Manny Machado sweepstakes are underway - and Dodgers are favorites to acquire him  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing it coy, acting as if they can't take on money, won't give up prized prospects, and aren't hellbent on returning to the World Series again.  —  Don't be fooled.

Cubs' Hendricks looks to pull plug on Dodgers' power  —  LOS ANGELES — At 48 home runs this month and counting, the Los Angeles Dodgers are closing in fast on a franchise record that, while impressive, has not been around all that long.  —  In June of last season, buoyed by the arrival …

Mets ownership challenges John Ricco in Sandy Alderson's absence  —  NEW YORK — One day after Mets' general manager Sandy Alderson announced his leave of absence to undergo cancer treatments and then essentially stepped down from his post, assistant general manager John Ricco was able to shed …

Manny Machado apologizes for not hustling to first base: ‘It looks bad’  —  Orioles slugger Manny Machado apologized Wednesday for not running out a double-play ball a night earlier in a loss to the Seattle Mariners.  —  The game in Baltimore was tied 1-1 in the sixth inning when the Orioles loaded the bases on three straight singles.

Every general manager's No. 1 priority for the second half  —  No MLB team can afford to take a year off.  Whether they are contenders, a year or two away, or heading downhill in need of a rebuild, all teams must work to further their goals.  With inaction not being a reasonable option …

Detroit Tigers players on Bosio's firing: 'It's not a good day here' … The Detroit Tigers announced Wednesday afternoon that they had fired pitching coach Chris Bosio, effective immediately, for insensitive comments made to a team employee that violated team policy.

The best pitching performance ever for all 30 teams  —  On May 4, Gerrit Cole pitched one of the best games you will ever see.  He fired a 16-strikeout shutout against the Diamondbacks, allowing just one hit and one walk.  As a remarkable side note, Cole didn't strike any batters …

Red Sox Sign Second Baseman Brandon Phillips  —  BOSTON (CBS) — With Dustin Pedroia's status still somewhat in question, the Boston Red Sox have added a veteran infielder to the organization.  —  The team on Wednesday signed Brandon Phillips to a minor league deal.

Bregman's 2-run shot gives Houston 7-6 win over Blue Jays  —  HOUSTON — It isn't very often that Alex Bregman whiffs on two straight fastballs, so when he did so in the ninth inning on Wednesday it left Houston's third baseman a bit upset.  —  Fortunately for the Astros …

What happens as baseball players age?  —  23.  —  There are two outs, the bases are empty and the batter is 23.  —  He is, as he steps into the batter's box, the most exciting player in baseball.  As a rookie, he has hit a ball 513 feet in batting practice, thrown a pitch 102.5 mph …

Yankees' Luis Severino powers his way to 12th win, tops in majors  —  PHILADELPHIA — New York Yankees starter Luis Severino employed an electrifying array of triple-digit pitches Tuesday night to overpower the Phillies on his way to sole possession of the league lead in pitchers' wins.

Carpenter homers twice, Cards chase Kluber to thump Indians  —  Matt Carpenter homered twice, matched a career best with five hits and helped chase  —  Corey Kluber in the shortest start of the right-hander's career in the  —  St. Louis Cardinals' 11-2 victory over the  —  Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.

Pirates Put Rodriguez On DL, Recall RHP Anderson  —  PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Pirates put embattled utility man Sean Rodriguez on the 10-day disabled list with a right quadriceps strain on Wednesday.  —  The assignment is retroactive to June 25, so Rodriguez could return July 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Aaron Judge makes 10-year-old Yankee fan's night by having a catch with him in outfield  —  PHILADELPHIA — It was a game of catch that went viral.  —  Four throws with Yankees' superstar Aaron Judge that 10-year-old James Payne will remember for the rest of his life.

Detroit Tigers prospects mailbag: Will Beau Burrows move up soon to Triple-A?  —  Welcome to the weekly Free Press Detroit Tigers prospects mailbag, which is now open to any of your questions.  Submit questions on Twitter @GeorgeSipple or by e-mail at gsipple@freepress.com.

Wait ... Matt Kemp is a star again?  —  In his book, “Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame?” in 1995, Bill James gave us the Keltner List — 15 questions meant to aid the thought process while evaluating the Hall of Fame worthiness of a player.  The first question, and perhaps the most well known …

James Shields takes mound Wednesday hoping to avoid MLB-worst 10th loss  —  White Sox manager Rick Renteria talks about 36-year-old pitcher James Shields making himself ‘relevant.’ (Phil Thompson/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  James Shields (2-9, 4.59) takes on fellow right-hander Kyle Gibson …

Frank Thomas, Jack McDowell, Bo Jackson and Tim Raines headline 1993 White Sox reunion  —  Former White Sox players Frank Thomas, from left, Bo Jackson and Tim Raines will be among a group that will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1993 division champions.  (James C. Svehla / For the Chicago Tribune)

Jayson Werth To Retire  —  Veteran outfielder Jayson Werth tells Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports that he will retire.  He had been with the Mariners organization on a minor-league deal.  —  Though Werth declined to describe the situation in precisely those terms, he told Heyman: “I'm done ... whatever you want to call it.”

Yankees & Mets fans: Meet our writers, talk Subway Series on July 18 at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que  —  It's time to eat, drink and talk baseball!  —  Join The Record and NorthJersey.com's sports writing team on July 18 at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (224 Market Street, Newark) to talk all-things Yankees …