Fear Machado in L.A.?  Cubs focused on own deadline pursuits  —  CHICAGO — The biggest domino of trade season fell last week when the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired All-Star Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles.  When the next big one falls, the playoff contenders set to meet at Wrigley Field …

How Alan Trammell became the Detroit Tigers' heartbeat for 20 seasons  —  ALAN TRAMMELL, A MEMBER OF THE 2018 BASEBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS, WON A WORLD SERIES WHILE SPENDING HIS ENTIRE CAREER WITH THE DETROIT TIGERS.  —  Alan Trammell sat in a plane, scribbling notes, working …

Even worse news could be coming for Yoenis Cespedes  —  Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes spoke with reporters at his locker Friday night after appearing in his first major league game in nine weeks.  Cespedes had been on the disabled list recovering from a hip flexor strain …

Chris Sale shuts down Tigers as Red Sox roll to 9-1 victory  —  Chris Sale is drawing comparisons from his manager to another dominant left-hander.  —  “He's reminding me a lot of Randy — Randy Johnson,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.  “The thing with Randy, it looked like he was always grinding.

Phillies demote struggling Aaron Altherr to triple A  —  After playing 18 innings in a day-night doubleheader Sunday and giving Aaron Altherr only one pinch-hit at-bat, the Phillies optioned the struggling outfielder to triple-A Lehigh Valley.  —  Altherr is batting .171 with 80 strikeouts …

Greinke fans 13 in 8 innings, D-backs beat Rockies 6-1  —  PHOENIX (AP) The Colorado Rockies scored 17 runs in winning their first two games in Arizona over the weekend.  —  Then they ran in to Zack Greinke.  —  The Arizona ace shut down one of baseball's most powerful offenses on Sunday …

Yankees hit the road after rainout to play Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — What could have been an extremely difficult turnaround didn't end up so bad.  The New York Yankees' game against the New York Mets on Sunday night was postponed by rain, allowing them to avoid an overnight flight …

Daniel Poncedeleon, the Cardinals pitching prospect who was hit in head by Victor Caratini, will make his MLB debut tonight  —  Daniel Poncedeleon of the St Louis Cardinals pitching during spring training in 2017.  (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)  —  Daniel Poncedeleon, hit in the head …

Trout drives in teammate for 1st time in month; Angels roll over Astros  —  Lance McCullers Jr. (10-5) gave up five runs, six hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings.  He became the first Astros pitcher to walk five or more in consecutive starts since Erik Bedard in July 2013.

Column: Theo Epstein puts himself on the spot to solve Cubs' top concern — pitching depth  —  Cubs President Theo Epstein discusses pitching upgrades and the plan for pitcher Drew Smyly's rehab on Sunday, July 22, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune

Projecting how the rest of the 2018 season will play out  —  With the All-Star Week behind us, it's now only a hop, skip and a jump from the trade deadline, which kicks off the homestretch of the baseball season.  By this point in the year, the Cinderellas and premature pumpkins are more or less determined.

DRAFT MLB Strategy: Monday  —  Building a team on DRAFT's DFS platform is an excellent way to make the action even more exciting than just following your favorite team.  If you aren't familiar with DRAFT's DFS platform, it's an innovative daily fantasy game with a live draft feature …

Indians prospect Richard Palacios, a Towson alumnus, earns quick promotion in minors  —  Former Towson ballplayer Richard Palacios hasn't slowed down.  Nothing less could be expected from the quick-footed shortstop with a slew of college stolen base records.