July 91902 — Rube Waddell beat Bill Dinneen 4-2 in 17 innings when light-hitting Monte Cross hit a two-run homer for Philadelphia.1932 — Ben Chapman of the Yankees hit three homers, including two inside the park, as New York beat the Detroit Tigers 14-9 at Yankee Stadium.1937 — Joe DiMaggio drove in seven runs and hit for the cycle and to lead the New York Yankees to a 16-2 rout of the Washington Senators.1940 — The NL recorded the first shutout in All-Star play, with a 4-0 win at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. Five pitchers — Paul Derringer, Bucky Walters, Whit Wyatt, Larry French, and Carl Hubbell — held the AL to three hits. Max West hit a three-run homer.1946 — After a one-year break due to war travel restrictions, the Americans trounced the Nationals 12-0 at Fenway Park, the most one-sided of the All-Star games. Ted Williams of the Red Sox didn’t disappoint the hometown fans. He hit two homers and two singles for five RBIs.1968 — Willie McCovey hit into a double play, scoring Willie... [More]

July 81912 — Rube Marquard’s 19-game winning streak was stopped when the New York Giants lost 7-2 to the Chicago Cubs.1935 — The AL extended its All-Star winning streak to three with a 4-1 victory at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium. New York Yankee Lefty Gomez went six innings, which prompted the NL to have the rules changed so that no pitcher could throw more than three innings, unless extra innings.1941 — Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox hit a three-run, two-out homer in the ninth to give the AL a dramatic 7-5 victory in the All-Star game at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium. Up to that point Arky Vaughn of the Pittsburgh Pirates was the NL hero with two home runs, the first player to do so in All-Star play. Joe and Dom DiMaggio both played for the AL, marking the first time that brothers appeared in the same All-Star game.1947 — Frank Shea became the first winning rookie pitcher in the first 14 years of All-Star play as the AL nipped the NL 2-1 at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.1952 — The NL edged the... [More]

Sept. 221911 — Cy Young, 44, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 for his 511th and final major league victory.1936 — The Detroit Tigers swept the St. Louis Browns 12-0 and 14-0 to record the biggest double shutout in major league history.1954 — Karl Spooner of Brooklyn became the first pitcher in the majors to strike out 15 in his first game as the Dodgers beat the New York Giants 3-0.1966 — The Baltimore Orioles clinched their first AL pennant in 22 years with a 6-1 victory over the Kansas City A's. Their last pennant came in 1944 when they were the St. Louis Browns.1968 — Cesar Tovar played one inning at each position for the Minnesota Twins, becoming the second major leaguer in history to do it. Bert Campaneris of the Oakland A's was the other.1969 — Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants became the second player to hit 600 career home runs — joining Babe Ruth. The two-run shot off San Diego's Mike Corkins in the seventh inning, gave the Giants a 4-2 win.1973 — Baltimore's Al Bumbry tied... [More]

Aug. 111907 — In the second game of a doubleheader, shortened by agreement, Ed Karger of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched a seven-inning perfect game, beating the Boston Braves 4-0.1926 — Tris Speaker of Cleveland hit his 700th career double but the Indians lost to the Chicago White Sox, 7-2. The double came in the third inning off Joe Edwards.1929 — Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in the second inning off Willis Hudlin at Cleveland's League Park. The homer was Ruth's 30th of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Indians beat the Yankees 6-5.1951 — Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Giants 4-0, dropping the Giants 13 1/2 games behind the first-place Brooklyn Dodgers.1961 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves scattered six hits to beat the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, for his 300th career victory.1970 — Philadelphia's Jim Bunning beat the Houston Astros 6-5 to become the first pitcher to win 100 games in both leagues since Cy Young.1986 — Cincinnati player-manager... [More]

July 71923 — Lefty O'Doul, pitching for the Boston Red Sox, allowed 13 runs in the sixth inning to the Cleveland Indians, who won 27-3. In 1928, he was to return to the majors as a great hitting outfielder.1936 — The NL won its first All-Star game 4-3 at Braves Field in Boston.1937 — Lou Gehrig drove in four runs with a home run and a double to pace the AL to an 8-3 victory over the NL in the All-Star game at Washington's Griffith Stadium. In attendance was President Franklin D. Roosevelt.1959 — At Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, the first of two All-Star games played that season went to the NL, 5-4. The NL scored the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the eighth when Hank Aaron singled in a run and scored on a triple by Willie Mays.1964 — The NL beat the AL 7-4 in the All-Star game on Johnny Callison's two-out, three-run homer off Dick Radatz in the bottom of the ninth inning at New York's Shea Stadium. The win pulled the NL even with its rivals (17-17-1) for the first time since the... [More]

June 21928 — Les Bell of the Boston Braves hit three home runs and a triple at Braves Field, but the Cincinnati Reds came away with a 20-12 triumph.1928 — The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. All the runs came from three pinch-hit home runs.1935 — Babe Ruth, 40, announces his retirement as a player.1941 — Lou Gehrig died in New York at age 37.1949 — The Philadelphia Phillies hit five homers in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Andy Seminick hit two and Del Ennis, Willie Jones, and Schoolboy Rowe hit one apiece. Seminick had homered earlier in the game.1959 — The Baltimore Orioles-Chicago White Sox game at Comiskey Park was delayed for nearly half an hour as a swarm of gnats overcame the field. Groundskeepers tried using bug sprays and torches, but the gnats wouldn't budge. A post-game fireworks display was brought in from center field and a smoke bomb was attached to the framework. The gnats left and the Orioles defeated the White Sox, 3-2.1990 —... [More]

