D-backs aim to rebound after nasty loss to Rockies  —  DENVER — Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray hopes the step forward he took in a bullpen session Tuesday will carry over to his start Thursday in the rubber game between the Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.

Mets brace for Scherzer, Nationals  —  NEW YORK — New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway said he thinks his ace pitcher, Jacob deGrom, should start for the National League in next week's All-Star Game.  —  But Callaway and the Mets are almost surely going to see the NL's starter Thursday night …

Minor-league extra-innings rule has helped shorten games  —  On the second day of the Major League Baseball season, the Chicago Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 in 17 innings.  The teams combined to use 14 pitchers, and the game took 5 hours, 18 minutes to complete.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS

Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks in the MLB All-Star Game … The 89th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.  —  The game will feature Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and pitchers Patrick Corbin and Zack Greinke.

Phillies ace Aaron Nola's devastating offspeed pitches put him in the fast lane to the All-Star Game  —  They began trickling into Baton Rouge, La., in the spring of 2012.  By 2014, the trickle had become a tsunami.  But while almost all the scouts who watched Aaron Nola in college agreed …

Pirates, Brewers open five-game series  —  The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates open a five-games series Thursday at PNC Park with National League Central implications that are very different.  —  The series will carry the clubs into the All-Star break, and the games will help shape …

Dustin Pedroia: Will know more in 4-5 weeks, 'can't risk it'  —  Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia has doubts about whether he'll be able to return this season as he continues to recover from major reconstructive knee surgery in the offseason.  —  Pedroia, 34, returned to the lineup …

Mariners' Paxton gets his shot at Angels  —  Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton will finally get a chance to stare down the Los Angeles Angels.  —  After missing the Angels in their nine games in Seattle earlier this season, Paxton is scheduled to start Thursday night in the series finale at Angel Stadium.

Column: Javier Baez blossoms into a star on Kris Bryant's level  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The friendly debate started in 2014, with raw talent Javier Baez hitting majestic home runs and executing dazzling defensive plays while the decorated and steady Kris Bryant displayed his array of tools that delighted new-age evaluators.

Brewers activate Miley to face Pirates, summon Asher, Houser, send out Orf, Lopez, Peralta  —  PITTSBURGH - As expected after a taxing three-game series in Miami that included two extra-inning losses, the Brewers refurbished their pitching staff Thursday in a flurry of player moves.

Rangers Reaction: Were Rangers trying to save Choo's streak by not using him to hit late?  —  BOSTON  —  The time has come to publicly air a grievance that burdens those travelers who rely on hotel gyms to offset all the poor eating and other extra calories that might be consumed during and after work on the road.

DL Placements: Logan Morrison, Rafael Devers, Shelby Miller  —  With the All-Star break at hand, we may well continue to see more disabled list placements than usual as teams attempt to get players extended rest, with a minimal number of actual games missed, to address minor ailments.

Marlins beat Brewers in 12 innings in front of record-low crowd  —  South Florida Sun Sentinel  —  The Marlins are getting used to working overtime.  They're getting used to winning extra-inning games, too.  —  Miami again dipped into the night with another extra-inning game on Wednesday night …

Rays send down Willy Adames, add Chih-Wei Hu to bullpen  —  The Rays, as we reported Wednesday night, have optioned top prospect SS Willy Adames to Triple-A Durham.RHP Chih-Wei Hu was called up to take his roster spot in adding an extra arm to the bullpen.Whe

How and why Cubs and White Sox hitters choose bats  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Major League Baseball's rule 3.02 is simple: “The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length.  The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.”

The question Rays manager Kevin Cash will be asked at the All-Star Game  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Rays manager Kevin Cash was sitting at the desk in his Tropicana Field office Wednesday afternoon after his ever exciting — and ever changing — club came from behind to beat the Tigers to complete a three-game sweep.

Operating on Danny Farquhar's brain didn't change what was in White Sox pitcher's heart  —  White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar, recovering at home in Temecula, Ca., from a brain hemmorage on April 20, 2018, has begun his long journey back to the major leagues.  (Sandy Huffaker / Chicago Tribune)

White Sox catchers Kevan Smith and Omar Narvaez step up with Welington Castillo suspended  —  Photos from the White Sox-Cardinals game at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Who needs Welington Castillo, anyway?  —  The White Sox were left with a void …