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 …

Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks in the MLB All-Star Game … The Diamondbacks and Rockies resume play after the All-Star break Friday at Chase Field, and I'll be there.  It's just one game out of 162 this season, but for me it means much more.  Friday is the 50th anniversary of the first major-league game I attended.

J.D. Martinez returns to face Detroit Tigers, ‘my home team’  —  If it was up to J.D. Martinez, the Detroit Tigers would have won.  Maybe then, he wouldn't have been traded.  —  “It wasn't up to me,” Martinez said during All-Star Game festivities this past week.  “It wasn't my fault.”

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 …

For starters: Rays open second half at home vs. Marlins  —  Greetings from Tropicana Field, where the Rays come out of the All-Star break with a three-game series against the Marlins.  Here's the lineup for Tampa Bay, which dropped two of three to the Marlins

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 …

Milwaukee Brewers players shocked by Josh Hader's tweets, but willing to hear him out  —  What would normally have been a low-key, voluntary workout for the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on Thursday took on a decidedly different tone in the wake of the Josh Hader controversy.

Column: Instead of fixing what's wrong with baseball, it's time to appreciate what's right  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Appearing before a Senate subcommittee on antitrust and monopoly on July 9, 1958, Yankees manager Casey Stengel gave a couple of long-winded and convoluted answers to the questions of Sen. Estes Kefauver.

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?

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.

8 things to know about new Cubs pitcher Jesse Chavez  —  The Cubs Thursday got right-hander Jesse Chavez from the Rangers.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs Thursday obtained right-hander Jesse Chavez from the Rangers, giving up lefty Tyler Thomas, who was 3-5 with a 2.88 ERA at low Class A South Bend.

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,” …

Nationals hope Strasburg's return a difference vs. Braves  —  WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals starting rotation gets a much-needed boost Friday night with the return of Stephen Strasburg.  —  The right-hander, out since exiting his start on June 8 with right shoulder inflammation …

Salute to Utley, one of the last true ‘baseball players’  —  In the fairly mediocre baseball movie filmed in Philadelphia, Stealing Home, Mark Harmon played a high school baseball star.  Thirteen years after high school he was playing in a semi-pro league and his girlfriend was asked what position he played.

Eight starters?  For Dodgers, too much pitching is a good problem  —  LOS ANGELES — It is a good problem, Dave Roberts will admit, but it torments him nonetheless.  His Los Angeles Dodgers will begin the season's second half with what appears to be an excess of quality starting pitchers …

Rangers put Nomar Mazara on DL, call up Willie Calhoun  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have put outfielder Nomar Mazara on the 10-day disabled list and recalled outfielder Willie Calhoun from Triple-A Round Rock.  —  The Rangers made the moves Friday before hosting the Cleveland Indians …

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 …

Severino Finds Stardom Thanks to Yanks Enemy Turned Ace Whisperer Pedro Martinez  —  WASHINGTON — It started quietly two winters ago.  Then, slowly, word seeped out: Two Red Sox legends had decided to help a young Yankee.  —  Now, those whispers are about to lead to a lot of squirming and shouting.