This just might be the best Red Sox team ... ever  —  This fascinates me, more than it probably should: Since the advent of the 162-game schedule, the Boston Red Sox have never won 100 games.  Of course, many franchises have failed to achieve that mark, but it's interesting in Boston's case …

Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Saturday  —  Saturday brings us a full slate of action that features plenty of notable matchups.  The Yankees and Red Sox face off in Game 3 of a four-game set, the Dodgers and Astros meet in a rematch of the 2017 World Series …

Brad Ziegler becomes first Arizona player to use D-backs' bullpen cart  —  PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks brought back an old tradition this season with a bullpen cart.  One problem: None of the Diamondbacks wanted to use it.  —  Brad Ziegler changed that when he entered the game …

Morales, Hauschild key Blue Jays' 7-3 win over Mariners  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  SEATTLE (AP) Mike Hauschild signed his Blue Jays contract a half-hour before and then came on to pitch six impressive innings of relief in his first game in the majors in more than 15 months.

If Phillies front office doesn't believe, you shouldn't either |  Bob Ford  —  The long haul of baseball's regular season has only two months to go, and I still don't know whether to take the Phillies seriously.  It's probably just about time to decide.  —  The standings insist they are contenders …

Holland released; Lyons to Memphis; Bader doesn't start  —  PITTSBURGH  • One of the two relievers the Cardinals designated for assignment a week ago found a new home Friday and the other was released.  —  Lefthander Tyler Lyons has been outrighted to Class AAA Memphis after going through waivers.

Cubs may regret not adding lefty reliever before trade deadline  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have four lefty starters they like, but may not have even one in the bullpen they can count on.  Did they miss the boat as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline passed?  —  EDITOR'S PICKS

Is positionless baseball MLB's next big thing?  —  The team whose work at the trade deadline most intrigued me was easily the Milwaukee Brewers, who made not one but two moves that led to a knee-jerk reaction of, “huh?”  Believe it or not, that's not a criticism.

Rangers' Rougned Odor becomes first player in history to accomplish this feat  —  Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor might be the last player you might expect to set a record with walks, but he did just that on Thursday night.  —  In a 17-8 win against the Orioles …

Bellinger, Pederson, Puig power Dodgers in rout of Brewers  —  Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger (35) is congratulated by Justin Turner, left, and Manny Machado after hitting a grand slam, as Milwaukee Brewers catcher Erik Kratz watches during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, in Los Angeles.

No manager, no coaches, no outfielders, no active starting pitchers remain on Cards roster from this time two years ago  —  PITTSBURGH  • If you thought there had been some staff and roster churn lately as the Cardinals try to find some level other than level .500, consider what has happened since Aug. 5, in 2016.

Cubs scheduled to play Pirates in 2019 home opener  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs will open the home portion of the 2019 regular season on April 8 against the Pirates, according to a major-league source with knowledge of the rough draft of the scheduled that has yet to be finalized.

Tommy La Stella starts at third against Padres  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Tommy La Stella starts at third base and Javier Baez moves to shortstop Friday in the second game of the Cubs' four-game series against the Padres.  —  The Cubs retained their one-game lead in the NL Central …