Kansas City: The Royals batted .243 before the All-Star break with a .713 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS). Entering Friday, they were hitting .291 with a .818 OPS since then. That's how the Royals have stormed by the Twins in the division, and now they have dealt for bullpen help as they take aim at Cleveland for the division lead.
Cleveland: Gloves can't be gray or white but, somehow, Cleveland righthander Mike Clevinger has been pitching with a gray glove on his left hand. That was until Tuesday, when crew chief Bill Miller called him out on it. Clevinger switched gloves that night and will paint his glove black until a new one is shipped to him.
Detroit: Lefthander Daniel Norris should be getting valuable experience right now, but trying to be a tough guy has landed him on the disabled list. He had inflammation in his left hip labrum and a sore right quad but attempted to ignore it. That changed following a July 5 outing against San Francisco. "I was trying to pitch through it and I was digging a deeper hole each time," said Norris, 4-7 with a 5.29 ERA.
Chicago: The White Sox clubhouse continues to see players come and go, as a full rebuild is in play. Chicago on Wednesday dealt righthander Anthony Swarzak, a former Twin, to Milwaukee. To replace him on the roster, the White Sox activated Faribault's own Jake Petricka from the DL. It's the second DL stint this season for Petricka, who had problems with his right elbow and right lat this season.
