Top News:
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
School of Roch and ESPN
RELATED:
Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers collide: Matt Manning K's Dawel Lugo in Futures Game — It's a glimpse at the future of game, and for a brief moment, the Detroit Tigers were at center stage. — To open fifth inning of the 2018 Futures Game in Washington, Tigers pitching prospect Matt Manning took the mound against Tigers infield prospect Dawel Lugo.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Futures Game features power surge with Peter Alonso, Yusniel Diaz, Taylor Trammell — WASHINGTON - The top players in the minor leagues put on quite a display of power in batting practice before the 2018 All-Star Futures Game. Several of them chose to continue, even after the game started.
Stephen Ruiz / Orlando Sentinel:
Led by Peter Alonso's long home run, Gators shine in Futures Game — Former UF slugger Peter Alonso prepares to connect on a 2-run home run Sunday in the Futures Game in Washington, D.C. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press) — The Florida Gators were well-represented in the Futures Game …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets ace Jacob deGrom on All-Star Game: ‘I want to start’ — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jacob deGrom never stops competing. The Mets ace leads not only the National League in ERA, but all major-league starters. Making his second trip to the All-Star Game, he thinks that should mean he gets the start.
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants prospect Shaun Anderson promoted to Triple-A Sacramento
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Talking Chop, Lookout Landing and Lone Star Ball
Yahoo Sports / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
MLB stars of tomorrow blast eight home runs in 2018 Futures Game
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and True Blue LA
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
As pivotal All-Star break arrives, Orioles still weighing interest for top trade chips Machado, Britton, others
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles erupt in third inning, hold on for heart-stopping 6-5 victory over Rangers
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Derrick Goold / Kansas City Star:
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.
RELATED:
Steve Overbey / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Cardinals win in interim manager Shildt's debut — Dexter Fowler homered to give interim manager Mike Shildt a win in his first game as the St. Louis — Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Sunday. — Shildt took over for Mike Matheny, who was fired late Saturday after six-plus seasons at the helm.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, WPSD Local 6 and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Happy, not satisfied: Yankees know they have to improve from big first half — CLEVELAND — Regardless of whether the New York Yankees would have won Sunday's first-half finale at Progressive Field, to a man, the postgame clubhouse refrain still would have been the same. — We're good, but not yet good enough.
Discussion:
NESN.com
RELATED:
Ryan Hannable / WEEI:
David Ortiz reflects on state of Red Sox, why shifts are bad for baseball
Discussion:
NESN.com
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Despite stellar first half, Yankees still have plenty of work to do to catch Red Sox
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Futures Game managers and longtime friends Torii Hunter, David Ortiz frenemies between the lines
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Place Eduardo Rodriguez On DL
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs surge to top of NL at All-Star break thanks to clubhouse culture — SAN DIEGO — All is right in Cubs Nation as the 2016 world champions used the final week before the All-Star break to take command of their division, and the National League, and now find themselves on top of both after a weekend sweep of the San Diego Padres.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Cubs sweep Padres with 7-4 win — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jon Lester and the Chicago Cubs are on top of the National League at the All-Star break. — Lester won for the eighth time in nine starts, Jason Heyward drove in two runs and the Cubs beat the sloppy San Diego Padres 7-4 on Sunday for a three-game series sweep.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Motivated Detroit Tigers, against all odds, crush Justin Verlander — Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press Columnist — HOUSTON — The Detroit Tigers needed this. — Not for the standings. Not to create second-half momentum. Not to convince the front office to keep players around past the trade deadline like in years past.
RELATED:
Alden GonzalezESPN / ESPN:
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw encouraged heading into season's second half — LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw was good on Sunday, amid the Dodgers' series-clinching 5-3 victory over the Angels. But he wasn't Clayton Kershaw, three-time Cy Young Award winner. The Dodgers' longtime ace allowed 10 baserunners …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Drew Smyly targets rehab assignment soon — Chicago Tribune — Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly hopes to tap the accelerator on his recovery from Tommy John surgery this week. — Smyly said he plans to throw a bullpen session Wednesday in Arizona and anticipates throwing a simulated game this weekend at Wrigley Field.
Associated Press:
MLB: Meadows sent to the minors — Outfielder Austin Meadows was demoted Sunday by the Pittsburgh Pirates to triple-A Indianapolis. — Meadows, 23, was the team's first-round pick in the 2013 draft. He hit .298 in 48 games but lost playing time to Corey Dickerson and Gregory Polanco. — Etc.
