TEst 4

With a lineup just as good as its rival's and a better rotation, Boston has every reason to believe it can win the division. Here are five of them.

After failing to get out of the third inning Wednesday night, Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks was at a loss as to what's going so wrong.

Angels reliever Jake Jewell was removed from Wednesday night's game at Fenway on a stretcher after a play at home plate in the bottom of the eighth inning.

After shutting out the Yankees, Zach Eflin seems to have officially made the leap from roster filler to impact starting pitcher.

With reliever Zach Britton clearly not himself yet, the Orioles may not get the bounty they had hoped for on the trade market.

The Angels said shortstop Zack Cozart will have surgery to repair a torn labrum but did not announce a date for the surgery or a time frame for his recovery.

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp lost his appeal and will serve his one-game suspension Wednesday night against the Cubs.

Orioles slugger Manny Machado apologized Wednesday for not running out a double-play ball a night earlier in a loss to the Mariners.

The Red Sox, looking for depth in the infield, have signed 16-year veteran Brandon Phillips to a minor league deal. With Dustin Pedroia sidelined indefinitely, Phillips could back up Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt at second and can also play third.

Tigers general manager Al Avila said Wednesday that pitching coach Chris Bosio was dismissed for using racially insensitive language directed at a team employee.

Jayson Werth says he's done playing baseball after 15 years in the big leagues.

Police in suburban Atlanta say a body found inside a beer cooler at the major league home of the Atlanta Braves belongs to a Minnesota man who was doing contract work at the stadium.

Former Major League Baseball star John Smoltz says playing in this week's U.S. Senior Open will be a "different kind of pressure."

The Cubs needed someone to help cover for injured Kris Bryant, and once again Baez stepped up with a two-homer night worth the price of admission.

Yankees starter Luis Severino used an overpowering fastball on Tuesday to notch his 12th win, best in the majors. The right-hander threw 12 pitches that traveled 100 mph. Next up might be the Red Sox on Sunday night. "I'm not scared of anybody," he said.

The Brewers have the National League's best record, but there's one thing that would put them over the top: dealing for an ace.

A body was discovered Tuesday in a walk-in freezer at the Braves ballpark. The man found was a third-party contractor and there was no indication he had ties to the team, a police spokesperson said. Tuesday's game at the park took place as scheduled.

Angels center fielder Mike Trout is in the DH slot for the seventh consecutive game Tuesday as Los Angeles opens a series with the Red Sox at Fenway. Trout threw for the first time in a week though, and says his sprained right index finger is improving.

The Cubs placed Kris Bryant on the disabled list Tuesday with shoulder inflammation. He insists it's not a serious injury and hopes to be back when first eligible early next week.

Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson will be evaluated in three weeks after suffering a setback with his left calf.