Can the Diamondbacks be something more than perfectly mediocre this season?  —  Like investing for retirement, baseball is the ultimate long game, more accurately judged over a lengthy period of time, not daily.  —  But there are defining times within a season, ones in which fortunes pivot.

Taylor, Muncy help Dodgers stage another late win over Rox  —  Chris Taylor drove in the go-ahead run with a bloop single as part of a four-run ninth,  —  Max Muncy hit two of Los Angeles' six homers and the  —  Dodgers won their 12th straight over Colorado by beating the Rockies 12-8 on Thursday night.

Fans elect historically young NL lineup for All-Star Game  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich have been elected starters for one of the youngest All-Star Game lineups ever, leading the millennial-heavy National League for the Midsummer Classic in Cleveland.

Marcus Stroman Has ‘Come to Terms’ With Blue Jays Inevitably Trading Him  —  NEW YORK — Say goodbye to the Blue Jays.  —  Edwin Encarnación already has.  He checked his math this week, then re-checked it:  —  Justin Smoak ... Encarnación had

Trout: MLB asks about HR Derby ‘every year’  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — No, Mike Trout will not be participating in this year's Home Run Derby.  Yes, Major League Baseball keeps trying.  —  “Every year,” Trout said.  “Every year they ask me.”  —  Trout, an All-Star starter for the seventh consecutive year …

Report: Rays to call up top two-way prospect Brendan McKay to start on Saturday  —  Shohei Ohtani may not be able to pitch this season, but the next great two-way star is here.  —  According to a report from the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin, the  —  Tampa Bay Rays will promote top prospect Brendan McKay to start on Saturday.

Brewers To Promote Keston Hiura, Option Travis Shaw To Triple-A  —  The Brewers are bringing top prospect Keston Hiura back to the majors, The Athletic's Robert Murray reports (Twitter link).  In a corresponding move, the struggling Travis Shaw will head down to Triple-A.

Jay Bruce and Phillies complete another Mets meltdown with walk-off win  —  PHILADELPHIA — That was the spot, Stephen Nogosek said, that pitchers dream of as kids.  The Mets were tied in the 10th against the Phillies, who sport a good lineup, and the rookie was summoned to send it to the 11th.

Bell, Dickerson lead Pirates to 14-2 rout of Astros  —  Corey Dickerson had four hits and three RBIs, and rookie Dario Agrazal threw six strong innings to earn his first major league win as the  —  Houston Astros 14-2 on Wednesday night.  —  Bell connected off rookie

Taylor and Chapman back Mengden as A's beat Cardinals 2-0  —  Matt Chapman homered, and Daniel Mengden pitched six scoreless innings to lead the  —  Oakland Athletics to a 2-0 win over the  —  St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.  —  Mengden (2-1) gave up four hits and struck out five for his first win since May 18 at Detroit.

Minor goes the distance as Rangers beat Tigers 4-1  —  Mike Minor allowed five hits in his second complete game of the year, and  —  Danny Santana homered in the fifth inning to lift the  —  Texas Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the  —  Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.