Astros add Wolf to staff in swap with Padres
The Houston Astros acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke. Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season.

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Diamondbacks acquire reliever Rauch from Nationals
The Arizona Diamondbacks made a major move to shore up their ailing bullpen on Tuesday, acquiring reliever Jon Rauch from the Washington Nationals for top infield prospect Emilio Bonifacio.

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Rogers picks up victory over Royals (AP)

The Detroit Tigers have turned their season around in the past 40 games. They have the most wins in the majors during that stretch. Kenny Rogers pitched six strong innings and Placido Polanco homered and drove in two runs to help the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 Tuesday night. Magglio Ordonez had three of the Tigers‘ 12 hits and had two RBIs.

Famed baseball writer Jerome Holtzman dies
Jerome Holtzman, a longtime Chicago baseball writer who made the Hall of Fame, created the save rule and later became the game’s official historian, has died. He was 81.

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Scientists say breakthrough urine test for HGH developed
A team of scientists from the USA and Italy say they have developed a urine test that detects human growth hormone. The finding is a potential breakthrough in efforts to find a non-invasive way to screen for the performance-enhancing drug that is banned throughout the athletic world.

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Diamondbacks acquire reliever Rauch from Nationals
The Arizona Diamondbacks made a major move to shore up their ailing bullpen on Tuesday, acquiring reliever Jon Rauch from the Washington Nationals for top infield prospect Emilio Bonifacio.

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Leyland weighing options at shortstop
Leyland weighing options at short Jim Leyland feels Edgar Renteria is close to fully recovering from a July hamstring strain, and is keeping the slugger in the lineup, despite two rough games.

A-Rod aims to broaden his brand recognition
Alex Rodriguez signed another big-league contract, joining the William Morris Agency in an attempt to extend his brand beyond the baseball diamond.

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Astros add Wolf to staff in swap with Padres
The Houston Astros acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke. Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season.

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Hall homers in 10th to lift Brewers past Cardinals
Bill Hall figured something good had just happened because he didn’t feel a sting when he connected in the 10th inning.The ball Hall hit off Ryan Franklin sailed over the fence and helped the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 Monday night after squandering a ninth-inning lead.

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After long delay, Rogers nets series win
Detroit leaves KC high and dry Kenny Rogers broke a five-game losing streak against the Royals and the Tigers won their first series against the club in a 7-1 effort interrupted by a two-hour and 20-minute rain delay.

Galarraga still has hurdles to clear
Galarraga still has hurdles to clear Armando Galarraga has been more than consistent for the Tigers this season — he has been their best pitcher. Manager Jim Leyland, however, knows this doesn’t guarantee his starter’s future success.

Rogers picks up victory over Royals (AP)

The Detroit Tigers have turned their season around in the past 40 games. They have the most wins in the majors during that stretch. Kenny Rogers pitched six strong innings and Placido Polanco homered and drove in two runs to help the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 Tuesday night. Magglio Ordonez had three of the Tigers‘ 12 hits and had two RBIs.

Joyce’s power perked up by numbers
Joyce’s power here to stay Matt Joyce has been raising his average, hoping that increased hits, combined with his readily apparent power, can earn him an everyday spot in the Detroit outfield.

Leyland weighing options at shortstop
Leyland weighing options at short Jim Leyland feels Edgar Renteria is close to fully recovering from a July hamstring strain, and is keeping the slugger in the lineup, despite two rough games.

The Detroit Tigers - ” your second half sleepers

After acquiring the best player the Florida Marlins ever produced and the National League wins leader in 2005 in an offseason trade, many thought the Detroit Tigers were the club to beat in 2008.

Joyce’s power perked up by numbers
Joyce’s power here to stay Matt Joyce has been raising his average, hoping that increased hits, combined with his readily apparent power, can earn him an everyday spot in the Detroit outfield.

Galarraga still has hurdles to clear
Galarraga still has hurdles to clear Armando Galarraga has been more than consistent for the Tigers this season — he has been their best pitcher. Manager Jim Leyland, however, knows this doesn’t guarantee his starter’s future success.

