With Roy Halladay back in the fold, manager Charlie Manuel expects the Phillies to start making up some ground in the National League East race.

Teams are calling the Phillies about their players, but it does not sound like they are ready to sell quite yet.

Positive results keep rolling in for Kansas City's first All-Star Game in 40 seasons as the Royals continue to soak in the success of the venture.

The Nationals announced in April that Strasburg, who returned from Tommy John surgery, would be limited to 160 innings this season. After the All-Star break, manager Davey Johnson said that plan hasn't changed.

Manager Jim Tracy said veteran first baseman Todd Helton will undergo further testing, which likely means an MRI.

Less than two months after wondering if a knee injury could potentially end his career, Lance Berkman is prepared to come off the disabled list before the Cardinals' game in Cincinnati on Saturday.

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with 17-year-old right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito, their first-round selection (16th overall) in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Harvard-Westlake School in California.

Evan Longoria smiled Friday afternoon when told that the most popular question among Tampa Bay sports fans is, “When will the Rays' star third baseman be back with the team?” “It's the most popular question in my mind, too,” Longoria said. One thing is certain, Longoria does not believe his season is over.

When the Pirates selected Mark Appel with the eighth overall pick of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, general manager Neal Huntington knew it would be a “tough sign.” He found out just how tough in the last month, as Pittsburgh and Appel failed to reach an agreement before Friday's 5 p.m. deadline to sign drafted players.

Andy Pettitte ditched the brace around his left ankle and walked through the Yankees' clubhouse on Friday with a simple tape job around the injury. He arrived in New York City on Thursday night and rejoined the team for its first game following the All-Star break.

Stephen Strasburg's season probably will end in early September. The Nationals will be criticized for this decision. Never mind that it's absolutely the right thing to do.

After almost exactly three months on the disabled list, Jacoby Ellsbury was back in Boston's lineup Friday night, batting leadoff and playing center field.

Roy Halladay tuned up for his possible return to the Philadelphia Phillies' starting rotation next week with a three-inning rehab stint against the Class A Fort Myers Miracle on Thursday night.

The Blue Jays purchased the contract of left-hander Aaron Loup from Double-A New Hampshire after transferring lefty Luis Perez from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.

Carl Crawford hopes to return to the Red Sox lineup on Monday after going 2-for-3 and playing left field in a rehab game for Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday night.

Tyler Thornburg is happy to be back in Milwaukee, but he hopes he gets to stick around a little longer this time. The Brewers recalled Thornburg from Triple-A Nashville during the All-Star break, about three weeks after he made his Major League debut on June 19.

Emilio Bonifacio, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 20 with a sprained left thumb and who underwent surgery on May 25 to repair a ligament, is expected to be activated prior to the series opener and back in center field.