The 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby field is as powerful as ever, even though a couple of the strongest contenders are hampered by injuries.

With Dan Haren headed to the disabled list for two weeks, the question as to who will take his spot in the rotation on Sunday still remains. What is known, however, is that it will not be Jerome Williams.

The Major League level is different than anything Trevor Bauer has faced, and D-backs manager Kirk Gibson predicts the top prospect will adapt eventually, whether he knows it now or not.

One day after being removed during the game for throwing to the wrong base and for what manager Brad Mills described as “behavioral reasons,” center fielder Jordan Schafer wasn't in the lineup Thursday. Schafer had been starting against right-handed pitchers.

The All-Star activities kick off on Friday with the start of MLB FanFest.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson was happy to participate in Turn Back the Clock Night at the ballpark Thursday on two conditions: the uniforms aren't made of wool, and it doesn't make him feel too old.

The Twins had their 12th hit Thursday afternoon before the Tigers had their first. The Tigers made the most of their last hits.

Mark Buehrle struck out eight in 7 2/3 innings, and the Marlins closed out the Brewers, 4-0, in front of 27,443 at Miller Park on Thursday. Carlos Lee went 2-for-4 in his Marlins debut

Roy Halladay could be back in the Phillies' rotation as early as the July 16-18 series in Los Angeles.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez said the reports following right-hander Ben Sheets' start with Double-A Mississippi on Wednesday night were encouraging. Sheets threw 74 pitches in five innings, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out six.

The Blue Jays officially parted ways with veteran left-hander Jamie Moyer following Thursday night's 9-6 loss to the Royals.

Blue Jays pitcher Brandon Morrow has taken another positive step in his rehab from a left oblique injury, throwing from 150 feet as a way to build arm strength.

The Braves placed Jonny Venters on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday with a left elbow impingement. It's a move that should aid the left-handed reliever both physically and mentally. The once dominant pitcher has allowed opponents to compile a .313 batting average and .412 on-base percentage in his 40 appearances this year.

R.A. Dickey's statistics may give him an advantage when it comes to starting next week's All-Star Game in Kansas City. But such credentials are not all that National League manager Tony La Russa is considering.

When it comes to managing the Tampa Bay Rays, it's not a stretch to say Joe Maddon is border-line eccentric. He does things in a different way, and it works more times than not.

It's no secret that Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has been to the World Series. He led the Rockies there in 2007, and on Thursday the skipper made comparisons between that team and the 2012 Pirates.

Freddy Sanchez, San Francisco's oft-injured second baseman, underwent surgery Thursday to have part of a disk removed from his back.