Jimenez tosses 4-hitter, Rockies rout Dodgers 10-1
Ubaldo Jimenez threw a four-hitter in his first career complete game and Ian Stewart homered and drove in four runs to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

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Joyce’s power perked up by numbers
Joyce’s power here to stay Matt Joyce has been raising his average, hoping that increased hits, combined with his readily apparent power, can earn him an everyday spot in the Detroit outfield.

Astros add Wolf to staff in swap with Padres
The Houston Astros acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke. Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season.

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Griffey hits No. 606 before Padres rally to win
The San Diego Padres finally made a dent in their daunting number.Not once all season had they rallied to win a game when they trailed after eight innings. Something bad always seemed to happen, leaving them 0-53 when they went to that last at-bat without the lead.

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Galarraga still has hurdles to clear
Galarraga still has hurdles to clear Armando Galarraga has been more than consistent for the Tigers this season — he has been their best pitcher. Manager Jim Leyland, however, knows this doesn’t guarantee his starter’s future success.

Espn the Magazine: 100 MPH or Bust: Joel Zumaya is throwing gas again

Not only that, but. Ryan Sheckler redefines action sports stardom…by magic flipping my issue into the garbage in record time! Do you believe Joel Zumaya? A lot of people don’t. They don’t buy the story about …

After long delay, Rogers nets series win
Detroit leaves KC high and dry Kenny Rogers broke a five-game losing streak against the Royals and the Tigers won their first series against the club in a 7-1 effort interrupted by a two-hour and 20-minute rain delay.

Joyce’s power perked up by numbers
Joyce’s power here to stay Matt Joyce has been raising his average, hoping that increased hits, combined with his readily apparent power, can earn him an everyday spot in the Detroit outfield.

Tigers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Unless shortstop Edgar Renteria kicks it into gear soon, the Tigers might find themselves in the market for a shortstop again next year.

Detroit hoped Tuesday night was a sign the turnaround could be starting. Renteria went 2-for-4 with a soft single and a liner to left.

The Tigers shipped a promising young pitcher, Jair Jurrjens, and a center field prospect, Gorkys Hernandez, to Atlanta last winter for the .300-hitting Renteria. The idea was to move Carlos Guillen off shortstop to a position less demanding on his legs and knees.

But Renteria, after a promising beginning, has stopped hitting. And now he’s plagued by a hamstring that limits his range in the field and what he can do on the bases.

In his last 64 games, including Tuesday night when he broke an…

Rogers picks up victory over Royals (AP)

The Detroit Tigers have turned their season around in the past 40 games. They have the most wins in the majors during that stretch. Kenny Rogers pitched six strong innings and Placido Polanco homered and drove in two runs to help the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 Tuesday night. Magglio Ordonez had three of the Tigers‘ 12 hits and had two RBIs.

The Detroit Tigers - ” your second half sleepers

After acquiring the best player the Florida Marlins ever produced and the National League wins leader in 2005 in an offseason trade, many thought the Detroit Tigers were the club to beat in 2008.

Clevlen blasts 2 homers as Mud Hens top Wings Box Score

What looked like a typical knock-the-ball-around Rochester rout early turned into a tight game late, but the Toledo Mud Hens held on for a 6-4 victory at Frontier Field last night.

Leyland weighing options at shortstop
Leyland weighing options at short Jim Leyland feels Edgar Renteria is close to fully recovering from a July hamstring strain, and is keeping the slugger in the lineup, despite two rough games.

Carlos Guillen back with Tigers; wife Amelia is stable

Carlos Guillen arrived in the Tigers‘ clubhouse before today’s game to the hugs and handshakes of teammates.

Jones’ experience invaluable
Jones’ experience invaluable When the Tigers needed one out on Sunday, manager Jim Leyland turned to Todd Jones. He got it, closing out the game. That kind of consistency and durability is something Leyland believes can’t be underestimated.

Yankees burst into AL contention
Don’t look now, but that’s the Yankees the supposedly comatose New York Yankees only 4 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East.

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Mets, Yankees hope success continues back home in N.Y.
There’s a baseball revival brewing in New York, and the Mets and Yankees hope to continue their surges in key series this week.

