Heyward helps Cubs beat Cardinals 9-6 in return from break  —  CHICAGO — The All-Star break is over.  It's right about now when the Chicago Cubs usually take off.  —  Jason Heyward had three hits and two RBI, Ian Happ belted a two-run homer and the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-6 …

Rockies, D-Backs meet in significant NL West series  —  PHOENIX — Arizona and Colorado met in the NL wild card game when the West was the dominant division a season ago, and each enters the post-break scheduled poised for another postseason run.  —  Arizona, Colorado and the division-leading …

Red Sox slugger Martinez pays visit to Tigers  —  The Detroit Tigers cannot escape reminders of what they used to be.  —  They faced their former ace, Justin Verlander, in the last game before the All-Star break on Sunday.  Upon returning from a four-day hiatus, they run …

Dose: A Helping Hand  —  Think the Indians are tired of hearing about the Red Sox, Astros and Yankees?  Funny how quickly we forget—no team in the American League won more games than Cleveland (102) a year ago.  And though the Tribe hasn't played its best ball yet this year …

265 or bust!  Yankees eye home run history in second half  —  NEW YORK — Aaron Boone appeared annoyed by the question, one he'd fielded several times already during the opening half of his first season as a big league manager.  —  Can this team really thrive relying so heavily on home runs?

Josh Hader to rejoin Brewers for first time since insensitive tweets surfaced  —  MILWAUKEE — Brewers general manager David Stearns wants reliever Josh Hader to “re-earn the trust” of his teammates when he rejoins the team Friday.  —  Milwaukee is set to resume its season following the All-Star break …

Orioles move on after Machado deal to face Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — The Baltimore Orioles begin life without star shortstop Manny Machado on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays.  —  The Orioles traded Machado, who can be a free agent at the end of the season …

Rays should trade Chris Archer  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Chris Archer wants the Rays to get going.  —  Trade more veterans.  Bring back Willy Adames and bring up the next group of kids.  Get on with getting better, and get back to reaching the postseason, as they did four times over six years that seems a long time ago.

Cubs Acquire Jesse Chavez  —  The Cubs have acquired right-hander Jesse Chavez from the Rangers, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported (via Twitter).  Lefty Tyler Thomas is heading to the Rangers in return.  —  Chavez, 34, is owed $1.5MM on the season under his one-year deal.

Cubs closer Brandon Morrow on MRI results: 'Nothing that can't clear up with rest'  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Brandon Morrow had shoulder issues in 2015.  His back acted up last month.  And now his right biceps is giving him enough trouble to land him on the 10-day disabled list.

The most common trade deadline mistake and MLB's next big thing  —  Do not fight the regression monster.  That, my friends, is the rule to live by when thinking about the upcoming trade deadline.  —  You hate to begin a baseball column with a statistical precept like that, even when it's a simple concept such as regression.

Ranking each division race entering the second half  —  After several days of Manny Machado-related intrigue, spirited dialogue about Mike Trout's role as a baseball brand ambassador and debate over whether Bryce Harper's Home Run Derby victory is a sign that he is or isn't “back,” …

Indians want to pick up pace, starting with Rangers  —  Cleveland has enjoyed a successful first half of the 2018 season, leading the American League Central by 7 1/2 games as it continues play after the All-Star break.  —  But the Indians expect to be even better during the final 2 1/2 months …

Royals' Duffy hopes to improve at home vs. Twins  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Danny Duffy has been pitching outstanding recently for the Kansas City Royals.  —  He threw seven scoreless innings, struck out eight and gave up four hits in a 5-0 victory at the Chicago White Sox last Saturday in his final start before the All-Star break.

Rhys Hoskins' intense focus sets him apart  —  A few weeks before he leaves home each year for spring training, Rhys Hoskins retreats to a Northern California batting cage and silences his music to make the room as quiet as possible.  The only noise he hears is that sweet sound of contact.