All-Star Game: Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander take different paths to historic dominance  —  WASHINGTON - They have everything you'd possibly want in life.  —  They've got more than $400 million in guaranteed contracts, the kind of money that will take care of generations of their families long after they're gone.

Futures Game a showcase of potential Manny Machado trade chips  —  WASHINGTON — Touki Toussaint was about to settle down for his pregame nap when Atlanta Braves director of player development Dom Chiti called.  —  “When I saw his name pop up, I did kind of get nervous,” Toussaint said.

Cubs rookie reliever James Norwood maximizing his midseason audition  —  Chicago Tribune  —  There was a different pecking order Sunday during the final 3 2/3 innings of the Cubs' 7-4 win over the Padres, and it included rookie James Norwood, who quickly has taken on a more prominent role in the bullpen.

Success on the road lifts A's into contention  —  The Oakland Athletics have played their way into contention by beating up on teams that are far from it.  —  Oakland enters the All-Star break having won 21 of its last 27, and the A's are only three games behind the second wild card.

Detroit trying to move past breakup with Justin Verlander  —  Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press Columnist  —  Sometimes it hurts more when they say they still think about you.  —  Detroiters knew this was going to be a hard weekend.  Seeing your ex for the first time after the breakup is never easy.

High-tech approach led Cardinals to sign Mikolas without seeing him in person  —  Almost all of what the Cardinals saw of Miles Mikolas' reinvention as a pitcher in Japan was the byte-sized view offered by video clips they played and replayed again on a laptop or tablet.

Phillies' Rhys Hoskins one of the favorites to win Monday's Home Run Derby |  Sports betting  —  ATLANTIC CITY — Bryce Harper is favored to win the Home Run Derby, but Rhys Hoskins is getting some major respect from the oddsmakers.  —  The William Hill company, which operates the sportsbook …

Mike Trout's incredible start elevates him into the class of MLB's all-time elites  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Former Angels scouting director Eddie Bane cringed after soliciting help from one of his evaluators in 2009.  —  “Around the time of the draft, I asked our scouts to give some comps …

Gary Sanchez takes positive step in rehab; Yankees set rotation for Subway Series against Mets  —  CLEVELAND - Gary Sanchez's minor-league rehab stint got off to a great start.  —  Sanchez homered while also striking out twice in three at-bats for Triple-A Scranton on Sunday.

Phillies minor leagues: JoJo Romero is turning things around at double-A Reading  —  READING — Seven of the Phillies' top 12 prospects are pitchers, with Sixto Sanchez and his blazing triple-digit fastball leading the way in single A and Enyel De Los Santos becoming the first young hurler …

Hard work made Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez into an MLB All-Star  —  When the Cincinnati Reds got Eugenio Suárez in December of 2015 from the Detroit Tigers, they hoped they were getting a good player.  Suárez was known as a glove-first shortstop.

Rest arrives for Cubs reliever Steve Cishek: 'We'll go to a theme park'  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Cubs followers can relax, for now.  —  Reliever Steve Cishek, arguably their best free-agent signing, won't pick up a baseball until Wednesday at the earliest in an effort to rest his taxed right arm.

Trevor Story's walk-off home run lifts Rockies past Mariners … DENVER — Trevor Story tuned up for the All-Star Game with one memorable swing.  —  Story led off the ninth inning with his 20th homer, and the Colorado Rockies completed a series sweep of the Seattle Mariners with a 4-3 victory on Sunday.

Top 10 Prospects: July 16  —  Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @Crawford_Milb on Twitter.  —  A reminder that this is strictly a list for 2018.  Several of these prospects are among the best in baseball, but for the purpose of this series, it's just measuring potential impact for the coming season.

Cole Hamels is focused on the Rangers, but a trade to Phillies would be a ‘blessing’  —  BALTIMORE — Cole Hamels stays in touch with enough of his former teammates to know that the Phillies will honor the 2008 World Series champions before the Aug. 5 game at Citizens Bank Park.