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 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.

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.

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 Red Sox put an end to a disastrous episode when they designate 3B Pablo Sandoval for assignment. Signed to a $95 million five-year contract before the 2015 season, he played only 161 games over two and a half seasons, with little production. Boston’s decision leaves them on the hook for over $48 million, the second largest buy-out in major league history.

The Red Sox put an end to a disastrous episode when they designate 3B Pablo Sandoval for assignment. Signed to a $95 million five-year contract before the 2015 season, he played only 161 games over two and a half seasons, with little production. Boston’s decision leaves them on the hook for over $48 million, the second largest buy-out in major league history.

Going all in to reach the postseason, the Red Sox make their fourth trade in a week, acquiring SP Drew Pomeranz, just off an appearance in the All-Star Game, from the Padres in return for prospect Anderson Espinoza.

Going all in to reach the postseason, the Red Sox make their fourth trade in a week, acquiring SP Drew Pomeranz, just off an appearance in the All-Star Game, from the Padres in return for prospect Anderson Espinoza.

Mike Trout leads the American League to a 6 – 3 win in the 2015 All-Star Game by starting off the game with a homer against Zack Greinke, then scores the go-ahead run in the 5th to earn MVP honors for the second straight year. David Price is the winner over Clayton Kershaw, and Andrew McCutchen and Brian Dozier also homer.

Mike Trout leads the American League to a 6 – 3 win in the 2015 All-Star Game by starting off the game with a homer against Zack Greinke, then scores the go-ahead run in the 5th to earn MVP honors for the second straight year. David Price is the winner over Clayton Kershaw, and Andrew McCutchen and Brian Dozier also homer.

Before its 86th All-Star Game, MLB announces the selection of Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Sandy Koufax, and Willie Mays as the sport’s greatest living players. MLB also reveals the fans’ choices of the “Franchise Four” for each organization, unveiling the four most impactful players who best represented the history of each franchise that included honoring the hometown Reds with Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, and Joe Morgan, along with Pete Rose, who received a loud ovation from the Cincinnati fans, being introduced before the start of the Great American Ball Park contest.

Before its 86th All-Star Game, MLB announces the selection of Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Sandy Koufax, and Willie Mays as the sport’s greatest living players. MLB also reveals the fans’ choices of the “Franchise Four” for each organization, unveiling the four most impactful players who best represented the history of each franchise that included honoring the hometown Reds with Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Barry Larkin, and Joe Morgan, along with Pete Rose, who received a loud ovation from the Cincinnati fans, being introduced before the start of the Great American Ball Park contest.

Yoenis Cespedes successfully defends his title as Home Run Derby champion in the annual event held before the All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN. Cespedes defeats Todd Frazier in the final round, 9 long balls to 1, having hit 28 overall. Ken Griffey Jr. was the only other repeat winner in the event, winning in 1998 and 1999.

Yoenis Cespedes successfully defends his title as Home Run Derby champion in the annual event held before the All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN. Cespedes defeats Todd Frazier in the final round, 9 long balls to 1, having hit 28 overall. Ken Griffey Jr. was the only other repeat winner in the event, winning in 1998 and 1999.

Justin Verlander of the Tigers takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning until Mitch Moreland hits a two-out double for the Rangers. Verlander’s teammates back him with three homers – by Torii Hunter, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta – as Detroit cruises to a 5 – 0 win.

Justin Verlander of the Tigers takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning until Mitch Moreland hits a two-out double for the Rangers. Verlander’s teammates back him with three homers – by Torii Hunter, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta – as Detroit cruises to a 5 – 0 win.

Chris Davis ties Reggie Jackson’s 1969 American League record for home runs before the All-Star break when he hits his 37th round-tripper, the best in the majors, in the Orioles’ 7-4 victory against Toronto at Camden Yards. The Baltimore first baseman ends the first half with home runs in his last four games, the same way he started the season.

Chris Davis ties Reggie Jackson’s 1969 American League record for home runs before the All-Star break when he hits his 37th round-tripper, the best in the majors, in the Orioles’ 7-4 victory against Toronto at Camden Yards. The Baltimore first baseman ends the first half with home runs in his last four games, the same way he started the season.

There’s another wild finish in Los Angeles, as the Padres are one out away from losing, 6 – 5, but have Everth Cabrera on third base and Will Venable on second. Cabrera takes advantage of P Kenley Jansen having his back turned to steal home, and when Jansen notices, he throws over catcher A.J. Ellis’s head, allowing Venable to score as well. Huston Street then sets down the Dodgers in the bottom of the inning for the save. It’s not all bad for L.A., though, as OFs Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, both just off the disabled list, have three hits each.

There’s another wild finish in Los Angeles, as the Padres are one out away from losing, 6 – 5, but have Everth Cabrera on third base and Will Venable on second. Cabrera takes advantage of P Kenley Jansen having his back turned to steal home, and when Jansen notices, he throws over catcher A.J. Ellis’s head, allowing Venable to score as well. Huston Street then sets down the Dodgers in the bottom of the inning for the save. It’s not all bad for L.A., though, as OFs Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, both just off the disabled list, have three hits each.