Red Sox ‘shooting for’ Chris Sale (shoulder) to return Wednesday  —  The Boston Red Sox are aiming for ace lefty Chris Sale to return to the mound Wednesday against the Blue Jays in Toronto, manager Alex Cora said before Thursday night's series opener against the New York Yankees.

Yankees' Sonny Gray says tweet ‘an inside joke’ directed at a friend  —  NEW YORK — For nearly three innings Wednesday, New York Yankees starter Sonny Gray turned in one of his worst pitching outings he has had in what has been an inconsistent season.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS

Eloy Jimenez still waiting for White Sox call-up: 'I'm going to be ready' for opportunity  —  Photos of the White Sox outfielder and No. 4-ranked prosepct by Baseball America.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Eloy Jimenez insists he is as much in the dark about his possible promotion to the White Sox …

Cincinnati Reds manager Jim Riggleman happy to be back to managing in his hometown  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. - Jim Riggleman was back to where he made a decision that could have ended his chances of managing in the big leagues again.  —  Riggleman walked away from the Washington Nationals managing job …

What of Niko Goodrum's future?  How many games will Tigers lose next season?  Who will be the 2019 shortstop?  Offseason trades?  —  Hall of Fame weekend has passed, as has the non-waiver trade deadline, and the dog days of summer are officially here for the Detroit Tigers and those who write about them.

Last Slide  —  History was made Thursday night.  —  Right-handed pitcher Brad Ziegler, re-acquired by the Diamondbacks before the trade deadline, became the first Arizona reliever to use the team's bullpen cart when he made his appearance in the seventh inning against the Giants.

Orioles, Cashner run into a buzz saw in Texas, lose to Rangers, 17-8  —  Orioles starter Andrew Cashner could have been forgiven for cursing the fates and his lack of run support any number of times this year, but not Thursday night.  —  He came back to Globe Life Park after delivering …

Column: Time for the Cubs to capitalize on a favorable schedule  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs are .500 since the All-Star break and remain a game ahead of the Brewers in a tight division race that look like it will be competitive until the end.  —  While August has been a month the Cubs …

Brave new world as Atlanta visits Mets  —  NEW YORK — For the Atlanta Braves, this weekend will be about getting a look at the two new players they acquired in hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time in five years.  For the New York Mets, this weekend will be about seeing …

Grandal rallies Dodgers over Brewers 6-4 in 10  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brian Dozier began his first game for the Los Angeles Dodgers with an error and then got better quickly.  —  Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run homer — his second of the game — in the 10th inning, and Dozier homered …

Rick Ankiel finds ‘good place’ and pitches for first time since 2004  —  Rick Ankiel took the mound Wednesday night at Louisville Slugger Field and struck out the only batter he faced on four pitches.  —  On the surface, it was a minor moment in a blowout game in an exhibition tournament played by past-their-prime former MLB players.

Pablo Sandoval To Undergo Hamstring Surgery  —  Pablo Sandoval's season for the Giants is over, as he'll require surgery to repair a “significant” tear in his hamstring, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters (Twitter links via USA Today's Bob Nightengale and NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic).