Verlander: MLB juicing balls for more offense  —  CLEVELAND — American League All-Star Game starter Justin Verlander told ESPN on Monday that the balls used in Major League Baseball games this season are “a f—ing joke” and that he believes “100 percent” that the league has implemented juiced balls to increase offense.

Mets' Pete Alonso could always hit, even as a South Tampa kid  —  The success of the Plant High alumnus doesn't surprise his youth baseball teammates.  —  Spencer Trayner looked on from the parking lot as a young Pete Alonso, a teammate on the Salty Dogs, climbed out of his car and tumbled face …

Canadian Mike Soroka rides fast track with Braves to MLB All-Star Game  —  CLEVELAND — Looking back on it now, it was perhaps inevitable that pitcher Mike Soroka and general manager Alex Anthopoulos would eventually end up together in the major leagues.  —  That it happened had a little …

All-Star Game: Updates, Highlights and Commentary From the Midsummer Classic  —  SI baseball writers Emma Baccellieri and Matt Martell will be providing live updates, highlights and commentary throughout the 2019 MLB All-Star Game.  All times listed are EST.  —  Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal leads off the eighth with a walk.

Comeback looks unlikely as Ankiel nears what agent Boras calls ‘decision time’  —  CLEVELAND — The comeback idea, hatched almost a year ago when he returned to the mound on a lark, has likely ended for Rick Ankiel before it could truly start this summer.  —  Ankiel is reaching a “decision time …

As Indians' past and present collide at All-Star Game, will they make the same mistake with Francisco Lindor?  —  CLEVELAND —They were traded for each other 11 years ago to the day Monday, and for the first time, New York Yankees veteran starter CC Sabathia and Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley actually met.

Rob Manfred On Minor-League Pay Negotiations  —  Yesterday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred discussed the long-simmering issue of pay to minor-league players, as Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports (subscription link).  Manfred's office recently launched negotiations with the minor-league governing body known …

The market for Bumgarner; the Cubs' true talent level; the Yankees' search for pitching; more notes  —  The talk is the same at every deadline.  Executives downplay the value of trade targets in conversations not only with reporters, but also with their negotiating partners.

CEO Derrick Hall discusses the Diamondbacks' deadline options, artificial turf and Chase Field's future  —  The season's actual midpoint passed a week ago, but the All-Star break generally is when teams huddle to take stock of their playoff chances.  For the Diamondbacks, that means tough and sobering decisions.

Power Rankings: How far can first-half surprise teams rise?  —  At the midseason break, we can't be too surprised to see that the Dodgers check in at No. 1.  Not only did they get four of five first-place votes, they've polled at No. 1 in each of the past six weeks, and in the top slot in 10 of 14 weeks during the regular season.

David Price nabs 150th victory, Red Sox cap sweep  —  DETROIT — It depends on the day.  Depends on the batter.  —  David Price has been at this for a while, so he's used to adjusting on the fly.  He can manipulate each of his pitches at different speeds better than most.