, 10-inning victory against the Marlins on Friday night.

Danny Valencia blasted his second home run of the game, a two-run shot off Houston reliever Pat Neshek in the eighth inning, to complete the Athletics’ 4-3 come-from-behind victory and send the Astros to their fifth straight loss.

Making his second start since being activated from the disabled list because of a right biceps strain, Jose Fernandez was cozying up to his 95-pitch soft limit when he found himself in his first jam of the night.

Before Johnny Cueto even took the mound on Friday night, the Royals had worked out a plan they were convinced could rescue him from a recent five-game slump. And that plan worked beautifully as Cueto turned in a strong seven-plus innings, two-run effort in the Royals’ 5-4 loss in 12 innings to the Tigers.

Trying to stay alive in the race for the National League East, the Nationals walked off on Jose Lobaton’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, edging the Marlins, 5-4, at Nationals Park on Friday night and snapping Miami’s three-game winning streak. The Nats remain eight games behind the first-place Mets, who defeated the Yankees, 5-1, at Citi Field.

Playing the Yankees for the first time in September, the Mets won Friday to keep their National League East lead at eight games. The entire night was a public display of what the Mets have become: a power-dependent team on both sides of the ball.

The Red Sox were in Marcus Stroman’s kitchen on Friday night, and sinkers were the only item on the menu. Well, almost. The right-hander held Boston to one earned run over seven innings as he dished out a steady diet of two-seam fastballs — 49 of his 96 pitches — to help the Blue Jays record a 6-1 victory in the series opener at Rogers Centre.

If the Mets have any designs on keeping Yoenis Cespedes around after this season, they’ll need to sign him to one of the richest contracts they’ve given out in their history. Cespedes broke his silence regarding contract matters before the start of Friday’s Subway Series opener, telling ESPN that he will seek at least a six-year deal in free agency.

After Dan Haren hit the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday in the helmet with a pitch in the fifth inning of Friday’s 8-3 win, he immediately apologized to his Cubs teammate Anthony Rizzo. Haren felt the Cardinals would retaliate, and that Rizzo would be targeted. He was right, and the incident upset Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

There’s no doubt that the Cardinals are seeing something in Chicago they can’t like — a renewed, highly competitive team built around some of the best young players in baseball. Holding off the Pirates and the Cubs won’t be easy. But that’s the business of the sport.

For the first time since he made his Major League debut on May 7, 2010, Starlin Castro drove in six runs in a game. And for the first time ever, he received a curtain call at Wrigley Field.

Two charter buses left Yankee Stadium for Citi Field on Friday afternoon filled with players, coaches and staff, but at least two members of the starting lineup chose to ride the subway for the first game of the Subway Series against the Mets.