Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Saturday  —  We've officially hit the second half of the MLB season, with more than half of 2018's games now in the books.  To celebrate, we have a smorgasbord of hurlers, ranging from Chris Sale and Justin Verlander at the top …

Detroit Tigers' Daniel Stumpf has no knowledge of spider monkey nickname  —  Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Stumpf has told the Detroit Free Press that he has no knowledge of the nickname “spider monkey,” which fired pitching coach Chris Bosio said he called him and was fired for when it was taken out of context, according to Bosio.

Astros beat Rays 1-0 for 11th straight road win  —  The Astros have won Lance McCullers' last six starts and have won 18 of 21 overall.  Their latest win matched the club record set last May 14-June 5 on the way to winning the franchise's first World Series title.

Cubs emphasize positives after salvaging up-and-down trip  —  LOS ANGELES — Perhaps Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon's analysis of his team's woeful-looking road trip was spot on.  —  “The Reds are screwing this whole thing up,” Maddon said before the Cubs' 11-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Midseason awards, bad All-Star positions and MLB's next big thing  —  At some point Friday evening, the 1,215th final score of the 2018 Major League Baseball championship season will be entered in the logs.  It's the natural halfway point — peak baseball — when we have as many games behind us as we do ahead.

Seranthony Dominguez proves he has the short memory required to be an excellent reliever |  Extra Innings  —  Aaron Nola did it again.  For the seventh time in 11 starts, the Phillies' ace righthander allowed fewer than two runs.  His latest gem — a 114-pitch mastery of the Nationals …

Kris Bryant's injury eases the Cubs' Albert Almora Jr.-Ian Happ debate  —  Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. on Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw's exit: ‘It worked for our favor’ (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  In assessing the Albert Almora Jr.-Ian Happ situation …

Joey Votto says benches-clearing incident against Brewers was a ‘misunderstanding’  —  After watching a called strike in his second at-bat of Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Joey Votto turned toward home-plate umpire Roberto Ortiz.  —  Votto stepped out of the batter's box and appeared to say a few words.

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

Padres happy to be back home vs. Pirates  —  SAN DIEGO — There will be a double homecoming Friday night at Petco Park.  —  Right-hander Joe Musgrove, who was born and raised 20 minutes east of San Diego in El Cajon, will be facing the Padres for the first time as the starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Willians Astudillo recalled after Twins place Taylor Motter on concussion DL  —  CHICAGO — As it turned out Taylor Motter's postgame optimism was overstated.  —  One day after the super utility man crashed into the outfield wall at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Twins placed Motter on the seven-day concussion disabled list.