HALLADAY UPDATE, PHILS AS FRONTRUNNERS  —  I have talked to a half-dozen baseball executives this morning and the general consensus is that the Phillies should be viewed as the front-runner if Roy Halladay does get traded.  Boy the news keeps getting worse and worse for the Mets.

BLUE JAYS RELEASE RYAN, ACTIVATE DOWNS  —  The Toronto Blue Jays gave reliever B.J. Ryan his unconditional release and activated left-hander Scott Downs from the 15-day disabled list and on Wednesday.  —  Ryan, 33, had appeared in 25 games this season, posting a 1-1 record with just two saves and an ERA of 6.53.

Bartolo Colon still slated to start minor-league rehab Thursday night  —  The White Sox have received assurances that disabled pitcher Bartolo Colon will make his first minor-league rehabilitation start as scheduled Thursday night for Triple-A Charlotte.  —  A Knights spokesman said Colon …

Sources: Rockies, BoSox explore trade options  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on the FSN Baseball Report and MLB on FOX.  —  add this  —  The Rockies have discussed a Garrett Atkins-for-Takashi Saito trade with the Red Sox …

Kawakami pitches Braves past Cubs 4-1  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Kenshin Kawakami shut down the Chicago Cubs for six innings and shortstop Yunel Escobar made a run-saving defensive play in the eighth, helping preserve the Atlanta Braves' 4-1 victory Wednesday.  —  GAME REPORT: Braves 4, Cubs 1

Strike three for Lenny Dykstra: Former Met files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection  —  It's strike three - and Chapter 11 - for Lenny Dykstra.  —  The one-time Mets hero, facing divorce, foreclosure on his mansion and a multitude of lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy protection in California, his attorney said Wednesday.

Lopez leaves early, but feeling better  —  Righty out after five innings with shoulder inflammation  —  PHILADELPHIA — Phillies starter Rodrigo Lopez left Wednesday night's game against the Reds after five innings with right shoulder inflammation.  —  Lopez began feeling tightness in the fifth.

French fried: Tigers rookie outpitches Greinke, Detroit wins 3-1  —  DETROIT (AP) — Rookie Lucas French outdueled Zack Greinke and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Wednesday night.  —  French (1-0) beat Greinke in just his second career start, holding the Royals to one run and six hits in 6 1-3 innings.

All-Star Wakefield gets AL-leading 11th win  —  BOSTON (AP) — First-time All-Star Tim Wakefield earned his AL-leading 11th victory, and David Ortiz homered and drove in four runs to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Oakland Athletics 5-4 Wednesday night.  —  GAME REPORT: Red Sox 5, Athletics 4

Putting the pieces together  —  Picked up pieces while waiting for 'Sheed to pick up his first “T.”  —  Until I saw the Dos Equis commercials, I thought Schill was the most interesting man in the world.  —  Wonder how many of the Tour de France leaders are cheating?

Tee-hee!  Junior dons one batting glove to honor Michael Jackson  —  strolled to the plate for his first at-bat Tuesday night, the sound system at Safeco Field grooved to Michael Jackson's “Billie Jean.”  —  Griffey's apparent tribute to the King of Pop, who was memorialized Tuesday, extended beyond the sonic.

Nats' Young, ex-All Star, plays heart out  —  Former All-Star wants another shot in bigs, but will a team give him an opportunity?  —  BOWIE |  Dmitri Young had a dream about a week ago, one of those clear-as-day dreams that become imprinted in your mind long after you've awoken and returned to reality.

VICTORINO CLUTCH AS PHILLIES EDGE REDS  —  The Sports Network  —  Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Shane Victorino singled in the game- winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Phillies a 3-2 victory over the Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

Burnett wins third straight, Yankees hold on to beat Twins 4-2  —  MINNEAPOLIS — A.J. Burnett won his third straight start, and Brett Gardner's two-run single helped the New York Yankees build an early lead and beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Wednesday night.

METS ACTIVATE LHP OLIVER PEREZ  —  The Sports Network  —  Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Mets activated pitcher Oliver Perez from the 15-day disabled list and he started Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  —  Perez took the mound for the Mets for the first time since May 2.