Orioles hit 4 HRs, beat Rangers 9-7 to complete 4-game sweep (Jul 20, 2017)  —  BALTIMORE (AP) Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones both homered and drove in three runs, and the Baltimore Orioles rallied to beat Cole Hamels and the Texas Rangers 9-7 on Thursday night to complete a four-game sweep.

Royals rout Tigers 16-4, set season highs for runs and hits (Jul 20, 2017)  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Brandon Moss drove in four runs, Mike Moustakas had three RBIs and the Kansas City Royals routed the error-prone Detroit Tigers 16-4 on Thursday night.  —  Eric Hosmer and Whit Merrifield homered …

Madison Bumgarner loses in first home start since April (Jul 20, 2017)  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) It used to be a Madison Bumgarner start meant the San Francisco Giants almost assuredly would find the win column.  —  Now, still without a 2017 victory, MadBum just wants to get back in a groove and stop giving up costly home runs.

Braves win series opener, snap Dodgers' 11-game streak  —  LOS ANGELES  —  No team in the past century had a better 35-game stretch than the blistering-hot Los Angeles Dodgers brought into their series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night, but the Braves probably figured that meant the Dodgers were due for a defeat.

Lamb homers twice, Diamondbacks beat Reds 12-2 to win series (Jul 20, 2017)  —  CINCINNATI (AP) Jake Lamb hit a pair of three-run homers and Patrick Corbin pitched into the eighth inning during an emergency start on Thursday, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 12-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Kennedy to feel heat as Royals host White Sox (Jul 21, 2017)  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ian Kennedy knows it is going to be extremely hot Friday when he starts for the Kansas City Royals in the series opener against the Chicago White Sox.  —  It is forecast to reach triple digits in Kansas City.

Report: Minnesota Twins hope to acquire Jaime Garcia from Atlanta Braves  —  The Minnesota Twins hope to bolster their rotation by acquiring left-hander Jaime Garcia from the Atlanta Braves.  —  According to multiple media reports Thursday night, the teams were attempting to complete a trade featuring the veteran pitcher.

MLB: David Phelps traded to Mariners  —  The Miami Marlins' highly touted bullpen has been a bust, and so the dismantling began Thursday.  —  A seller once again as the trade deadline approaches, Miami sent right-hander David Phelps to the Seattle Mariners for four pros-pects, including highly regarded outfielder Brayan Hernandez.

The buyer's guide to the MLB trade deadline: Moves the contenders should make  —  Cubs president Theo Epstein on the team's trade for pitcher Jose Quintana and the possibility for future moves on July 14, 2017.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  The Washington Post

LEADING OFF: Cubs, Pirates gaining ground; Panda returns  —  A look at what's happening all around the majors today:  —  ___  —  ROLLING INTO WRIGLEY  —  The Cubs have won six straight and are just a game behind slumping Milwaukee in the NL Central as they begin a home series against St. Louis.

Dose: Cardinal Chaos  —  What's the most gut-wrenching way to lose a baseball game?  The Cardinals seem determined to find out.  —  I don't know why, but I always remember the way Joe Buck described Curt Schilling's heroic start against the Yankees in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS …

Mental toughness keys Parker Bridwell's ascent to Angels rotation  —  ANAHEIM, CALIF.  —  Parker Bridwell knew he was never one to give up on anything, but on a summer day a few years ago, he made a desperate phone call to his father wanting to do just that.  —  The grind of the minor leagues had gotten to be too much.

Former Rangers pitcher dies at age 38  —  Former Rangers left-hander John Rheinecker, who pitched in 44 major league games over the 2006 and 2007 seasons with Texas, died Tuesday in St. Louis at the age of 38.  —  A medical examiner's office spokeswoman said the cause of death was unknown …