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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Craig Kimbrel no longer with Iowa Cubs, signs point to imminent Chicago Cubs' call-up  —  Craig Kimbrel should be closing for the Chicago Cubs very soon.  —  According to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation, Kimbrel is no longer with the Iowa Cubs.