AL All-Star Game starters feature Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge  —  The American League's starting outfield for next week's All-Star Game certainly isn't lacking in star power, with the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout, New York's Aaron Judge and Boston's Mookie Betts getting the nods.

Surprise: Willson Contreras, Javier Baez join Jon Lester on NL All-Star team  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Jon Lester knew he was in line to be named to the National League All-Star team.  The surprise came when fans voted catcher Willson Contreras and second baseman Javier Baez into the starting lineup.

Imperfect Mets still find new ways to keep approaching ‘rock bottom’ in another shutout loss  —  The imperfect team nearly was “perfect-gamed,” which would have been the ... well, you don't even need me to finish the rest of that thought by now.  —  Citi Field still is where the bottomless pit …

Rangers Acquire Austin Jackson, Cory Gearrin; Could Trade Jackson  —  12:47pm: Jackson may never even play for the Rangers, per Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News.  General manager Jon Daniels told the outfielder “to hold off on reporting,” Fraley writes.  It seems they'll try to trade him.

Mark Reynolds pitches with Nats down big day after 10-RBI game  —  Mark Reynolds followed his 10-RBI performance on Saturday by making his first career pitching appearance on Sunday.  —  Reynolds was called upon to pitch with two outs in the ninth inning and the Washington Nationals trailing 10-2 against the Miami Marlins.

Olney: Max Muncy's journey from out of MLB to out of this world  —  The Keller High School baseball team, of Keller, Texas, generally follows the same daily schedule.  As a result, Lee Muncy and his son, Max, could venture an educated guess as to when practice would end and a batting cage would open for the Muncys' use.

Next Slide  —  What happened: The Detroit Tigers lost to the Texas Rangers, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon.  Unlike the Tigers' seven-run first inning on Saturday, they came out flat on Sunday.  —  Michael Fulmer (3-8) gave up a solo home run to the second batter of the day.

LEADING OFF: Lester eyes NL-best 12th win, A's stay hot  —  A look at what's happening around the majors today:  —  CHICAGO'S ACE  —  Jon Lester has put together some ace-worthy seasons during his 13-year major league career, including four All-Star appearances and a runner-up finish in the Cy Young voting two years ago.

Mike Trout stays patient as pitchers take a pass  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — When Mike Trout got drafted by the Los Angeles Angels and began his journey through the minor leagues, he vowed to never swing until the opposing pitcher threw the first strike.  Trout wanted to build a foundation …

Gurriel, Bregman homer in Astros' 12-6 win over White Sox  —  The Houston Astros beat the Chicago White Sox 12-6 Saturday for their fifth straight win.  —  HOUSTON - Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman each homered and Charlie Morton won his 11th as the Houston Astros beat the Chicago White Sox 12-6 Saturday for their fifth straight win.

Last Slide  —  Diamondbacks right-hander Clay Buchholz will not be traveling with the club on its upcoming six-day road trip, but he could be progressing toward a potential return after the All-Star break.  —  Buchholz suffered a strained oblique in a June 24 start in Pittsburgh and threw …

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey scheduled to pitch out of bullpen in rehab outing  —  CHICAGO - After making four rehab starts at Triple-A Louisville, Homer Bailey is scheduled to make an appearance out of the bullpen Sunday afternoon.  —  Before Bailey was placed on the 10-day disabled list …

Christian Vazquez placed on DL with broken right pinkie  —  The Boston Red Sox placed catcher Christian Vazquez on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with a broken right pinkie he suffered sliding into second base Saturday night.  —  Vazquez had a two-run single in the seventh inning …