Will Nats actually deal Bryce Harper and other deadline questions  —  It has been the perfect storm for a busy month of trades — there are 11 National League teams in reasonable playoff contention, with the second-best and seventh-best teams separated by just 5½ games …

MLB Trade Rumors: Nationals Say Bryce Harper Is Available, 6 Teams Interested in Chris Archer  —  Which contending teams will shake up their roster and make a deal before today's trade deadline?  —  Today is the day.  —  The MLB no-waiver trade deadline is rapidly approaching and there have already been a ton of deals.

Hernandez's HR in 12th, leads Giants to 5-3 win over Padres  —  SAN DIEGO — Their early 3-0 lead long gone, the San Francisco Giants got some big plays late to had the free-falling San Diego Padres their sixth straight loss.  —  Gorkys Hernandez hit a go-ahead home run leading off the 12th inning …

Braves' Sean Newcomb apologizes to team for inflammatory tweets  —  Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb apologized to his teammates on Monday for racist, homophobic and sexist tweets he sent as a teenager.  —  Newcomb's apology was delivered in a meeting attended by players, coaches, manager Brian Snitker and Atlanta staff.

Dodgers experience technical difficulties in more ways than one during 5-2 loss to Brewers  —  Vin Scully had been silenced.  That's when you knew something had gone haywire.  —  There was an omen in the first inning.  The right-field scoreboard was not working properly.

Next Slide  —  A season which was on the road to being salvaged has ended.  —  Franklin Perez, the Detroit Tigers' No. 1 prospect at midseason, is out for the season.  —  Perez left his start on July 26 with shoulder tightness, which was diagnosed by an MRI test as right shoulder capsular inflammation …

Back from DL, Paxton pitches Mariners past Astros  —  James Paxton outdueled Gerrit Cole as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Houston Astros 2-0 Monday night in the opener of a three-game series between the American League West's top two teams.  —  Nelson Cruz hit a two-run double for Seattle …

Luke Gregerson goes on disabled list for third time in 2018  —  The St. Louis Cardinals have placed right-hander Luke Gregerson on the 10-day disabled list for the third time in 2018, and his season may be over.  —  Gregerson hit the DL this time with a right shoulder impingement.

Yankees Acquire Lance Lynn From Twins For Tyler Austin  —  The Twins and Yankees have announced a trade that will send veteran righty Lance Lynn to New York.  First baseman/outfielder Tyler Austin and minor-league right-hander Luis Rijo are headed to Minnesota.  —  Notably, the Twins will also send some cash in the swap.

Last Slide  —  When David Peralta was unexpectedly taken out of Sunday's game in the sixth inning, social media caught fire with speculation that the Diamondbacks' fan favorite might be on the move so close to the trade deadline.  —  However, it was revealed later that Peralta exited with right shoulder tightness.

Column: It's time: Michael Kopech and Eloy Jimenez need to take their talents to the South Side  —  Photos of the White Sox outfielder and No. 4-ranked prosepct by Baseball America.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  If only the White Sox had a way to improve an outfield whose three Sunday starters have combined to hit 17 home runs.

Pirates Acquire Keone Kela  —  The Pirates have officially landed righty Keone Kela from the Rangers, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).  Lefty Taylor Hearn is one of the players in the deal, the Rangers announced.  The other remains a player to be named later.

Rangers turn out lights on Diamondbacks  —  Rougned Odor homered leading off the seventh inning Monday night to snap a tie and lift the  —  Arizona Diamondbacks in a back-and-forth game interrupted by a power outage at Phoenix's Chase Field.  —  Shin-Soo Choo hit a pair of homers for the Rangers …

Detroit Tigers likely won't be sellers as trade deadline expires  —  We unearthed thousands of Free Press photo negatives and one sports writer's score book to tell the tale of baseball's greats.  “Bless you, boys.”  Brian Kaufman, Detroit Free Press  —  CONNECT  —  It is tough to get a ticket out of town these days.