It's official: The Yankees are the most-hated team in baseball — and the Dodgers aren't far behind  —  The New York Yankees celebrate their 4-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.  (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)  —  America has spoken, and the New York Yankees are the country's most-hated baseball team.

Mariners send top prospect O'Neill to Cardinals for Gonzales  —  SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners paid a hefty price to add a pitcher who may not be ready to help them in the playoff hunt this season.  —  The Mariners acquired young left-hander Marco Gonzales from the St. Louis Cardinals …

Royals rout Tigers 16-4, set season highs for runs and hits  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brandon Moss is getting hot as the Kansas City weather.  —  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.

After Fowler ties the game, Cubs inch back ahead, 3-2  —  CHICAGO  • The Cubs snapped a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning when an error in the infield gave them just enough room against Carlos Martinez to find a run.  —  Shortstop Paul DeJong failed to field a grounder to open the inning …

Braves aim for second straight win over Dodgers (Jul 21, 2017)  —  LOS ANGELES — Residing in a golden state, the Los Angeles Dodgers will try to rekindle that glow against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.  —  The Dodgers lost the series opener Thursday, but that was hardly cause for alarm.

Cashman: Yankees will ‘send Frazier out’ when Hicks returns … SEATTLE — Nobody knows when Aaron Hicks will come off the disabled list.  But when all the Yankees outfielders are healthy, Clint Frazier will be the odd man out.  —  “Send Frazier out,” general manager Brian Cashman …

Aaron Judge plays catch with Mariners fan between innings  —  If this is any indication, Aaron Judge seems to be enjoying his sudden ascent to stardom as much as the rest of us.  —  Before the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night at Safeco Field, with Judge's New York Yankees leading …

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.

The factors that will decide Yu Darvish's trade fate … As poorly as things have been going for the Orioles - and that has been real bad - they just swept four games from the Rangers by a combined 34-11.  That has heightened belief around the game that Texas might trade Yu Darvish, who can be a free agent after the season.

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.

Asdrubal Cabrera likely to play third as trade suitors line up  —  Dexter Fowler is tagged out by Asdrubal Cabrera during the Mets' 3-2 win on Thursday.  —  Getty Images … Asdrubal Cabrera's trade market is developing better than the Mets could have anticipated.

A's sign Carter to minor league deal, promote Montas, Olson  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have signed free agent slugger Chris Carter to a minor league deal and promoted right-hander Frankie Montas and first baseman/outfielder Matt Olson to the majors.

Cards beat themselves as Rosenthal gets ‘caught watching the play’  —  New York Mets' Lucas Duda, right, celebrates his solo home run with Jose Reyes during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field, Thursday, July 20, 2017, in New York.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Athletics Have Discussed Extensions With Marcus Semien, Khris Davis  —  The Athletics have held at least exploratory talks about multi-year deals with both shortstop Marcus Semien and outfielder Khris Davis, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Struggling starters toe rubber when Indians host Jays (Jul 21, 2017)  —  CLEVELAND — Marco Estrada and Trevor Bauer, two pitchers in the middle of disappointing seasons, will be the mound opponents Friday night when the Toronto Blue Jays open a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Indians' Kluber hoping to pitch Sunday after Friday scratch  —  Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber, who was scratched from Friday's start because of lingering neck discomfort, is hopeful to return to the mound Sunday.  —  Kluber said his neck felt better after playing catch Thursday at Progressive Field during the Indians' off day.

Five MLB prospects who won't get traded - but could star in October  —  The trade deadline generates such hype and expectation every year that it's easy to forget teams can often get just as big a boost from the midseason promotion of a prospect as they would from a new acquisition.

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.