Dustin Pedroia is always in position to make a play, even when it looks like it’s going to be somebody else’s play. In the bottom of the fourth inning on Thursday night at Safeco Field, the scrappy second baseman helped save a game the Red Sox eventually won, 2-1.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss was released from an Orange County, Calif., hospital Thursday, the day after an emergency appendectomy, and spent the evening at the team hotel. It is unclear when he’ll rejoin the club.

Rene Rivera slugged a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs, leading the Rays to a 6-1 victory over the Yankees on Thursday at Tropicana Field.

Marlon Byrd provided three RBIs, with his solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning giving the Reds a 4-3 victory over the Giants on Thursday — their third straight win. It was the second night in a row the Giants lost on a solo homer in the eighth.

The Astros trailed early, a result of back-to-back home runs by Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in the first inning, but battled back to grab a 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Once every five days, you can see the game’s most tantalizing talent. Clayton Kershaw, ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will take a rotation turn against the Rockies on Friday, and it will be a return engagement. Kershaw was charged with five earned runs against Colorado on Sunday.

The Rays announced that left-handed pitcher Jake McGee has been activated from the 15-day disabled list and will be in Minnesota on Friday when Tampa Bay begins a three-game series with the Twins.

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki insisted Thursday he will not try to force a trade from the Rockies, and he was not behind his agent’s recent statement that he may seek at trade.

The Mariners and Red Sox will pay tribute to Negro League players on Saturday when they “Turn Back the Clock” to 1946 at Safeco Field.

One more home run will draw Miguel Cabrera even with Venezuelan legend Andres Galarraga, and the superstar is humbled by the thought.

Dexter Fowler hit a solo home run and scored the tiebreaking run in the seventh on a passed ball by Anthony Recker to lift the Cubs to a 6-5 win over the Mets on Thursday and complete a sweep of the four-game series.

Cameron Rupp caught Josh Harrison trying to steal second base in the third inning and Starling Marte trying to steal second base in the fourth inning in Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Bucs. Both plays ended their respective innings.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

With a four-hit game Wednesday, Dee Gordon raised his batting average to .426 — 60 points higher than any other player in the big leagues. But will his incredible start be enough to earn him a starting spot in the All-Star Game?

The Tigers pounced all over the Twins with 20 hits and four homers, while right-hander Anibal Sanchez turned in a solid performance in a 13-1 win in Thursday afternoon’s rubber game at Comerica Park. Miguel Cabrera led the way with a pair of two-run blasts and five RBIs.

Joe Torre’s wife, Ali, is from Cincinnati, and MLB’s chief baseball officer has spent a lot of time in the city since the couple first met in 1981. He anticipates this year’s All-Star Game, being held at Great American Ball Park, to generate plenty of buzz for the area.

Phillies right-hander Aaron Harang is looking more and more like a solid piece to a contending team looking for starting pitching help, with another strong effort Thursday in a 4-2 victory over the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.