2018 – Matt Carpenter hits three homers and two doubles to lead the Cardinals to a 17 – 5 win over the Cubs. He is just the second hitter to achieve that particular combination of extra-base hits, after Kris Bryant, and ties the club record for total bases in a game, with 16.

The only game played today features the Cubs hosting the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The Cubs win, 9 – 6, handing interim Cards manager Mike Shildt his first loss as a skipper. Jason Heyward, who ended the first half very hot, has 3 hits and 2 RBIs, Victor Caratini scores three times and Ian Happ adds a two-run homer. Pedro Strop picks up the save after the Cubs place closer Brandon Morrow on the disabled list before the game.

For the second straight day, a player who appeared in the 2018 All-Star Game is traded as San Diego deals Brad Hand and fellow reliever Adam Cimber to Cleveland in return for top prospect C Francisco Mejia.

2018 – As has been rumored for some time, the Dodgers trade for All-Star SS Manny Machado, who will become a free agent at the end of the season. The price is steep for what amounts to a short-term rental: five prospects, including AA OF Yusniel Diaz, one of the stars of the most recent Futures Game. The Dodgers have a gaping hole to fill, however, having recently lost SS Corey Seager for the remainder of the season.

The American League defeats the National League, 8 – 6, in the 89th edition of the All-Star Game, played at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. A record ten home runs are hit, including a pair in the 10th inning, by teammates Alex Bregman and George Springer of the Astros off Ross Stripling, as the AL wins its 6th straight and 18 of the last 21 (with one tie) to edge ahead of the NL overall. Bregman is named the winner of the Ted Williams Award as the game’s MVP.

Hitting off his father in front of hometown fans, Bryce Harper wins the Home Run Derby by defeating Kyle Schwarber in the final round. He puts on a tremendous show to connect on 9 straight pitches in a span of 47 seconds to tie Schwarber, then hits the winning 19th shot in the bonus round.

The 2018 Futures Game is played at Nationals Park ahead of the 2018 All-Star Game and it features a barrage of homers, with eight long balls being hit as the United States team prevails, 10 – 6, over the World team. Yusniel Diaz hits two homers for the World team, and he is almost matched by Taylor Trammell of the U.S., who hits one out and has a second ball bounce off the centerfield fence for a stand-up triple. Trammell is named the recipient of the Larry Doby Award as the game’s MVP.

For the second straight year, the Pacific League sweeps the 2018 NPB All-Star Games. They take this one, 5-1. Sosuke Genda breaks a scoreless tie in the 5th when he doubles off Yuta Iwasada to score Nobuhiro Matsuda; Takuya Kai then singles in Game MVP Genda. Andrew Albers gets the win, retiring six of seven batters he faces.

The Cardinals fire manager Mike Matheny just before the All-Star break, following a loss to the Reds that put them just one game above .500. Hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller are also let go, while bench coach Mike Shildt is named interim manager, with a permanent replacement expected to be named when play resumes after the Mid-Summer Classic in a few days.

The Red Sox win their 10th game in a row as they defeat the Blue Jays, 6 – 4, thanks to 5 RBIs by Mookie Betts. He hits a grand slam off J.A. Happ to cap a five-run 4th inning, at the end of an epic 13-pitch at-bat, then adds an RBI single in the 7th as the crowd chants “MVP! MVP!” The Sox have now won 66 games, the most before the All-Star break in team history.