Will Cole Hamels deliver as the Cubs' big deadline pickup?  —  PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs are hoping that now — finally — is the time.  Time for their much talked about starting rotation to take command and lead the way to the team's fourth straight playoff appearance.

Nationals DFA Shawn Kelley after tantrum on mound  —  The Washington Nationals have designated reliever Shawn Kelley for assignment, one day after he threw a tantrum on the mound following a home run.  —  In the ninth inning of Washington's 25-4 drubbing of the New York Mets on Tuesday …

Orioles' Adam Jones explains why he nixed trade to Phillies: ‘I earned this’  —  The Baltimore Orioles were active at the non-waiver trade deadline, trading six players in multiple trades over the course of a couple of weeks.  —  But one player remained on the roster — veteran center fielder Adam Jones.

MLB trade deadline winners and losers: Pirates win with big Chris Archer move  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Josh Harrison and Chris Archer were roommates while playing together with the Cubs' Class A team in Peoria nine years ago.  —  Now the old friends are reuniting after the Pirates pulled off …

Who might have won the World Series at the deadline — or lost it?  —  That was a fun deadline, as trades trickled in over two weeks, and then we ended up with a rush of activity in the final 24 hours.  What made this trade period especially unique was that most teams in playoff contention made multiple trades.

Last Slide  —  The diagnosis on Jake Lamb's left-shoulder injury took a turn for the worse Tuesday with word that the Diamondbacks third baseman has fraying in his rotator cuff, according to manager Torey Lovullo.  —  One course of treatment, Lovullo said, is surgery, a route that would bring an end to his season.

Lance Lynn could make first start for New York Yankees Saturday against Red Sox  —  Abbey Mastracco, Staff Writer, @AbbeyMastracco  —  NEW YORK — When Lance Lynn walks into a room, he commands attention.  He's 6-foot-5 and 280, give or take a pound or two, and his extended chest prompted …

Rays Designate Adeiny Hechavarria  —  The Rays have designated shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria for assignment, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter).  That opens a roster spot for newly-acquired outfielder Tommy Pham.  —  Hechavarria, 29, has long been viewed as a talented defender …

Matt Harvey plans to speak to New York media when the Reds open series against the Mets on Monday  —  Get ready, New York.  The one-time Dark Knight of Gotham is ready to talk.  —  The Reds told the Daily News Wednesday that the club is working on a plan to have Matt Harvey be made available …

Miley shuts down Dodgers in Brewers' 1-0 win  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) Wade Miley is a Louisiana guy with an affinity for Hollywood.  —  Miley remained undefeated at Dodger Stadium, delivering seven scoreless innings in the Milwaukee Brewers' 1-0 win over Los Angeles on Tuesday night …

Outfielder Preston Tucker hoping to take advantage of opportunities with Cincinnati Reds  —  Homer Bailey discusses his 3-hit, complete game outing in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.  It was his first complete game since 2014.  Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer  —  CONNECT

Franklin Perez's lost year shows risks of Detroit Tigers' rebuilding  —  Recorded July 28, 2018 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press  —  It was lost in the shuffle of the next day's trade deadline, earning a headline but not the kind of attention it deserved.

After controversial Houston Astros trade, questions linger about domestic violence policy  —  Surveillance video from Whataburger Field shows then Hooks player Danry Vasquez and his fiancée on Aug. 3, 2016.  The Houston Astros, a parent club, later released him and he's been let go by the Lancaster Barnstormers.

Gray, Yankees flop in 7-5 loss to lowly Orioles  —  Sonny Gray was chased in the third inning by the team with worst record in the majors, big league-loss leader  —  Alex Cobb ended a nine-start winless streak and the  —  New York Yankees 7-5 Wednesday.  —  Despite what appeared …

CBS Sports gives the Diamondbacks an A for their trades (only three teams received A's)  —  Dayn Perry writes: “Assuming health, the D-Backs already have a strong rotation.  Add these names to an already strong bullpen, and you've got a relief corps that compares favorably to that of any team not named the Yankees.