This is the kind of pitching matchup that the Royals had in mind when they obtained James Shields to head their rotation: Shields versus Detroit ace Justin Verlander on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.

Daniel Bard rejoined the Red Sox on Wednesday not just to fill a roster spot, but with the opportunity to regain a job in a bullpen that he used to be a force in.

If All-Star balloting has arrived, it means that arguments about All-Star balloting will be starting, oh, any second now. That’s half the fun of the All-Star Game, after all.

Had the decision been left for him to make, Yoenis Cespedes would’ve already started his rehab assignment.

Jason Heyward checked out of Rose Medical Center in Denver on Tuesday following his emergency appendectomy performed there Monday evening.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was ejected during the ninth inning of Wednesday afternoon’s 6-5 victory over the Orioles for arguing balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Mike DiMuro.

It is an endless parade that started appropriately enough in the Motor City, crossed the Clemente Bridge outside Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, wound through the piers alongside San Francisco Bay, steamrolled up Manhattan’s Avenue of the Americas, careened alongside the Arch, visited Disneyland and scorched the hot streets of Phoenix and Kansas City.

One day after X-rays taken of his lower right leg came back negative, Jon Niese had some swelling and tightness in the area but fully expects to make his next start.

Major League Baseball’s All-Star balloting program is the largest in sports, one that last year produced a record-shattering 40.2 million ballots cast. Vote for starters online or by mobile device until 11:59 p.m. ET on July 4.

Outfielder Michael Saunders will most likely go out on a Minor League rehab stint with Triple-A Tacoma this weekend before rejoining the Mariners, manager Eric Wedge said Wednesday.

David Wright on Wednesday joined New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Mets favorites in kicking off this year’s All-Star Game festivities at City Hall, with less than three months to go before the Midsummer Classic at Citi Field.

Brendan Ryan is regarded as one of the premier defensive shortstops in baseball, but his continued lack of offensive production led Mariners manager Eric Wedge to go with Robert Andino.

Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey’s upper-back and neck injury hasn’t been enough to force him to miss a start, but it is making things more challenging on the mound.

The Cubs will re-examine pitcher Matt Garza on Wednesday to determine the next step for the right-hander, who was scratched from his scheduled rehab outing because of soreness in his right arm.

Major League Baseball, Firestone and the host Mets marked the official start of the All-Star Balloting Program with a news conference on Wednesday morning at City Hall in Manhattan, revealing some much-awaited local details as key initiatives were announced along with the ballot candidates to start the 84th All-Star Game on July 16 at Citi Field.

The Indians on Wednesday activated catcher Lou Marson from the 15-day disabled list and optioned fellow catcher Yan Gomes to Triple-A Columbus.

The Milwaukee Brewers have put on a clinic on how to win ballgames during their current winning streak, which they extended to nine games on Tuesday night with a 6-3 victory over the Padres.