Despite struggles, Shields in demand  —  Tampa Bay Rays right-hander James Shields, a popular name on the trade market, has a 6.15 ERA in his last seven starts.  —  Yet, while some clubs are concerned that he may be repeating his disappointing 2010 season, the Los Angeles Angels are undeterred, major-league sources say.

Greinke Derby should be a doozy: Rangers, Braves, Chisox, Angels, Dodgers, etc.  —  Zack Greinke's brilliant performance Tuesday against the Phillies increases his trade value.  (US Presswire)  —  The season hasn't worked out like the Brewers hoped.  But at least the Zack Greinke Derby is shaping up to be a real winner for them.

Red Sox revival rests on Lester, Beckett  —  The Red Sox team that will show up tonight at Yankee Stadium comes with tons of problems.  —  Strangely, they also have plenty of solutions.  —  They are a bizarre group, an underachieving team that could plummet or soar from here forward and surprise few with either result.

Nationals trade deadline: the case against adding a starter to replace Stephen Strasburg  —  With the trading deadline four days away, the Nationals' front office executives will be asking numerous questions of themselves and their roster.  One of the biggest: Should the Nationals acquire …

Rockies want to keep Cuddyer & Belisle; Scutaro Giambi & Betancourt could go  —  The Rockies see Michael Cuddyer as the replacement to Todd Helton at first.  (Getty Images)  —  The Rockies, who lost three starting pitchers to the disabled list and Troy Tulowitzki for most of the year …

Starling in the making: Rookie homers on first pitch  —  HOUSTON — That wasn't an earthquake in a suburb of Santo Domingo at exactly 8:07 p.m. ET on Thursday night.  It was the Richter Scale picking up the tremors caused by an entire neighborhood jumping up and down in unison in celebration …

Pirates Hand Astros 10th Loss in Row With 5-3 Win  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Prized prospect Starling Marte homered on his first major league pitch and the Pittsburgh Pirates jumped out to an early lead before holding on for a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

Second Look: Williams, Sanchez  —  Mason Williams and Gary Sanchez are developing well in Tampa … Mason Williams  —  Position: CF  —  Level: High Class A Tampa  —  Age: 20  —  The Yankees center field prospect Williams signed for an over-slot $1.45 million bonus out of an Orlando area high school in the 2010 draft.

Vargas one-hits Royals through eight innings in Mariners win  —  SEATTLE — Seattle starter Jason Vargas allowed one hit in eight innings to win his career-high 11th game, and Mike Carp had three hits to help the Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 Thursday night.

Indians' four-run seventh off Verlander tops Tigers  —  CLEVELAND — Asdrubal Cabrera singled home the go-ahead run in a four-run seventh inning as the Cleveland Indians rallied to beat Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander 5-3 on Thursday night.  —  Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner tied …