Indians manager Terry Francona dealing with blood-clotting issue  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians might be without manager Terry Francona even longer than expected.  —  Francona has already missed 15 games with a gastrointestinal issue, and Chris Antonetti, the team's president of baseball operations …

Next week's MLB trade deadline is high on risks and rewards for general managers  —  Those dog days of summer sure flew by.  —  Here we are one week until the trade deadline and five weeks before the end of the regular season, and no one is quite sure what to make of the Major League Baseball season.

Blue Jays eyeing Bucs pitchers (sources)  —  Longstanding friendships between the Blue Jays' and Pirates' front offices nearly helped Toronto play its 2020 home games at Pittsburgh's PNC Park.  —  While Pennsylvania's state government ultimately rejected that agreement …

Braves Promote Ian Anderson, Activate Ronald Acuna Jr.  —  The Braves announced this morning that they've selected the contract of top pitching prospect Ian Anderson and reinstated outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. from the injured list.  Anderson will make his Major League debut and start tonight's game.

Angels-Astros series shifted ahead of Tropical Storm Laura  —  MLB, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels  —  HOUSTON — The Astros' game against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday has been moved to Tuesday and will be played as part of a doubleheader because of Tropical Storm Laura.

Mets Place Nido, Gimenez On Injured List; Juan Lagares/Patrick Mazeika Selected  —  The Mets have placed infielder Andres Gimenez and catcher Tomas Nido on the injured list, the club announced.  Outfielder Juan Lagares and catcher Patrick Mazeika will be replacing them on the active roster …

Yankees Activate Aaron Judge, Place Luis Avilan On 10-Day IL, Recall Andujar/Kriske  —  Slugger Aaron Judge will make his return to the Yankees tonight, as the club announced that Judge has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list.  Lefty Luis Avilan, however, has been placed on the 10-day IL …

Athletics-Rangers Preview  —  The Texas Rangers will look to build on one of their biggest wins of the year and pull closer to the Oakland Athletics when the two teams play the second of a four-game American League West series on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

For Minor League Teams, Desperation Breeds Innovation  —  Will anyone ever look back at 2020 wistfully?  —  We're in the middle of a year that will likely be a test item for our great-grandkids' history classes, which isn't exactly something that seems all that enjoyable to be living through in the present.

Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols now second on career RBI list  —  Los Angeles Angels star Albert Pujols is now alone in second place on the MLB career RBI list.  —  Pujols passed Alex Rodriguez on the list with an RBI single in the fifth inning of Monday night's 11-4 loss to the Astros in Houston.