Why Cincinnati Reds say 'no one's worried' about 6-game skid during important stretch  —  The Cincinnati Reds have one of the youngest teams in the major leagues ‒ a team that got younger with last month's debut of Elly De La Cruz and younger still with Monday's debut of Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

Francisco Alvarez hits two homers, Mets escape with win after nearly blowing 7-run lead vs. White Sox  —  How the mighty have fallen.  —  The Mets and the Chicago White Sox were popular favorites to contend at the start of the season, but by the time the two met Tuesday night at Citi Field each …

If Shohei Ohtani is available, Orioles should go for it; plus Yankees' deadline direction and more  —  Sign up for The Windup newsletter |  Levi Weaver and Ken Rosenthal deliver expert analysis on the biggest MLB stories every weekday.  Get it sent to your inbox.

Padres DFA infielder Rougned Odor, demote catcher Austin Nola  —  The struggling San Diego Padres designated infielder Rougned Odor for assignment and demoted catcher Austin Nola to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday.  —  San Diego also activated catcher Luis Campusano (thumb) from the 60-day injured list …

Homer-prone Tyler Wells yields 5 early runs and Orioles commit 4 errors in second straight loss to Dodgers, 10-3  —  Tyler Wells' home run problem wasn't actually one until Tuesday night.  —  Wells emerged in the first half of the season as the Orioles' best starting pitcher …

MLB trade deadline 2023: Hypothetical Ohtani blockbusters  —  Two weeks before the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline, the Los Angeles Angels are hovering around the .500 mark, which leaves one question hanging over the entire sport: Will the Halos trade free-agent-to-be Shohei Ohtani?

Sources: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred expected to be re-elected in vote next week  —  A re-election vote for commissioner Rob Manfred is scheduled for next week and he's expected to have sufficient support for another term, people close to the process who were not authorized to speak publicly told The Athletic.

Start of Orioles-Dodgers game Wednesday delayed 41 minutes as grounds crew works on wet field  —  Despite the sun shining above Camden Yards on Wednesday afternoon, the Orioles' series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers was delayed 41 minutes as the team's grounds crew tended to a rain-soaked infield.

Bryce Harper's delayed start at first base adds layers to Phillies' trade deadline  —  PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper has a cold.  He ran a 101-degree fever Tuesday night and had lost his voice by Wednesday afternoon.  But he still joined his teammates for infield practice.

Red Sox lose one DFA'd pitcher to A's on waivers, keep another after he clears waivers  —  The Red Sox kept one veteran pitcher who they had designated for assignment and lost another via waivers Wednesday.  —  Boston announced that righty Jake Faria cleared waivers and was sent back to Triple …

Where's Matt Mervis?  Why the Cubs first-base prospect is still at Triple A, for now  —  CHICAGO — When Jed Hoyer was recently asked if the needs of this current Cubs team had changed over the last few months, he didn't have to think very much about his answer.  —  “I don't think it really has,” Hoyer said.