Mike Napoli’s two-run homer to right-center in the fifth proved to be the difference for the Red Sox in an 5-4 victory over the Reds on Wednesday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

Two days after Manny Machado sprained his right knee during an 11-3 win against the Yankees, the Orioles placed the All-Star third baseman on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Tuesday.

Red Sox left fielder Yoenis Cespedes left Wednesday’s game against the Reds in the seventh inning with a contusion of his right hand. It was unclear how Cespedes sustained the injury.

Jose Altuve, who currently leads the AL with a .339 average, is on pace to be the first player 5-foot-6 or under to hit at least .330 since Hack Wilson in 1930.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips’ progress from left thumb surgery is quickly advancing to its final stages. Phillips could begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Friday, and a return to the big league lineup wasn’t ruled out during the upcoming seven-game road trip.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who has been on the disabled list for the second time since July 8 with a left distal quadriceps strain, still has yet to integrate baseball activity into his rehabilitation.

Giancarlo Stanton, Andrew McCutchen and Clayton Kershaw are ahead of the pack in the NL MVP Award race heading down the stretch.

Despite facing only winning teams for more than a month, the Orioles have fortified their lead in the AL East race.

Lucas Giolito has a better fastball and a better breaking ball than Seattle’s Taijuan Walker, and he has more advanced control and command than Walker did at the same stage. In the long run, Giolito will be a better big leaguer than Walker, and better than any other pitching prospect currently in the Minors.

Mariners prospect Taijuan Walker has already shown an ability to dominate hitters at every level. His most recent start, on Sunday, could be a sign that he’s ready to finish the season strong: seven innings pitched, two hits, one earned run, one walk and 13 strikeouts.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Commissioner Bud Selig, speaking at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday afternoon, declined to speculate on the possible outcome of the vote scheduled for Thursday that could name his successor.

With a 6-3 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night, the Mariners have won seven of the first eight games on a homestand that is arguably the most important for this franchise in the last two decades, in light of the fact that the season is in its final stretch and a postseason berth is at stake.

Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer in the first inning and ace left-hander Chris Sale struck out 12 over eight scoreless innings, but the White Sox needed Gordon Beckham’s two-out RBI single in the 10th to secure a 3-2 victory over the Giants, who rallied in the ninth inning, on Tuesday night at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Kole Calhoun homered and had an RBI single in a seven-run sixth inning and C.J. Wilson delivered a much-needed bounce-back performance as the Angels rallied for a 7-2 win over the Phillies on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

Kyle Seager belted his 15th home run at Safeco on Tuesday, while Chris Young continued his strong pitching in his home park as Seattle topped Toronto, 6-3, and moved into a tie with the Tigers for the second Wild Card spot in the American League standings.

The Indians attempted to wait out the rain on Tuesday night, but persistent showers forced a postponement of their Interleague tilt with the D-backs.