After a Sunday victory, Tampa Bay had won six games in a row, making it the hottest team in MLB, and they're doing it with every last inch of their roster. It can't be understated how important the mere presence of Evan Longoria in this lineup is to the Rays, and it'll be even more important when he gets back to his old, healthy self.

The Red Sox have to figure out who and what they are, admit it and restore what was building the last time Bruce Springsteen played Fenway. The parts are still greater than the whole, the persons far greater than their perception.

So much for all that teeth-gnashing about the demise of the Rangers. A team that scored an American League-low 81 runs during July has been robust in August. The Rangers open a three-game series against the Yankees on Monday night having scored 71 runs since Aug. 1.

The people of the small town of Loranger, La., don't have a Subway or a Walmart, but they do have a profound point of pride in D-backs hurler and National League Rookie of the Year Award candidate Wade Miley.

Eric Gagne recorded the highest strikeout to hit ratio for a pitcher with at least 50 innings in 2003, when he got 3.70 strikeouts for every hit he allowed. This season Aroldis Chapman is on pace to beat that ratio, averaging 4.24 strikeouts for every hit allowed.

From superstars like Josh Hamilton and Evan Longoria to lesser-known contributors such as John Lannan and Gaby Sanchez, these 10 players could help make or break their teams' chances to make the postseason.

Since Sunday, some of the top teenage talents in the world have been competing against each other in the first-ever tournament to feature USA Baseball's 15-and-under team, the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School and two teams from MLB's Amateur Prospect League, consisting of players who will be eligible to sign with Major League clubs next July.

The Olympic flame has been extinguished, but the baseball season is just starting to ignite. Back in the hardball haven, things are just beginning to get wild, and as we steam into the week that take us into late August, the emphasis appears to be on that word. Wild. As in Wild Card.

Hoping to limit Stephen Strasburg's innings during his first full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2010, the Nationals are expected to cut the ace right-hander's regular season short by two or three starts, according to a baseball source.

The Blue Jays' offense finally broke out of its prolonged slump as Rajai Davis drove in a career-high five runs and Edwin Encarnacion hit his 30th homer of the year in a 10-7 victory over the Yankees on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

The Pirates sent 14 men to the plate during their phenomenal fourth inning, scoring nine runs on six hits in that frame alone. Pittsburgh fought off the sweep and stood up to the Padres, taking Sunday's series finale, 11-5, in front of 35,352 fans at PNC Park.

A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-run homer during a five-run sixth and Chris Sale fanned 11 over 6 2/3 innings for his 14th win as the White Sox defeated the A's, 7-3, on Sunday in Chicago.

Yovani Gallardo allowed three runs over 7 2/3 innings as the Brewers beat the Astros, 5-3, on Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

The Yankees have named David Phelps as CC Sabathia's replacement in the rotation, at least as far as Monday's series opener vs. Texas goes.

The Dominican Republic clubbed two home runs Sunday to upend Harrisburg, 7-6, and win its first RBI World Series softball championship since 2008.

First baseman Mark Reynolds made the most of a starting opportunity by delivering the go-ahead single and Manny Machado hit his third homer in the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Royals on Sunday.

Twins center fielder Denard Span left Sunday's game after the sixth inning with right shoulder pain after landing awkwardly on his shoulder while trying to make a diving catch in the top of the inning.