It took Jeff Samardzija about 1 1/2 months of the 2015 season to find his true form for the White Sox. But as his 2-0 shutout of the Blue Jays on Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field proves, the right-hander is in a good groove.

Brett Gardner’s push to reach Tuesday’s All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile has paid off. During Thursday’s 6-2 Yankees win over the A’s, Major League Baseball announced that the Yankees outfielder has made the American League’s roster as a replacement for Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, who is expected to miss eight weeks after straining his left groin on Wednesday night.

Replacing a four-time Gold Glover like Alex Gordon isn’t easy.

As the July 17 Draft signing deadline nears, get the complete breakdown of which top picks have agreed to terms, and for how much.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants to be cautious with Masahiro Tanaka. The Yankees’ Opening Day starter, pitching with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, was on the disabled list earlier this season with right wrist tendinitis and a right forearm strain. Logically, New York’s chances of getting back to the playoffs are better if the club’s titular No. 1 starter is healthy.

Giancarlo Stanton, speaking publicly on Thursday for the first time since he broke his left hand, is in good spirits and optimistic he can return in the 4-6 week recovery window.

Entering Thursday, the tweets, videos and gimmicks were expected to continue right up until 4 p.m. ET on Friday, the Yankees doing everything they can to get fans to back outfielder Brett Gardner via the Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. At stake was a trip to Tuesday’s All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile.

Mike Bryant’s bucket list includes playing golf in Hawaii, fishing for rainbow trout in some place like Montana, sitting in with the Grateful Dead, and pitching to his son, Kris, in a home run hitting contest.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones will start in Tuesday’s All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile, replacing the injured Alex Gordon of the Royals, who had been elected to start in the outfield for the American League.

It’s uncertain when the 20-year-old Martinez, ranked No. 1 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects, will sign, but several teams remain in the competition to ink the prospect.

A’s lefty Scott Kazmir exited Wednesday night’s start against the Yankees after three innings with left triceps tightness. Kazmir held New York to one unearned run on two hits and struck out four, walking one.

What’s truly scary about reigning National League Rookie of the Year and newly-minted All-Star Jacob deGrom is that he appears, on a near-weekly basis, only to be improving.

The Royals and Cardinals announced on Wednesday that they have united to urge fans of both teams to vote for Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez in the Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote.

Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez held the National League 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote lead for a while on Tuesday, but he had fallen to third as of Wednesday’s voting total update. Still, with voting continuing until 3 p.m. CT on Friday, there is plenty of time for fans to help the 23-year-old Martinez become a first-time All-Star.

Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman said the club is optimistic that it will gain an additional bat and arm with the August returns of outfielder Desmond Jennings and left-hander Drew Smyly.

The Reds’ opportunity to get a season series sweep of the Nationals was put on hold Wednesday when their finale was postponed by rain. A makeup date has not been announced.

Mike Trout declined an invitation to the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders this year, opting against joining teammate Albert Pujols in the esteemed competition.