There's no ducking the numbers: MLB has a bad baseball problem that's only getting worse  —  It's a shame Eddie Gaedel isn't with us anymore.  This is his time to shine.  —  You remember, Gaedel?  He was the 3-foot-7 slugger hired by St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck as a publicity stunt …

Cubs beat Dodgers 2-1 in 10 innings for doubleheader split  —  CHICAGO (AP) Albert Almora Jr. got even.  So did the Chicago Cubs.  —  Almora hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Tuesday night to salvage a split of their day-night doubleheader.

After ejection, White Sox's Rick Renteria offers some support, criticism for Yoan Moncada  —  White Sox manager Rick Renteria discusses his ejection during the team's 12-0 loss to the Indians on Wednesday, June 20, 2018.  (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Free agency checkup: Which stars are adding and losing money?  —  Let's check in on some members of the so-called greatest free-agent class ever — although it's admittedly a little less great given the results and/or injuries of Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw and Josh Donaldson …

Real or Not?  Giants disgrace the game with latest beanballs  —  The San Francisco Giants disgraced themselves on Tuesday night, throwing at an opposing batter for no reason and putting one of the faces of baseball in jeopardy as a result.  This wasn't old-school, eye-for-an-eye baseball …

Yankees' pitching whisperer Billy Connors dead at 76  —  Billy Connors, a former Yankee executive and pitching coach, died Monday.  He was 76.  —  Connors had three stints as Yankees pitching coach (1989-90, 1994-95 and 2000), but he made his most significant impact with the organization as vice president …

The true madness of Max Scherzer  —  Max Scherzer swears he's normal.  The evidence points to the contrary.  —  The day before a recent start in Baltimore, the Washington Nationals' ace plopped himself in front of a laptop at the video table inside the visitors clubhouse.

Yankees launching a historic home run barrage  —  NEW YORK — Records, as the old saying goes, were made to be broken.  —  And right now, the New York Yankees stand a very good chance to shatter one of baseball's more respected team offensive marks.  —  “Everybody here can hit,” third baseman Miguel Andujar said.

Young starters Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisigo have more than pitched in for needy Yankee rotation  —  It's a testament to the Yankees' front office and farm system depth that they've been able to call up relative unknowns like Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga, both of whom …

Bailey's back with the Cincinnati Reds, but plan remains unclear  —  Homer Bailey was back in the Reds clubhouse Wednesday.  He did not add a whole lot of clarity to his situation.  —  As for an update?  —  “I don't have one,” he said.  “Ask other people.  They know better than I do.”

Atlanta Braves try to stay hot against Toronto Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — Atlanta Braves first-year general manager Alex Anthopoulos was not sure how well his new team would do this season.  —  “You know what, we didn't know what to expect,” the former Toronto Blue Jays general manager Anthopoulos …

Success of Shohei Ohtani is inspiring more players to seek two-way roles  —  Inland Empire first baseman Jared Walsh is all smiles after hitting a home run against the Lancaster JetHawks at the Hanger on May 8.  (Shotgun Spratling / Los Angeles Times)  —  What Shohei Ohtani did for the Angels …

With the damaged nerve in his right thumb flaring up, Ryan Braun goes for more cryotherapy  —  PITTSBURGH - Ryan Braun left the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday to return to Los Angeles for a cryotherapy injection in his right thumb, a procedure he has undergone four times since the original treatment after the 2014 season.

AP sources: Tigers-Royals to play in Omaha before 2019 CWS  —  Kansas City Royals will play a regular-season game in Omaha the week the 2019 College World Series opens, The Associated Press has learned.  —  Major League Baseball and the NCAA have been working to arrange a game as a kickoff event to the CWS …

Houston's win streak ends at 12 games with 2-1 loss to Rays  —  HOUSTON (AP) - C.J. Cron homered early and Wilson Ramos hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-1 win on Tuesday night to snap a 12-game winning streak by the Houston Astros.

A closer look at Phillies reliever Tommy Hunter's season so far |  Extra Innings  —  Another game, another bullpen drama.  This time, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler took a conventional approach to deploying his relievers.  He used setup man Tommy Hunter in the seventh inning and saved relief ace Seranthony Dominguez for the ninth.