11:32 PM ET Associated Press CHICAGO — Nelson Cruz homered for the seventh time in his last five games, and the slugging Minnesota Twins became the fastest team to reach 200 homers in major league history during a 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. Max Kepler hit a three-run drive in

5:39 PM ET ESPN News Services Max Scherzer, who was only so-so in his return from the injured list Thursday night in a 8-7 loss to the Rockies, had an MRI Friday that revealed a small strain in his back. The Washington Nationals ace told reporters that he had an injection and will take two

7:26 AM ET MILWAUKEE — The calendar still says late July, but there’s bound to be an October feel inside the National League Central playoff race as the Chicago Cubs face off against their top two rivals nine times over the course of the next 10 days. In between two series with the Milwaukee Brewers

2:12 AM ET Associated Press SEATTLE — Mariners second baseman Tim Lopes was hit in the helmet by a pitch during his first major league start Thursday night. Lopes staggered away from the plate after getting beaned by a 91 mph fastball from Detroit Tigers starter Drew VerHagen in the fourth inning. The rookie initially

5:39 PM ET ESPN News Services BOSTON — New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner has been placed on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation, the team announced Thursday. The move was retroactive to Monday. Gardner, who is hitting .243 with 15 homers and 41 RBIs this season, said he hurt the knee while

8:00 AM ET It has been slow going on the trade front so far, but the past few years have shown us activity increasingly happens in the final hours before the July 31 deadline hits at 4 p.m. ET. The fact that so many teams in the National League are still in the playoff race

1:49 AM ET MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly two hours before the first pitch Wednesday night, New York Yankees infielders Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela were sitting in front of their neighboring Target Field lockers, busting out in random, brief bursts of laughter. At the time, Urshela was holding a cardboard box, delivered to the ballpark from

4:30 PM ET ESPN News Services Confusion reigned in the Red Sox–Rays game Wednesday when a series of defensive changes prompted Boston manager Alex Cora to protest the game due to the placement of subs into Tampa Bay’s lineup after the designated hitter was removed. The eighth-inning lineup switch appeared to leave the umpires bewildered

12:14 PM ET Will Madison Bumgarner, Trevor Bauer and other topflight arms move in July deals? The MLB trade deadline is approaching and we’ve got you covered with all of the trade rumors, reaction and analysis you need as your team ponders its next blockbuster move in the first season with one single deadline. Whether

10:58 PM ET WASHINGTON — The Colorado Rockies bring out the best in Trea Turner. On Tuesday, the Washington Nationals shortstop hit for the cycle during an 11-1 win over Colorado, marking the second time in Turner’s career that he has accomplished the feat against the Rockies. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, he’s the