It's a nonstarter: Rays have arms, but likely will wait to deal them  —  In a bleak landscape for pitching, the Tampa Bay Rays are awash in talented young starters with affordable contracts and several years of club control.  Survey the available options and Tampa is an oasis of promise in a desert of back-end, complementary types.

Strasburg Wins 14th as Nationals Down Indians 4-1  —  CLEVELAND — Stephen Strasburg shut down Cleveland for seven innings and bounced back from his only loss this season, leading the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 win over the Indians on Wednesday.  —  Strasburg (14-1) began the season …

Next Slide  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Being the subject of a year's worth of trade chatter has been hard on Jay Bruce the human.  It has apparently not been so hard on Jay Bruce the baseball player.  —  The 29-year-old Bruce hit two home runs - his third and fourth in the last three days …

Padres Hit 3 HRs to Extend Streak, Beat Blue Jays 8-4  —  TORONTO — Adam Rosales hit a two-run home run, Alex Dickerson and Brett Wallace each hit solo shots and the San Diego Padres beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 on Wednesday, avoiding a three-game sweep.  —  San Diego extended …

Cabrera's HR Bounces Right for Tigers in 4-3 Win Over Boston  —  BOSTON — Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning that bounced off the top of the wall and into Boston's bullpen, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday for a three-game series sweep.

What will the Nationals do after missing out on Aroldis Chapman?  —  Plus, items on Jonathan Lucroy and Melvin Upton in Ken Rosenthal's latest notes.  —  Mike Rizzo (Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports)  —  So now what for the Nationals?  —  Aroldis Chapman is a Cub.  Jonathan Papelbon is unraveling.

Trade Central: Rangers Deal Demeritte For Two Arms  —  THE DEAL  —  The prices for pitching are sky high in the trade market's current state, so the Rangers found a cheaper, off-the-radar alternative.  By acquiring righthander Lucas Harrell and lefthanded reliever Dario Alvarez …

Manfred: More Rule Changes Needed to Improve Pace of Play  —  MIAMI — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says more rule changes are needed to improve the pace of play, and one proposal under consideration is a limitation on relief pitching changes in an inning or a game.

Gyorko homers, Cards top Mets in 1st game of doubleheader … NEW YORK — For a team that's historically been known for pitching, speed and defense, these St. Louis Cardinals sure are hitting a lot of home runs lately.  —  Especially Jedd Gyorko.  —  Gyorko connected again …

Detroit Tigers' Drew VerHagen to have surgery, miss rest of season  —  BOSTON — Right-handed pitcher Drew VerHagen had a setback last week in his quest to come back from right shoulder thoracic outlet syndrome and has been shut down for the rest of the season.

Lee concedes defeat to Boyce in Cobb chairman's race  —  Cobb County Commission chair candidates Mike Boyce (left) and incumbent Tim Lee are shown during an Atlanta Press Club debate.  Lee is up for re-election, and Boyce successfully exploited the controversies related to the SunTrust Park deal to garner 49-percent of the vote.

Hector Rondon ‘good with’ relinquishing 9th to new closer Aroldis Chapman  —  CHICAGO — Former Chicago Cubs closer Hector Rondon is on board with his team acquiring lefty flamethrower Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees and is willing to pitch in the seventh or eighth inning or “whenever” manager Joe Maddon wants him.