Yes, offenses are scoring fewer runs and hitting fewer home runs. But there’s no single explanation for the recent downturn. Several factors, including the rise of hard-throwing young hurlers, bullpen specialization and a change in offensive philosophy, are at play.

Rays owner Stuart Sternberg and team president Matt Silverman have worked tirelessly to convince St. Petersburg’s political leaders to allow them to explore ballpark options across the bay in Tampa. Until recently, they’d gotten nowhere. But this week, for the first time, there’s hope that things are about to change.

Hyun-Jin Ryu cruised through seven innings, fanning seven, and A.J. Ellis took rookie right-hander Carlos Martinez deep in a 5-1 victory at Busch Stadium.

Bruce Chen got the better of Jon Lester, shutting out the Red Sox for 7 2/3 innings as Kansas City cruised to a 5-1 victory on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium, their 16th win in 20 games since the All-Star break.

For the first time in program history, Harrisburg, Pa., claimed the Senior Baseball Division RBI World Series title with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Tampa, Fla., on Thursday night at Target Field.

Thursday’s series finale was the exclamation point, fueled by a six-run third inning and seven strong innings from Max Scherzer for a 10-3 victory that extended Detroit’s winning streak to 12 games.

Mike Trout is once again considered the best player in baseball by the all-encompassing Wins Above Replacement sabermetric statistic. It means — in a big-picture sort of way — that we may be witnessing the embryonic stages of one of the greatest players in history, while on pace to be the second since 1965 to rack up consecutive 10-plus WAR seasons.

CC Sabathia’s family, along with Chris Stewart, Travis Hafner, Lyle Overbay, David Robertson and Brett Gardner, with wives and their kids all turned into runway models at the MLB Fan Cave for the launch of the CCandy children’s MLB fashion line.

Tim Lincecum allowed one hit over eight innings for his first win since his no-hitter and Brandon Belt drilled a three-run homer in the first inning, giving the Giants a 4-1 win over the Brewers on Thursday and a split of the four-game series.

As the Phillies evaluate everybody and everything with 48 games remaining this season, rookies like right fielder Darin Ruf, third baseman Cody Asche and right-hander Ethan Martin had pretty significant afternoons in a 12-1 victory over the Cubs.

Rob Johnson’s brief pitching appearance on Wednesday marked the first time in Mike Matheny’s managerial tenure that he has asked a position player to take the mound. Johnson has now made two relief appearances in his big league career.

The Boys and Girls Club of Venice, Calif., RBI team, led by pitcher Jay Sterner, toppled Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Junior Division World Series with a 2-0 victory at Target Field.

Chase Utley asked plenty of questions long before the Phillies agreed to a two-year, $27 million contract extension Thursday. He might love Philadelphia. He might love the Phillies. But Utley plays to win.

The Rangers have claimed Alex Rios off trade waivers from the Chicago White Sox, though a trade is unlikely, Major League sources told MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan.

The big idea is to sweep two years of bad memories under the rug. Small steps: The Pirates swept the Marlins out of town, dusting off the three-game cleanup Thursday afternoon on Russell Martin’s pinch-hit single with two outs in the 10th inning for a 5-4 triumph.

Dillon Gee delivered another gem on Thursday, allowing just one run over 7 2/3 innings in a 2-1 win over the Rockies, leading the Mets to their first three-game home sweep this season.

Joshua Jones, the terminally ill Dodgers fan befriended by Matt Kemp earlier this season, has passed away. He was 19.