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VandenHurk, three Marlins relievers 1-hit Braves
Rick VandenHurk and three relievers combined on a one-hitter, and Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer to help the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 4-0 Tuesday night.

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Trade market gets crowded as July 31 deadline looms
General manager Doug Melvin, after pulling off perhaps the biggest impact trade of his career, has made it chic to be a Milwaukee Brewers fan again.

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Mets, Yankees hope success continues back home in N.Y.
There’s a baseball revival brewing in New York, and the Mets and Yankees hope to continue their surges in key series this week.

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Thames’ home runs keep coming at clutch times

BALTIMORE — Updating the ever-impressive Marcus Thames’ file: His game-winning homer Sunday was his 19th homer of the season.

Tigers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Sometimes less is more.

Especially for a sinkerball pitcher such as right-hander Zach Miner.

Detroit sent Miner to the minors earlier this season after a streak of wildness.

He was used as a starter at Toledo but not with the intention of returning to Detroit as a starter.

The idea was to get him to use his changeup more, throw his fastball a little slower (because it makes his ball sink so much better) and mix in that breaking ball.

Sinkerball pitchers get in trouble when they try to overthrow because instead of sinking, the ball straightens out and becomes easier to hit.

Miner returned to Detroit’s staff Monday night and shut Kansas City out over six innings on just three hits.

Jones’ experience invaluable
Jones’ experience invaluable When the Tigers needed one out on Sunday, manager Jim Leyland turned to Todd Jones. He got it, closing out the game. That kind of consistency and durability is something Leyland believes can’t be underestimated.

Hall homers in 10th to lift Brewers past Cardinals
Bill Hall figured something good had just happened because he didn’t feel a sting when he connected in the 10th inning.The ball Hall hit off Ryan Franklin sailed over the fence and helped the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 Monday night after squandering a ninth-inning lead.

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Tigers‘ series in KC could be key
Tigers‘ series in KC could be key For a team playing as well as the Tigers, this week could carry a little extra importance. If Detroit wants to make the playoffs, the rest of this series against the Royals and this weekend against the White Sox could carry large consequences.

Astros add Wolf to staff in swap with Padres
The Houston Astros acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke. Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season.

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Griffey hits No. 606 before Padres rally to win
The San Diego Padres finally made a dent in their daunting number.Not once all season had they rallied to win a game when they trailed after eight innings. Something bad always seemed to happen, leaving them 0-53 when they went to that last at-bat without the lead.

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Rookie Campillo pitches Braves past Marlins 4-0
Aside from Chipper Jones losing track of the count while at bat, the Atlanta Braves were pretty much flawless Monday night.They came up with fielding gems and clutch hitting, and rookie Jorge Campillo allowed only two hits in seven innings to beat the Florida Marlins 4-0.

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Wagner has muscle spasms; Martinez throws in pen
Tests on Mets closer Billy Wagner’s left shoulder showed he has muscle spasms around the joint, and his availability for New York’s first-place matchup with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night will likely be a midgame decision.

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Yankees catcher Posada may need shoulder surgery
Jorge Posada wants to help the New York Yankees win this year, and be ready for the start of next season. The All-Star catcher may have to choose between the two. Posada went on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season Monday, and could be headed for season-ending surgery on his injured throwing shoulder.

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Mets solve Reds in 10, move into NL East tie with Phillies
Ready for an encore, Shea? One month after they fired their manager, the New York Mets are headed home with a share of first place and a showdown ahead. Their next act comes at Shea Stadium, where they can provide a fitting follow to the ballpark’s farewell concerts by Billy Joel last week.

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Cabrera drives in six runs in victory (AP)

After a slow start, Miguel Cabrera is hitting like the Detroit Tigers thought he would when they acquired him an off-season trade. Cabrera matched his career high with five hits and six RBIs and Matt Joyce added four hits and five RBIs as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 19-4 on Monday night.

Miner will get a start, but remains a bullpen candidate (Yahoo! Sports)
The Detroit Tigers will start Zach Miner Monday night in Kansas City for the first time this season.