Aug. 09--American League
Central Division
White Sox: After "resting" in All-Star Game, Chris Sale posts 7.61 ERA in four second-half starts.
Indians: Closer Cody Allen went 0-2 with two blown saves and 9.95 ERA in first eight outings since break.
Royals: Yet another name-calling spat, this time with Blue Jays, makes Royals the Donald Trumps of baseball.
Tigers: Firing Dave Dombrowski might be dumbest move in Detroit since Ford's rollout of the Edsel.
Twins: Reeling Twins return to their default mode, falling to .500 for the first time since May 2nd.
East Division
Blue Jays: Mark Buehrle notches 30th career win over Twins, his personal pincushions.
Orioles: Chris Davis surpasses his 2014 home-run total with 28. Coincidentally, he'll be a free agent.
Rays: Rookie Richie Shaffer goes viral with invisible high-fives after first home run nets silent treatment.
Red Sox: Boston mayor seeks tobacco ban at Fenway Park. Fried chicken and beer still OK.
Yankees: Counting on rookie Luis Severino to stabilize rotation, looks like a prize in debut.
West Division
Angels: Mike Trout starts August in 1-for-20 slump, still expected to win AL MVP again.
Astros: Road blues could thwart postseason dreams. Entered Friday 11-27 on road since May 21st.
Athletics: Shortstop Marcus Semien made one error in last 21 games after booting 28 in first 86.
Mariners: Fernando Rodney spotted walking around in shrubbery in Coors Field.
Rangers: Cole Hamels was 8-15 with a 4.71 ERA against AL teams heading into Friday's start.
National League
Central Division
Cubs: Benching of Starlin Castro comes two years after Dale Sveum fired for "tough-love" strategy.
Brewers: Healthier Ryan Braun matches last year's home-run total (19) with seven weeks left.
Cardinals: Waiting for October in early August is the price you pay for being so dominant.
Pirates: Glove story: Gerrit Cole's pickoff throw goes right through webbing of Pedro Alvarez's mitt.
Reds: Good news for Sean Marshall, finally nearing return. Bryan Price: "Feels like it's a miracle."
East Division
Braves: Good thing Fredi Gonzalez got an extension. Braves entered weekend 7-18 in last 25 games.
Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton says rehab going "slower" than expected. Might as well shut it down.
Mets: Bartolo Colon may be old and hefty, but he has a major-league-leading 12 walk-free starts.
Nationals: Bryce Harper says he doesn't "give a crap about what the Mets are doing," echoing most of America.
Phillies: With 13-5 record coming out of All-Star break, Pete Mackanin could shed interim label.
West Division
Diamondbacks: Top pick Dansby Swanson still out with concussion symptoms after being hit by pitch in face.
Dodgers: Zack Greinke gives up five runs in first inning to Phils, more than he had given up in previous eight starts.
Giants: Oh, the pain. Mike Leake arrives from Reds, makes one start and strains hamstring.
Padres: Catcher Derek Norris led majors Friday in most pitches dug out of dirt with 329.
Rockies: Power-pitching rookie Jon Gray being spoon-fed, limited to 77 pitches in big-league debut.
