Nationals pitcher Joe Ross to have Tommy John surgery  —  CINCINNATI (AP) Washington right-hander Joe Ross will have Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season.  —  Dr. Keith Meister will operate on Wednesday in Texas, according to Washington manager Dusty Baker.

MLB: Could Pablo Sandoval be reunited with San Francisco Giants?  —  Third baseman Pablo Sandoval was a bust for the Boston Red Sox, who designated him for assignment on Friday, but media reports on Saturday indicated that the San Francisco Giants are interested in bringing back their former World Series star.

Royals waste gem from Duffy, lose 12th straight to the Rangers  —  Among the unwritten rules of baseball, tradition dictates that the starting pitcher controls the pregame music that emanates from the clubhouse stereo system.  Every fifth day, Danny Duffy takes this assignment more serious than most.

Puig confronts Marlins pitcher after nearly being hit  —  MIAMI (AP) An angry Yasiel Puig took several steps toward the mound after he was nearly hit by a pitch from Jose Urena in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins.  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder hit …

Giants placed Johnny Cueto on DL, making room for Madison Bumgarner  —  With the all-star break in the rearview mirror, it's time for second half of the MLB season to get underway.  Here are the story lines that will shape the rest of the season.  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT

Lynn shuts down Pirates as Cardinals cruise 4-0 (Jul 15, 2017)  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) Lance Lynn worked 6 1/3 innings and added a rare run-scoring double at the plate as the St. Louis Cardinals cooled off the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Saturday night.  —  Lynn (8-6) allowed eight hits and struck …

Fulmer throws gem as Tigers romp Blue Jays, 11-1, after team meeting  —  Fulmer allows just three baserunners over eight innings; J.D. homers, drives in five; Miggy, Castellanos also homer  —  Whatever was said - and the Detroit Tigers weren't saying - it worked.

White Sox Acquire Yeyson Yrizarri From Rangers For International Bonus Slot  —  The Rangers have announced that they've traded minor-league infielder Yeyson Yrizarri to the White Sox for an international bonus slot.  The move gives the Rangers additional flexibility to sign international amateur talent.

Mom and son among fatalities in high-rise condo blaze  —  A woman and her adult son were among three people confirmed killed in a five-alarm fire at the Marco Polo high-rise condominium on Kapiolani Boulevard on Friday.  —  All three deaths occurred on the 26th floor, where the fire …

Yankees' Starlin Castro returns from hamstring injury  —  The New York Yankees activated All-Star second baseman Starlin Castro from the 10-day disabled list before Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox.  —  Castro has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since June 26.

Mets' offense explosion continues, beat Rockies 9-3  —  As the Mets prepared for the start of their second half Friday afternoon, Sandy Alderson sat in front of a room full of reporters and said his team would have to play “exceedingly well” for him to not sell at the trade deadline.

Jon Lester likes stability Jose Quintana adds to rotation now and in future  —  Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester on the team's trade for Jose Quintana.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Cubs left-hander Jon Lester is signed through 2020, but he admitted Saturday …

Royals pitcher Karns to have rib removed, out for season  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals right-hander Nate Karns hopes that by losing a rib he will gain some relief.  —  The 29-year-old pitcher will miss the rest of the season to have a rib removed Wednesday in a procedure designed to take pressure off the nerve in his forearm.

Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, three others interested in RHP Sonny Gray  —  Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray has been linked to the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and two more teams in trade talks.  —  Last week, Athletics general manager Billy Beane told Peter Gammons …

LEADING OFF: Quintana debuts for Cubs, Yanks-Bosox play late  —  A look at what's happening all around the majors Sunday:  —  ___  —  RIGHT ON Q  —  Jose Quintana makes his debut for the Chicago Cubs when he starts at Baltimore.  Trying to make a playoff push, the World Series champions acquired …

Reports: Ex-Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez released by Nationals  —  It would appear the professional baseball career of Francisco Rodriguez is over.  —  Released by the Detroit Tigers late last month, he was picked up by the Washington Nationals as a chance to help their bullpen and resurrect his career.

Brewers Sign Jeanmar Gomez  —  The Brewers have announced that they've signed righty reliever Jeanmar Gomez, presumably to a minor-league deal.  (They also announced that they've signed righty and former Rockies farmhand Alec Kenilvort and released righty Stephen Kohlscheen.)  Gomez is a client of Magnus Sports.

Yankees at a loss to figure out what's wrong with Aroldis Chapman  —  BOSTON - What's wrong with Aroldis Chapman?  —  That was the $86 million question engulfing the Yankees after the former All-Star closer's latest meltdown led to a crushing 5-4 giveaway loss to the Red Sox on Friday night at Fenway Park.