Mikolas Strong Start Lifts Rangers Over Mariners  —  SEATTLE — Miles Mikolas allowed three hits in eight scoreless innings, J.P. Arencibia singled home the go-ahead run in the fourth and the Texas Rangers opened a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners with a 2-0 win on Monday night.

Report: Cubs calling up top prospect outfielder Jorge Soler  —  Another big piece of the Cubs' future is on the way to the majors, as David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com reports that top prospect outfielder Jorge Soler will be promoted from Triple-A Iowa tomorrow.

Few pitchers have proven more difficult to take deep this season than Lance Lynn.  —  Considering much of the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense lately has come via the long ball, they could be in trouble Tuesday night against Lynn and the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park.

The latest on NY Mets' Bartolo Colon trade market; Yankees win again; a hitting coach's odd comment  —  Bartolo Colon has cleared waivers, leaving us right back where we were a month ago — with a trade possible, and similar factors standing in the way.  Gathered from talking to folks around …

Burnett baffles Nats, softens take on retirement  —  A.J. Burnett sounds a little like that golfer everybody knows, the one who's ready to give up the game and sell his clubs until one great round pulls him back in.  —  After getting beaten by the Seattle Mariners last week …

Rays' protest denied by MLB  —  Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday that it has denied the Tampa Bay Rays' protest of Saturday's 5-4, 10-inning loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  Rays manager Joe Maddon played the game under protest after an incident in the fourth inning when he felt …

Angels fly to top of Power Rankings  —  Division-rival A's unseated at No. 1 by Halos despite Richards' injury  —  The Angels are back on top in the American League West and find themselves looking down at every other team in the Major Leagues with five weeks remaining in the regular season.

Q&A with Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers  —  PHOENIX — Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers recently completed a tour of the organization's Minor League affiliates, visiting Triple-A Reno, Double-A Mobile as well as both Class A teams in Visalia and South Bend.

Report: Qualls claimed, Feldman clears waivers  —  HOUSTON — Astros closer Chad Qualls has been claimed on revocable waivers, FOX Sports reported Monday.  That means the Astros would have until Wednesday to work out a possible trade with the claiming team, though it's more likely the Astros pull …

Money can't buy success for MLB teams anymore  —  bmacpherson@providencejournal.com  —  BOSTON — Money can't buy happiness.  Money can't buy love.  —  In recent years, money can't even buy a spot in the playoffs like it once did.  —  It seems incongruous, if not inexplicable …

Robinson sustains shoulder injury during slide  —  Cardinals first baseman Adams also shaken up while chasing foul ball  —  PITTSBURGH — The Cardinals escaped serious injury to Matt Adams when he face planted against a railing after making an attempt at a foul ball on Monday night …

Trevor Plouffe and Danny Santana of the Minnesota Twins named the American League Co-Players of the Week  —  Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe and center fielder Danny Santana have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending August 24th.

Stanton's home run helps fuel Marlins over Angels  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Giancarlo Stanton upstaged Mike Trout with a three-run homer in the first regular-season showdown between two of baseball's brightest young stars, leading the Miami Marlins to a 7-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.