Red Sox revival rests on Lester, Beckett  —  But this is mostly about the rotation.  The Red Sox have four of the bottom 14 AL ERA qualifiers.  That includes rookie Felix Doubront (4.54) and Clay Buchholz (4.93), who has shown some positive signs recently.

Braves still Ryan Dempster option?  —  CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Dodgers are not the only team Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster would accept a trade to, according to a source familiar with the situation.  —  Dempster will consider a number of teams, including the Atlanta Braves and Dodgers …

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.

Sources: Phillies plan to hold onto Cliff Lee through the deadline  —  The Phillies plan to keep Cliff Lee, and won't trade him before the Tuesday trade deadline, sources say.  —  One person with ties to the Phillies said team higherups believe trading Lee would potentially undo …

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 …

Selig confident replay will grow  —  MLB commissioner Bud Selig remains certain that baseball will expand instant replay to include trapped balls and line drives down the foul lines.  —  Selig reiterated that he wants to see the additions during an interview on “The Mike Lupica Show” on ESPN New York 98.7 FM on Friday.

Fife to start Friday as Elbert heads to disabled list  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Dodgers found a way to make Stephen Fife eligible to start Friday night's game against the Giants by placing left-handed reliever Scott Elbert on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation.

Can Daniels really improve Rangers?  —  In every baseball front office, the goal is to remain rational in an irrational sport.  Everyone — the fans, the media, the players, the coaching staff — is clamoring for one move or another, leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Sources: Marlins' asking price high  —  While the Miami Marlins have made it clear that pitcher Josh Johnson is available in a trade, the team's initial asking price for the All-Star right-hander is so high it's generated skepticism within baseball circles that he will be moved by Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline.

Chasing the top position player  —  Four contending teams targeting Padres third baseman Chase Headley  —  Editor's note: Jayson Stark will be writing a Daily Rumble each day leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.  —  Normally, when we utter the phrase “Best Position Player on the Market” …

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 …