Adrian Beltre baffled by strange ejection from humorless umpire  —  This is how you treat a future Hall of Famer?  Good gravy.  —  Texas Rangers living legend Adrian Beltre, just four hits shy of becoming the 31st person in the history of the world to collect 3,000 hits …

Hosmer's 5 hits, slam help Royals top Tigers, win 8th in row  —  DETROIT (AP) — Eric Hosmer matched his career high with five hits, including his first major league grand slam, and the Kansas City Royals extended their winning streak to a season-high eight games with a 16-2 rout of the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.

Stephen Strasburg heads to DL as Nats call up LHP Erick Fedde  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals All-Star pitcher Stephen Strasburg is headed to the 10-day disabled list.  —  Following his team's 8-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, manager Dusty Baker confirmed that Strasburg …

Jake Arrieta: ‘We expect to remain in first place’  —  Cubs starter Jake Arrieta on Wednesday's victory and the team's goals for the rest of the season.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  After pitching 6 2/3 innings of two-hit ball Wednesday night to move …

Cardinals find 'everything we're looking for' in sweep of Rockies  —  St. Louis Cardinals' Carlos Martinez reacts towards the dugout as he runs to first base with an RBI-single in the fourth inning during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday July 26, 2017, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Rockies Acquire Pat Neshek  —  The Rockies announced that they've acquired right-hander Pat Neshek from the Phillies in exchange for minor league infielder Jose Gomez and minor league right-handers J.D. Hammer and Alejandro Requena.  Lefty Tyler Anderson has been moved to the 60-day DL to clear a roster spot.

Steven Matz gets shelled, lasts only three innings as Mets fall to Padres, 6-3  —  Steven Matz's struggles continued with the Mets left-hander lasting just three innings Wednesday night, killing the Mets momentum early in a 6-3 loss to the Padres at Petco Park.

Dansby Swanson optioned to Triple-A  —  PHOENIX - The move that once seemed so improbable is now a reality: Struggling Braves rookie Dansby Swanson has been sent to Triple-A.  —  Swanson, batting .214 with six home runs and a .287 on-base percentage in 95 games, was informed …

Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, out since June 2, poised for Friday return  —  Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel will return to the rotation on Friday against the Detroit Tigers, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Wednesday.  —  Keuchel hasn't pitched for the AL West leaders since June 2 because of a pinched nerve in his neck.

Sale Away: Red Sox ace Ks 11 in 4-0 win over Mariners  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Chris Sale pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, top prospect Rafael Devers became the youngest Boston player to hit a home run in more than 50 years, and the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0 on Wednesday to salvage the final game of the series.

Daily Dose: Athletic Clubbed  —  The Oakland Athletics find themselves in the basement of the American League West Division, 13 games under .500 and 23 games back of the first-place Houston Astros.  They also sit 9 1/2 games back in the wild-card standings, but perhaps things could be a little different if they had a dependable closer.

Zimmer homers, drives in go-ahead run as Indians beat Angels … Bradley Zimmer homered and drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning double and the  —  Cleveland Indians matched a season high with their sixth straight win, 10-4 over the  —  Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

Dear 1987, you're not going to believe what has happened to baseball  —  Say you had a time machine.  Say you set it to 1987.  Say you met a baseball fan from that year named Kelly.  What could you tell Kelly about baseball in 1987 that would most strain his or her belief?

Deadline predictions beyond Yu Darvish: Dark horse, biggest splash, more  —  With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, we asked a panel of our experts to make predictions about where six of the biggest names on the market would end up.  For all the rumors and speculation this time of year …

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw hopeful he can make ‘at least a few’ starts before playoffs begin  —  Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, who is on the disabled list due to a back injury, congratulates Cody Bellinger after the Dodgers beat the Twins on July 25.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)