Hard to get a handle on these bipolar Cubs  —  “You've got to keep big picture in mind,” Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said about the team's hot and cold season, “and there are a lot more at-bats to come.  It's a day-to-day grind.”  (John Minchillo / AP)  —  Chicago Tribune

Zero  —  Victor Martinez hasn't hit a home run since May 19 against the Seattle Mariners.  Since then, the 39-year-old designated hitter has hit .255 with zero home runs and six RBIs in 29 games and 102 at-bats.  —  57 years later, Tigers signee will throw out first pitch

Justin Verlander faces Happ when Astros, Blue Jays tangle  —  HOUSTON — For a third consecutive start on Sunday, Houston Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole encountered a stretch where he wrestled with his control, a span of innings that called for his battery mate to help steer him through the rough patch and into smoother waters.

Hanley Ramirez not under federal investigation; friend dropped his name hoping to avoid arrest  —  A friend of former Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez dropped his name in an effort to avoid arrest while transporting fentanyl from New York to Massachusetts in April, then immediately admitted …

After tough stretch, New York Mets schedule lightens up over next two weeks  —  Greg Tartaglia, Staff Writer, @NJTags13  —  The Mets have had better weeks.  —  They went 1-6 this past week and have now lost six straight after being swept by the Dodgers this past weekend at Citi Field.

June's worst NL teams meet when Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets clash  —  NEW YORK — New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway has been using some variation of the term “sync up” so often lately, he sounds like an early 1990s music critic discussing Milli Vanilli.

Who's indispensable to his team's postseason chances?  —  As we head toward the second half and the trade deadline, the teams with the most incentive to make a splash are those living on the margins, with their playoff fates in doubt.  Manny Machado is a no-doubt-about-it superstar …

Power Rankings: Which AL power is No. 1 this week?  —  It's more of the same at the top of the rankings, with the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs hanging on to the top three spots.  Houston picked up four first-place votes, with Boston picking up the other one.

Padres use double-decker bus to get to game vs. Giants  —  The San Diego Padres needed a little help from a double-decker tour bus in order to get to AT&T Park for a game against the San Francisco Giants.  —  The team jumped on the tourist transportation option prior to Sunday's 3-2 loss in San Francisco.

Angels face unique challenge in trying to get Shohei Ohtani right  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani's situation isn't just complex, it's unprecedented.  —  One hundred years had passed since a major league player simultaneously handled pitching and hitting the way Ohtani did during his first 10 weeks with the Los Angeles Angels.

Next Slide  —  CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers' most likely trade departure returned on Saturday afternoon and, overall, Francisco Liriano was fine.  —  Yes, he had a rough bottom of the first inning against the Indians, allowing three runs on four hits while throwing 40 pitches …

Hot Hitter Rundown  —  Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @RyanPBoyer on Twitter.  —  You should always have the big picture in mind when it comes to your season-long fantasy baseball leagues.  Putting too much stock in a small sample size might cause you to make a decision that hurts you in the long run.

Nationals' Bryce Harper could add star power to Home Run Derby in D.C.  —  Photos from the 2017 All-Star game Home Run Derby at Marlins Park in Miami.  —  The Home Run Derby held during All-Star Week usually relies on star power to be successful.  Last year it had plenty …

Rockies can't weather the storm at home … DENVER — Derek Dietrich was hoping for a chance at history but settled for a win in a torrid month for the Miami outfielder.  —  He homered for the third consecutive game, leading Miami over the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Sunday.