Pirates SP A.J. Burnett on 5-1 start: ‘I’m sticking to the things I do’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:58 am ET) Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett won a fifth straight start Thursday at San Diego, improving to 5-1 with a 1.81 ERA through 10 starts.

Thursday was actually the first time all season the 38-year-old veteran allowed more than two runs in a start, but he’s enjoyed a nice turnaround after totaling a career-worst 18 losses in 2014 with the Phillies.

“I’m throwing the same stuff I threw when I was here before, or even last year,” Burnett said, per MLB.com. “People are saying I’m doing more because I’m executing more. The difference between the last couple of years and this year is that I’m executing more pitches than I’m not, that’s the bottom line. I’m just sticking to the things I do.”

Blue Jays recall RP Bo Schultz from Triple-A
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:39 am ET) The Blue Jays recalled reliever Bo Schultz from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday to take the roster spot of Scott Copeland, who was optioned to the minors on Thursday.

Schultz has not made an appearance for Toronto this season. He went 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA in four relief outings for Arizona in 2014.

Tigers’ Ausmus expecting Miguel Cabrera (foot) to play Friday
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:34 am ET) Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson gave Tigers personnel and fans a scare Thursday night when he plunked star Miguel Cabrera with a pitch on his surgically repaired right foot.

Cabrera did hobble around after getting hit and was checked out by trainer Doug Teter, but the veteran slugger remained in the game and gave a thumbs up to manager Brad Ausmus.

“It stings him at first, and it’s in an area that’s been a problem for him,” Ausmus said, per MLB.com. “But I think he realized relatively quickly that his ankle was fine, relatively speaking.”

Ausmus said the pitch hit Cabrera around the middle of the foot, and it was closer to the toes than the area where he had offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture that bothered him for most of the second half during the 2014 season. 

Cabrera had one more at-bat in the fifth inning before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. However, it was more because the Tigers were trailing 12-2 than because Cabrera was hurting, per MLB.com.

Ausmus said he expects Cabrera to start Friday, and he will likely be in the lineup at first base.

“He doesn’t really like DHing,” Ausmus said. “As a matter of fact, he says it’s more beneficial for him to be playing first because it keeps the ankle loose.”

Indians 2B Jason Kipnis up to 48 hits in May
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:16 am ET) Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis collected two more hits Thursday against the Mariners, giving him 15 multihit games and 48 total hits in May. The 48 hits are the most in May by a Cleveland player since at least 1914, surpassing Bobby Avila’s 1954 record of 47, per MLB.com.

Kipnis is the first Indians player to have 48 hits, 28 runs and 20 extra-base hits in a month since July 1936.

Kipnis has a .449/.532/.738/1.270 slash line in 26 May games. He also has three triples, four home runs, 13 doubles, 16 RBI, 14 walks, 28 runs and three stolen bases.

“All winter, I think I kept telling you that he was going to come out with a vengeance,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “And that’s exactly what it looks like. He’s attacking every game. He’s in the middle of everything.”

Pirates’ Gregory Polanco smacks second home run of season Thursday
by Sean d’Oliveira | CBSSports.com

(1:55 am ET) Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco connected off Padres starter Ian Kennedy for his second home run of the season during Thursday’s 11-5 win over the Padres.

Polanco hit the solo home run in the second inning. He finished the game 2 for 5 with one RBI and one run scored. He is now hitting .247 on the season.

Prior to his performance Thursday, Polanco was hitting .333 with one RBI in his last five games.

Pirates C Francisco Cervelli collects three hits in Thursday’s win
by Sean d’Oliveira | CBSSports.com

(1:49 am ET) Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli had three more hits during Thursday’s 11-5 win over the Padres to raise his batting average to .320 on the season.

During Thursday’s contest, Cervelli went 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Over his last five games, Cervelli is 9 for 17 with four RBI and six runs scored.

Pirates OF Starling Marte hits 10th home run of season Thursday
by Sean d’Oliveira | CBSSports.com

(1:44 am ET) Pirates outfielder Starling Marte smacked his 10th home run of the season during Thursday’s 11-5 win over the Padres.

Marte hit the two-run home run off Ian Kennedy in the third inning. Marte finished the game 1 for 3 with two RBI, two runs scored and one walk.

Prior to Thursday’s contest, Marte was hitting .167 with one home run and four RBI in his last six games.

Angels’ Erick Aybar (hamstring) not expected to need DL stint
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(1:40 am ET) Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after Thursday’s win over the Tigers that shortstop Erick Aybar (hamstring) is not expected to need a trip to the disabled list, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Aybar left Thursday’s game due to hamstring tightness. He suffered the injury while trying to beat a bunt to first base. The team could call up a capable replacement at shortstop even if the Angels believe Aybar will only miss a few games with the injury. He was replaced Thursday by Taylor Featherston, who had played a total of six innings across four games at the position this season.

Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen collects three hits in Thursday’s win
by Sean d’Oliveira | CBSSports.com

(1:37 am ET) Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 5 at the plate to help lead the Pirates to an 11-5 victory over the Padres on Thursday.

McCutchen drove in two runs and scored two during the contest. Prior to his three-hit game Thursday, McCutchen was hitting .382 with three home runs and five RBI in his last nine games.

Padres 3B Will Middlebrooks collects three hits in Thursday’s loss
by Sean d’Oliveira | CBSSports.com

(1:32 am ET) Padres third baseman Will Middlebrooks went 3 for 4 at the plate during Thursday’s contest, but it was not enough as the Padres fell 11-5 to the Pirates.

All three of the hits for Middlebrooks were singles. He drove in one run and scored a run during the game.

Middlebrooks is 9 for 22 with two home runs and five RBI in his last five games. During that time, he has raised his batting average from .211 to .240.