Dodgers hit 3 homers for 51 in June, beat Cubs 7-5  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — After an anemic first couple months of the season, the Dodgers are powering balls out of the stadium at a near record rate.  —  Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger each hit a solo home run, Joc Pederson added a two-run shot …

Chris Bosio ‘crushed’ by Tigers firing, insists he did not direct slur toward employee  —  Chris Bosio still can't grasp why he was sitting in his Detroit apartment Thursday afternoon instead of on the bench at Comerica Park, unable to accept his abrupt firing as the Detroit Tigers pitching coach.

CC Sabathia, Friday's starter for Yankees, calls Red Sox tilt biggest series yet this season  —  With the Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles in the rearview mirror, the only team the Yankees have to likely worry about in their division the rest of the season is their blood rivals, the Red Sox …

Column: There's no telling how long the White Sox rebuild will take  —  White Sox manager Rick Renteria talks about 36-year-old pitcher James Shields making himself ‘relevant.’ (Phil Thompson/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The White Sox reach the midway point of the 2018 season Friday …

In wake of feud with Cubs, Sammy Sosa remains adamant about not using PEDs  —  Sammy Sosa hit 609 home runs in his major league career, 545 of them with the Chicago Cubs.  But he and the team are locked in a standoff over suggestions that he hit most of them with the assistance of performance enhancing drugs.

Cincinnati Reds notebook: Hunter Greene continues to pitch well; Nick Senzel has surgery  —  Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani discusses his third-inning grand slam in an 11-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.  It was the first grand slam by a Reds pitcher since 1959.  The Enquirer/Bobby Nightengale

MLB players survey: Sounding off on umps, shifts, steroids - and whether to strike back  —  After decades of labor peace and undeniable prosperity, Major League Baseball players have experienced a tumultuous few years.  —  An aggressive commissioner has threatened to unilaterally alter the way the game is played.

Rays journal: Debate continues over Romo's outburst  —  ST. PETERSBURG — There was plenty said to both extremes about RHP Sergio Romo having his say with Washington's Michael A. Taylor at the end of Tuesday's game.  —  Some defended the Rays reliever for defending the game in chastising Taylor …

Iowa Cubs reliever Alberto Baldonado selected to play in Triple-A All-Star Game  —  Iowa manager Marty Pevey is headed to the Triple-A All-Star Game with some company.  —  Alberto Baldonado, a left-handed reliever, was selected to play for the Pacific Coast League All-Star team in the Triple …

As Phillies find their way, playing teams like the Yankees helps |  Bob Ford  —  The three-day invasion of Citizens Bank Park by fans who have endured the lifelong burden of front-running with the most successful franchise in baseball history came to a blessed end on Wednesday evening.

Yankees rumors: Michael Fulmer interest reported, is deal possible?  —  It is no secret the Yankees are looking to bolster their rotation with another impact starter.  —  That search apparently included Michael Fulmer, per Fancred's Jon Heyman, as the Yankees are one of several teams to check in on the Tigers starter's availability.

Resurgent Reds take on first-place Brewers  —  The Cincinnati Reds are much better now than they were a month into the season, and it's partly because Anthony DeSclafani is much better than they anticipated.  —  Not only DeSclafani, the pitcher.  DeSclafani, the hitter, too.