Darla Holloway, a 4-year-old who was diagnosed two years ago with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was accompanied by her mother, Sherelle, as she sang a rousing rendition of “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch on Tuesday night.

With Dan Uggla back in the Braves’ starting lineup on Wednesday night — batting sixth and playing second base — both team and player were prepared to face the next unknown in dealing with his vision problems that have taken months to adequately correct.

Any scenario that includes an American League pennant and a World Series championship for the 2013 Detroit Tigers also features Justin Verlander pitching like, well, Justin Verlander.

Pitchers need to throw more. That’s the problem, and that’s also the answer when it comes to this epidemic of starters and relievers completing a cycle these days. First, they have impressive outings. Then they encounter aches and pains out of nowhere. After that, they sprint to the disabled list before a trip to a surgeon’s operating table. Here’s the latest: Matt Harvey.

The Pirates on Tuesday satisfied both of their biggest September stretch needs, dealing for outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck from the New York Mets. The two veterans were acquired, along with some cash, for Minor League infielder Dilson Herrera and a player to be named.

The Orioles reinstated infielder Wilson Betemit from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday, setting him up to play for the first time this season after suffering a knee injury in Spring Training. To make room for Betemit’s return, the Orioles optioned infielder Ryan Flaherty to Class A Frederick.

The Royals signed veteran first baseman Carlos Pena to a Minor League contract Tuesday and assigned him to Triple-A Omaha.

MLB.com has doled out $20,005 on the concourses of 25 of the 30 Major League ballparks over the previous 60 overall episodes dating back to last August. Watch the video as the two human resources representatives for SC2, a Caterpillar supply-chain firm in Peoria, Ill., field trivia behind the bleacher bums in an effort to more than cover the cost of a day at the Friendly Confines.

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

While the seasons of the vast majority of Minor League players will end shortly, a group of advanced and talented players knows it will get the chance to head to Arizona to play about 30 more games this fall. Foremost on the list are Minnesota phenom Byron Buxton and a quartet of promising Cubs.

In honor of Mariano Rivera and his contributions, MLB.com is commemorating 42 notable moments from Rivera’s career — the 42 Days of Mo.

The Arizona Fall League season is a time when the 30 Major League clubs work in harmony to help some of their best prospects fine-tune their skills. For many players, it is the last stop on their journeys to the big leagues.

MLB Advanced Media has made it easier to follow that upcoming final month of division and Wild Card races by reducing the prices of MLB.TV yearly signups to $24.99 for Premium and $19.99 for basic.

The way things are looking right now, the Indians have a pretty good chance at pulling off a postseason run. If they can survive a stretch against the Braves and Tigers, they finish the season playing teams against which they’re a combined 30-14.

Coco Crisp homered and finished a triple short of a cycle as the A’s beat the Tigers, 8-6, on Monday night at Comerica Park. The victory kept Oakland 2 1/2 games back of the Rangers in the American League West.

Elvis Andrus had three hits on his 25th birthday, A.J. Pierzynski delivered a game-busting three-run home run and Travis Blackley earned his first victory with the Rangers by beating the Mariners, 8-3, on Monday night at Safeco Field.

After a long road trip, a return home proved to be the perfect elixir for the D-backs as they beat the Padres, 6-1, on Monday night at Chase Field. Brandon McCarthy tossed seven strong frames, and Martin Prado backed him with three RBIs.