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:
ESPN:
Fired Cardinals manager Mike Matheny holds no ill will — Acknowledging that his job had been on the line since last season, fired St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny still expressed thanks to his now-former team. — “I've got nothing but gratitude,” Matheny told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sunday, “and this goes way back.
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
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Cardinals pitcher enters radar as Yankees and more seek help
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Who's ready to bash? Meet the eight Home Run Derby competitors — Youth is served in this year's Home Run Derby, as the average age of the eight participants is 26.39 years old, the youngest field ever. None of the eight players was born when the first Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game was held in 1985.
RELATED:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' Muncy says he'll practice restraint at home run derby
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
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:
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
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.
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 …
