In the hours before Alex Rodriguez’s final game for the Yankees, luminaries such as Joe Torre, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera released statements.

There are 19 clubs in postseason position or within 6 1/2 games of a possible berth as we approach the three-quarter mark of the Major League Baseball season, and MLB Advanced Media announced on Friday that MLB.TV Premium is only $20.16 for the rest of the year to celebrate the pennant races now taking shape.

The Yankees placed right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day disabled list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, with a right elbow tendon injury and recalled righty Luis Severino from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Look beyond the most obvious choices for the National League Manager of the Year Award and you’ll find another set of deserving candidates. These skippers are all in their first full season with either their team or their current set of responsibilities.

Buck Showalter makes a vote for the American League Manager of the Year Award simple. For the fourth time in his career, he’s the man. He won his first one for the Yankees 22 year ago and went on to win one while in charge of the Rangers (2004) and another with the Orioles (2014).

Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday was knocked out of a 3-3 game in the 10th inning on Thursday after a 94-mph pitch from Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery clipped his right hand.

Evan Gattis, Carlos Correa and George Springer hit home runs, and pitcher Chris Devenski won his first Major League game as the Astros completed a sweep of the Twins at Target Field.

White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez sustained a right groin injury and exited in the bottom of the second inning against the Royals on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

The Fenway Park crowd was electric with hostility each time Alex Rodriguez came to the plate on Thursday night, but they were reduced to groans when the Red Sox let a second straight rivalry game get away in a 4-2 defeat to the Yankees in the rubber match of a three-game series.

A scary moment interrupted the Indians’ game against the Angels in the fifth inning Thursday night, when designated hitter Carlos Santana was hit in the back of the head by a fouled line drive into the Cleveland dugout.

When Jake Diekman entered Thursday’s game against the Rockies at Globe Life Park in the eighth inning and the Rangers leading by two runs, the heat index was sitting around 105 degrees. Not to mention, the game was already three-plus hours into what became the Rangers’ longest contest since Aug. 19 of last season. Diekman and right-hander Matt Bush didn’t use the heat as an excuse, though.

The A’s brought the potential game-winning run to the plate in Thursday’s 9-6 loss to the Orioles after loading the bases against the toughest closer in the American League. Four innings earlier, simply getting to that point seemed like a daunting challenge.

This was a feat rarer than a perfect game, and yet many of the players involved didn’t realize it was happening.

Rockies left fielder David Dahl tied a 75-year-old Major League record by singling in the first inning Thursday against Rangers righty Lucas Harrell, extending his career-starting hit steak to 17 games.

The Dodgers are just one game behind the Giants in the National League West, and the reason for their surge is clear: The veterans are hitting again.

Hesitant to play a four-game series at Wrigley Field this weekend without a full complement of players, the Cardinals chose to move Matt Adams to the disabled list on Thursday and recall outfielder Randal Grichuk to take his place on the roster.

By working his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning of a 9-6 Orioles win over the A’s on Thursday, Zach Britton recorded his 39th consecutive appearance without allowing an earned run, setting a new Major League record.