Facing Baltimore’s Adam Jones to open the bottom of the fourth inning Thursday night, Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey caught a frozen rope smashed back to the mound.

There was a point in the fourth or fifth inning when there was little doubt where this one was headed. Rays ace Chris Archer wasn’t just good. He has been good plenty of times. He’s usually good. That’s why he’s one of those guys that prompts baseball fans to stop channel surfing and check him out.

Rockies first baseman Ben Paulsen wore a bushy mustache when called up last year, and this year he doubled down by growing a thick beard. However, he showed up at Coors Field clean-shaven Thursday.

Lonnie Chisenhall, Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez each collected run-scoring hits to back a strong start from Josh Tomlin, and the Indians escaped a ninth-inning threat to beat the Yankees, 3-2, at Yankee Stadium to open a four-game set.

Chris Archer played the role of No. 1 to the hilt Thursday night, crossing off all the items on a staff ace’s wish list in the Rays’ 1-0 win over the Astros.

The Cardinals are on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated, which is just about the last place Mike Matheny wants them to be.

With a run already allowed in the fourth and his team facing Rays ace Chris Archer, Astros starter Collin McHugh could ill afford another slip up. It’s what happened, though, on an 0-1 pitch to Kevin Kiermaier.

Anthony Rizzo smacked a three-run homer in the third and Addison Russell added a solo shot in the fourth to back Jake Arrieta and power the Cubs to a 7-1 victory over the Braves on Thursday night, snapping a three-game losing streak.

Felix Hernandez vs. Chris Sale should move the needle in Seattle, highlighting a Friday night schedule that features some of the top pitchers in the game taking the mound.

Welcome to DraftKings fantasy baseball, the Official Daily Fantasy Game of Major League Baseball. The players listed could provide difference-making stats for DraftKings participants on Friday.

Aroldis Chapman has been unavailable for the past two games because of shoulder stiffness, leaving the Reds to patch together the back end of ballgames. On Thursday night, manager Bryan Price’s call to bring Burke Badenhop in the eighth inning did not work as he planned.

Charlie Morton pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning Thursday and was supported by Neil Walker’s two-run homer and opposite-field RBI doubles by Aramis Ramirez and Jung Ho Kang as the Pirates downed San Francisco, 4-0, before the 19th sellout of the season at PNC Park.

Mikey O’Brien was dominant for Class A Advanced Frederick on Thursday night, tossing a seven-inning no-hitter as the Keys took down Lynchburg, 2-0.

Zach Britton struggled for years to prove he could be a big league starting pitcher, and when it didn’t work out, he was forced to reinvent himself as a reliever. He did that and more, becoming the rare lefty sinkerballer and arguably the game’s most unique closer.

Though he’s yet to swing a regular bat, Astros outfielder George Springer is pleased with the rehabilitation of his right wrist fracture and hopes to begin hitting balls soon.

On the same day outfielder Hunter Pence hit the 15-day disabled list, the Giants made a move to inject offensive production in his absence, acquiring Marlon Byrd from the Reds for Double-A pitcher Stephen Johnson.

Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, who is here with the team, will leave on Saturday to begin an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha, he said before Thursday’s series opener against the Red Sox.