Yes, the baseball draft can feel like a bit of a crapshoot, but it does help to be picking near the top.This year's draft took place Monday night, with the Detroit Tigers selecting Auburn right-hander Casey Mize with the top pick . San Francisco followed by picking Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart. It could be a while before either of those players makes an impact in the majors, but if the past two decades are any indication, the top two picks are as likely as anybody to provide major value.From 1998-2017, the 20 players picked No. 1 overall have been worth a total of 313.5 wins above replacement, according to Baseball-Reference.com. That's more value than any other slot in the first round. The 20 players drafted at No. 2 have been worth 261.3 WAR, which is the second-most value.After the top two picks, the draft has been more hit-or-miss. For example, the No. 7 pick (222.4 WAR) has yielded significantly more value than the No. 4 pick (82.1). That's not to say that a team should rather pick... [More]

RF Alex Rios' $12.5 million mutual option was declined by the Royals on Nov. 4, making Rios a free agent. Rios, 34, signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Royals last December and hit .255/.287/.353 with four homers and 32 RBIs in 105 games during the regular season. He missed time with a broken hand and chickenpox. In 16 postseason games, he batted .271/.314/.375 with one homer and six RBIs.

Rios (back) will return to the lineup Friday against the Twins, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Rios was scratched from Thursday's lineup due to a stiff back, but it appears it was just a minor issue. He'll assume his usual right field duties and bat sixth against Ervin Santana.

Rios was scratched from Thursday's lineup with a stiff back, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Rios will now receive the day off due to the issue, with Johnny Gomes replacing him in right field. There's nothing indicating the issue is serious, so it's possible he will require just minimal time to rejoin the lineup.

Rios went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI against the Mariners on Thursday.

A day after snapping his 11-game hitting streak, Rios embarked on a new one with this fine effort. Unfortunately, despite all that fine work with the bat, he still has only four homers and nine steals in 96 games this season, limiting his fantasy utility even when he's healthy.

Rios is out of the lineup Saturday against the Tigers.

Rios will rest for the first time in his 10 games since returning from a bout with the chicken pox. He's been one of the hottest hitters in the lineup during that stretch, batting .361 with a pair of homers, four RBI, and a stolen base. Jonny Gomes will cover right field for Rios in Saturday's contest.

Rios went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and two runs scored in a 8-4 win over the Indians on Thursday.

The three-hit game extended Rios' hit streak to eight games and he's raised his average 14 points in that span. Along with the average boost, he has two home runs and four doubles in that span as well. In limited time, Rios has put together a pretty nice year, as he has four homers and eight steals in 91 games played this season. It seemed as though Rios had lost most of his fantasy relevancy over recent years, but he still has value in deep formats and in AL-only leagues.

Rios went 1-for-3 with a solo homer in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over the Indians.

Rios has been swinging a hot bat since returning from an eight-game absence due to chicken pox. The veteran outfielder has hit safely in six straight games, with two homers and three RBI in that span. Rios also continued to punish Josh Tomlin, against he has now hit .429 (6-for-14) over his career, with tonight's round-tripper marking the first time he'd left the yard against the Indians' starter. Although he has only seen the field for 89 contests this season, Rios' experience should be a valued asset during the Royals' postseason run.

Rios (illness) is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

It was thought that Rios would miss at least two weeks after coming down with chickenpox in early September, but it appears he recovered quite a bit quicker than expected. Assuming Rios is healthy moving forward, he should resume his role as the Royals' primary right fielder moving forward.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Rios will return to the starting lineup Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins after recovering from chickenpox, according to the Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Rios will return to the starting lineup Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins after recovering from chickenpox, according to the Kansas City Star. Rios last played on Aug. 28 and is expected to resume his role as the primary right fielder.

Rios (chickenpox) took indoor batting practice Friday and could return next week, the Kansas City Star's Andy McCullough reports.

Due to one of the most surprising ailments of the season, Rios will miss his sixth straight game Friday with a case of chickenpox. It sounds like he could be back at some point next week, but for now Jonny Gomes will handle the duties in right field.

Rios (illness) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Rios is facing an extended absence due to the chickenpox he is dealing with, so it should not come as a surprise that he will sit out Wednesday. Expect the Royals to provide an update on Rios' status when his health improves.

Rios has been diagnosed with chickenpox and could miss at least two weeks, The Kansas City Star reports.

It's now clear what ailment Rios is dealing with, and it appears it could sideline him for a bit. The Royals figure to let Rios take as long as he needs to recover from the illness, so he may not be back on the field until mid-to-late September. Jarrod Dyson and Jonny Gomes are the top candidates to see extra at-bats in Rios' place.

Rios (illness) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star.

Rios is still under the weather despite a team off day Monday, so he will sit out for the third straight game. Lorenzo Cain will slide over and take Rios' place in right field Tuesday night.