Jason Vargas makes rehab start, might soon return to Angels

Angels left-hander Jason Vargas, out since a June 26 surgery to remove a blood clot in his armpit, made a rehabilitation start for triple-A Salt Lake Thursday night, give up four earned runs and four hits, including three home runs, striking out two and walking three against Round Rock.

Vargas threw 72 pitches, 42 for strikes, probably enough for him to make his next start with the Angels. But the team will evaluate him Friday before deciding when he returns.

Center fielder Peter Bourjos, sidelined since June 30 because of a broken bone in his right wrist, also began a rehab stint with Salt Lake Thursday, going one for five with a run-scoring single and a nice running catch.

There is a chance he could join the Angels in New York on Monday night.

—Mike DiGiovanna

Scherzer gets 17th win as Tigers get 12th in a row

Max Scherzer became baseball’s first 17-game winner and the Detroit Tigers posted their 12th straight victory, routing the Indians, 10-3, Thursday night at Cleveland.

Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs as the AL Central leaders completed a four-game sweep and opened a seven-game lead over the Indians. Scherzer (17-1) gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings.

The Tigers have won 12 in a row for the first time since Sept. 2-14, 2011. Coupled with a 13-game winning streak by idle Atlanta, the Tigers’ victory, according to STATS, marked the first time in major league history that two teams have had winning streaks of at least 12 games at the same time since May 16, 1884, when the St. Louis Maroons had won 15 straight, the New York Gothams had taken 12 in a row.

Cleveland might cut Mark Reynolds

The Indians are expected to designate struggling slugger Mark Reynolds for assignment. Reynolds, who signed a one-year, $6-million free agent contract with Cleveland in December, has been a major disappointment this season. He’s batting .215 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs. But the free-swinger has struck out 123 times and he’s only hit two homers since May.

Since the All-Star break, Reynolds is batting just .185 (five for 27) with 10 strikeouts in 27 at-bats.

Giants recall catcher Hector Sanchez

The San Francisco Giants recalled catcher Hector Sanchez from triple-A Fresno and designated Guillermo Quiroz for assignment.