By hitting for the cycle Friday just two days after hitting three homers in a game, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre became only the 17th player to accomplish both feats in a season.

The Astros announced on Saturday that they optioned reliever Chuckie Fick to Triple-A Oklahoma City to clear a roster spot for Fernando Abad, who started against the Mets.

The Rangers are expecting Michael Young back from paternity leave either Sunday or Monday. At that point, the club expects to send infielder Luis Hernandez back to Triple-A Round Rock and stay with an eight-man bullpen as well as a three-player bench.

The Dodgers' potential trade with Boston figures to help them in their quest to overcome a three-game deficit, but the division-leading Giants and other NL West teams have downplayed the deal, opting to focus on their own clubhouses.

Players from AL East clubs were not exactly disappointed to hear of a reported blockbuster that would send three former Red Sox All-Stars to the Dodgers.

Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle for the second time in his career with four hits against the Twins on Friday night at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Derek Jeter appeared to be furious after he was clipped on the bill of his batting helmet by an errant fastball on Friday night, but the Yankees captain is just relieved the damage wasn't any worse.

The Blue Jays optioned Adeiny Hechavarria and Anthony Gose to Triple-A Las Vegas following Friday night's 6-4 loss to the Orioles.

Scott Diamond was handed a six-game suspension by Major League baseball on Friday and is planning to appeal the suspension.

Texas enters the third game of its series with Minnesota on Saturday averaging seven runs per game over its last nine. And Adrian Beltre has been swinging the biggest bat, most recently collecting his second career cycle as he went 4-for-4 in Friday's 8-0 victory — only two days removed from his second-career three-home run game.

The Nationals, with the best record in the Major Leagues, have built their amazing summer around a core of young, energetic players and superb pitching, but most of these athletes have never played for a division leader poised for the postseason.

Stand Up To Cancer's biannual prime-time telethon is returning at 8 p.m. ET on Sept. 7, and Major League Baseball will once again be a prominent participant.

This weekend, in his hometown of Cincinnati, Barry Larkin was back for another celebration of his ascension to baseball immortality.

Powered by a masterful outing from Barry Zito and a four-run fifth inning, the Giants continued their success from their recent six-game road trip by beating the Braves, 5-2, in Thursday's opener of the four-game series.

The Red Sox were burned by the red line Friday night in the ninth inning of a 10-inning, 14-13 loss at Fenway Park, when the Angels' Vernon Wells hit a home run that should have been ruled a double.

The second game of the four-game series between the Giants and Braves will pit two pitchers who have struggled in their last two starts. Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong has allowed 11 runs in 5 2/3 innings over his last two starts, while Braves starter Ben Sheets has had struggles of a different sort recently.

On Thursday night, Mike Trout (21 years, 16 days) became the youngest player since at least 1901 to record 40 steals and 20 homers in a season.