Reds' bright future has SI writer predicting ‘mid-2019 bandwagon hop’  —  The Cincinnati Reds' success since a nightmarish 3-18 start to the season has a Sports Illustrated writer considering positioning himself for “a mid-2019 bandwagon hop.”  —  “You've got to give this team a lot of credit …

White Sox OF Avisail Garcia told to take care to protect his ailing hamstring  —  White Sox manager Rick Renteria says Avisail Garcia is playing through a “tight hammy” but wants him to limit his explosiveness on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.  (Phil Thompson/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Pace of Manny trade talks accelerates; an unlikely All-Star; deadline market is flooded; more notes  —  As Manny Machado's world turns:  —  *The Baltimore Orioles want to act sooner rather than later, knowing they almost certainly will receive a greater return if they trade Machado …

Angels' Shohei Ohtani activated from DL, will DH in Tuesday's game  —  The Angels have activated Shohei Ohtani from the disabled list.  He will DH in Tuesday night's game at Seattle, batting sixth.  —  The two-way star has been out since June 6 with a Grade 2 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament …

Love yourself: Shane Bieber trusts his stuff, makes believers out of Indians  —  OAKLAND - Now that he has claimed a regular spot in the Cleveland Indians' rotation, Shane Bieber knows he'll get to make his third home start next Monday.  —  He just doesn't know which walk-up song will greet him.

Bryce Harper's new position interest is long-shot Yankees path  —  The Nationals surely weren't showcasing him, but Bryce Harper might have shown another way he could get to the Yankees next year.  —  The outfielder put in pregame work Monday afternoon taking ground balls at first base …

Rays, Marlins and an idea for a Citrus Series trophy  —  Ah, the Citrus Series.  Is there anything like Rays-Marlins in July?  Well, yes, there is.  They don't even hand out a trophy anymore to the season series winner, though they did when they began playing each other in 1998.  —  It's easy to see why.

Detroit Tigers takeaways: How adding Jim Adduci impacts James McCann  —  TORONTO — It was looking really bleak, at least on paper.  —  After snapping an 11-game losing streak, the Detroit Tigers won the final two games of a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

LEADING OFF: Kershaw tries again for win, Realmuto on a roll  —  Here's a look at what's happening around the majors today:  —  RECOVERING ACE  —  Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw goes for his first win in 2 1/2 months when he faces Pittsburgh in the middle game of the teams' three-game series in Los Angeles.

Gleyber Torres out of Yankees lineup with hip stiffness  —  Yankees manager Aaron Boone talks about Gleyber Torres's condition Pete Caldera, Staff Writer, @pcaldera  —  NEW YORK - Since his arrival at Yankee Stadium in late April, Gleyber Torres hasn't spent much time on the bench.

Kris Bryant's return from DL delayed at least until Friday  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses the team's confidence level after beating the Tigers on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Kris Bryant won't be cleared to return to the Cubs …

Braves activate closer Arodys Vizcaino, on DL with shoulder inflammation  —  The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves activated closer Arodys Vizcaino from the disabled list on Tuesday.  —  The right-handed reliever was placed on the DL on June 24 with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Jose Bautista gives Mets advice during return to Toronto as veteran continues to prove valuable in clubhouse  —  TORONTO — Hours before batting practice, Jose Bautista was wandering around the outfield at the Rogers Centre.  —  The veteran outfielder had prowled the nooks and crannies …

There's a slight chance Yankees go over luxury tax, but either way they will spend considerably for a pitcher  —  The man who signs the checks says the Yankees still have “considerable” dollars to spend this summer, especially if it means acquiring a frontline starting pitcher …

Brett Gardner fined for playing too slowly  —  Brett Gardner won't be able to continue taking his time getting into the batter's box, or he will continue to feel it in his wallet.  —  The veteran outfielder has been fined roughly $3,500 for six violations of baseball's pace-of-play policy …

MLB midseason awards: Mike Trout is the AL MVP  —  Baseball is just past the halfway point of the 162-game season, with some teams (Boston, New York Yankees) building Secretariat-like leads over the rest of the pack and others (Baltimore, Kansas City) so far out of contention they could be mathematically eliminated in early August.

Yoenis Cespedes is finally able to run again; Noah Syndergaard throws 50 pitches in sim game  —  TORONTO — Yoenis Cespedes has begun running again.  The Mets slugger, who has been out since May 14 with a “mild strain of his right hip flexor,” ran 60-yard “dashes” on Monday, according to manager Mickey Callaway.

Joe Maddon calls Dexter Fowler's situation with Cardinals ‘unfortunate’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Manager Joe Maddon described the situation between former Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler and the Cardinals as “unfortunate” in the wake of pointed words expressed Monday by Cardinals president John Mozeliak.

Column: Cubs schedule quirk sets up enjoyable month of day baseball at Wrigley Field  —  Photos from the Cubs-Tigers game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Strange but true: The Cubs find themselves in the middle of a monthlong stretch with no night games scheduled at Wrigley Field.