Top News:
TSN.ca:
Blue Jays open up against Tigers in battle of division leaders — The Sports Network — DETROIT - The surging Toronto Blue Jays will try to curb Anibal Sanchez's recent run of success when they open up a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Batter's Box Interactive … and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Globe and Mail:
Edwin Encarnacion named American League player of the month — Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion was named American League player of the month Tuesday while Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers took the National League honour. — Encarnacion belted a club record 16 home runs …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Joey Nowak / MLB.com:
Cano, Cruz take leads, Bautista closes in on Trout — Angels star still has most AL All-Star votes but Blue Jays slugger is right on his heels — A lot can happen in a week. Six days is all it took for a number of the hottest American League All-Star voting races to change hands …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, True Blue LA and Pearly Gates
RELATED:
Joey Nowak / MLB.com:
Puig leaps into lead in NL outfield voting — Tulowitzki remains top vote-getter, Stanton moves up in outfield, race at first tightens — The closest races from last week's National League All-Star ballot update took a turn over the course of the past six days, with shakeups occurring …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Suddenly hot NY Mets take four of five from Phillies as rookie Matt den Dekker's glove, arm spark win — While den Dekker went just 1-for-5, he made his presence known Monday with his glove, stealing two runs from the Phillies, robbing Ryan Howard of a home run and throwing a runner out at the plate.
Discussion:
New York Post, Metsblog and ESPN
RELATED:
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Singleton to join Astros, agrees on extension — First baseman will make big league debut Tuesday night against Halos — HOUSTON — Only a few weeks after the Astros called up top outfield prospect George Springer to the Major Leagues, the club is reaching back down into the farm system …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Astros Call Up Singleton After Long-Term Deal
Astros Call Up Singleton After Long-Term Deal
Discussion:
Associated Press, FanGraphs Baseball, Minnesota Twins News … and ESPN
ESPN:
Keith Law Mock Draft 3.0 — Major changes in second half of the first round this time around — Source: — The top of the draft hasn't changed much since my last first-round projection, but the back half has, mostly because teams drafting there are still trying to get a handle on who might …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Notes: How can Rockies strike winning chord? Break up the band — The Rockies might rebound from their latest Rocky Horror Road Show, maybe even steal a wild card, but Bovada has them at 50-to-1 to win the World Series, and that might be too kind. — This team should not be a buyer before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Josh Norris / Baseball America:
Harvey, Crawford, Judge Highlight South Atlantic League All-Star Rosters (VIDEO) — The South Atlantic League released the complete rosters for its all-star game Tuesday, and the rosters were predictably dotted with prospects. — The top vote-getter was Lakewood shortstop J.P. Crawford …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Sign Jason Marquis — The Phillies announced that they've signed right-hander Jason Marquis to a minor league deal. The 35-year-old veteran is a client of ACES. — Marquis underwent Tommy John surgery last July but said a few months later that he didn't intend for that operation to be the end of his career.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Dave Studeman / The Hardball Times:
Talking Situational Wins — Are there situations in which stolen bases are more valuable? (via Keith Allison) — I am totally fascinated by WPA/LI, even though I can't really tell you what it is. The title says what it is: Win Probability Added divided by Leverage Index, but that doesn't really help.
Discussion:
Tangotiger Blog
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN.com:
Schmidt: Phillies' Rollins worthy of Hall talk — As Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins closes in on the franchise's record for career hits, the man he's about to pass says Rollins is building a progressively stronger case for Hall of Fame consideration.
Discussion:
SI Wire
Derrick Goold / Baseball America:
Taveras Shines In Long-Awaited Debut — ST. LOUIS—Not since Rick Ankiel returned to the majors as a power-hitting outfielder had a position player arrived at Busch Stadium with as much forewarning, fanfare and anticipation as right fielder Oscar Taveras, the organization's top prospect for three years running.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball