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MLB The Show 21’s Summer Circuit competition is its first competitive cross-platform tournament series. It will be similar to circuits held for the previous game, MLB The Show 20, and competitors will be fighting for a variety of different prizes including money and Stubs for in-game content. Those interested in competing must build a Diamond Dynasty team in MLB The Show 21 to use in competitions. The winner of this circuit will take home a $15,000 prize, but that’s not the only potential reward for successful players....

Among other requested features like a deeper Road To The Show experience and more offline capabilities for Diamond Dynasty mode, custom stadium creation has been pretty high on the fan wish list for MLB The Show 21. Creating a stadium not only allows players to play baseball in a place that is completely their own, but also gives them the opportunity to make crazy, unrealistic ballparks and just have fun....

“Chances are pretty high” New York moves the 29-year-old starter before the July 31 trade deadline, according to a report from Yahoo Sports, which cites an unidentified team source. Wheeler is on the injured list with shoulder fatigue. But, he threw a simulated game Tuesday and is expected to be activated later this week. New York believes it can “still get a solid return” for Wheeler despite the injury, according to an earlier report from the New York Post....

Per the Toronto Star, manager Charlie Montoyo said Monday that he didn’t expect the inflammation to be major and that Giles was “working through it,” but, the Star noted, the timing is anything but no big deal for the sell-mode Blue Jays with the trade deadline looming at 4 p.m. Wednesday. It’s also the third time since the start of June that Giles’ elbow has been an issue. “If he’s not 100 percent, we’re not going to pitch him,” Montoyo said (via ESPN....

As such, there are plenty of names percolating on the hot stove. But most rumored deals involve outfielder Justin Upton, who was acquired by the Padres as part of an ill-fated offseason overhaul that hasn’t produced as intended. MORE: Best Home Run Derby photos from 2015 | Orioles minor league affiliate to wear ‘Rugrats’ uniforms Among the teams most interested in Upton, whose contract expires after the season, are the Orioles and Astros, according to Fox Sports....

CATCHER Best trade candidate: Miguel Montero, DiamondbacksBest fit: Dodgers Montero, who turned 31 last month, is hitting .257/.341/.396 with 11 home runs, decent numbers but not ones fitting the profile of someone who should be making $10 million for a team with the Diamondbacks’ budget, with $40 million due over the next three seasons – he should get through waivers. In Los Angeles, A.J. Ellis is hitting .197/.340/.243 in 189 plate appearances during an injury-plagued season, and his backup is Drew Butera, a career ....

The agreement implemented after the MLB lockout had a few notable rule changes to be put into play for 2022, including the long-sought-after universal designated hitter. National League pitchers will no longer hit moving forward, which is going to change roster construction. Now, NL teams will have to consider the DH spot in their lineup for the first time outside interleague games. While some National League teams are ready for the change, others are going to have a bit of an adjustment period....

1. The Dodgers think it is absolutely adorable that people are talking about the Cubs going to the World Series. Really, that’s just great. MORE: Kemp headed for Padres | Hard for Phillies to say goodbye to yesterday with Rollins trade | Marlins’ trade for Gordon grades as a Dee-minus Oh, here’s new shortstop Jimmy Rollins to provide offensive value and solidify the infield defense. So long to Dee Gordon, who didn’t hit a lick in the second half of the season, and hello to Howie Kendrick , acquired for Andrew Heaney, one of the players in the Gordon deal, and really making the Marlins look silly ....

But Gerrit Cole struck out 11 and gave up only two runs in six innings Sunday to lead the Astros to a 3-2 win, as they completed a three-game sweep of Seattle. Houston (11-5) has now won nine straight and trails the Mariners (13-5) by only one game in the AL West. MORE: Watch ‘ChangeUp,’ a new MLB live whiparound show on DAZN Aledmys Diaz provided the winning run in the seventh with a line-drive home run down the left-field line....

The Orlando City striker’s hype train has been building steam since he set MLS ablaze in his maiden season two years ago, easily setting the MLS rookie record with 17 goals. A gifted striker with pace, power and a nose for goal, the Canadian international eschewed the mythical “sophomore slump” last season en route to 14 more goals. Larin’s prodigious talent and consistent performances, combined with his age (he turns 22 on April 17) have resulted in a barrage of interest from abroad....

The Houston Dynamo have been one of the pleasant surprises early on, but they will be leaving the friendly confines of BBVA Compass Stadium for the first time as they head to Portland to take on the fellow unbeaten Timbers. San Jose is in the same boat, as the Earthquakes travel to Sporting Kansas City after opening the season with a pair of home victories. Sporting KC is a good opponent to test just how seriously we should take San Jose’s strong start....

Below, you will find two of the best bets for today’s slate of MLB games. Bet #1: Atlanta Braves Team Total over 5.5 (-105) vs. the Washington Nationals The Atlanta Braves are the hottest team in the MLB. They have won 13 straight games and have gone over this line of 5.5 runs in eight out of those 13. After a slow start to the season, the Braves have turned it around and now rank in the top 10 of MLB teams, scoring 4....

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is interested in bringing the 30-year-old hurler to the north side, according to MLB.com. TOP FREE AGENTS: 25 best | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP | RP Samardzija went 11-13 with a 4.96 ERA last season. He allowed five or more earned runs in 11 starts during that time, including five out of six starts in August....

“We are not considering shorter-term deals at this time. The goal has been and will continue to be a long-term contract for Justin Upton,” Upton’s agent, Larry Reynolds, said Friday (via MLB.com). MORE: The top 10 highest-paid MLB players Earlier reports Friday said that Upton may be satisfied with accepting a one-year deal this offseason and then testing the market again after the 2016 season. That could pay off if he continues putting up top-end offensive numbers, but it looks like he doesn’t want to take that risk and wants to cash in sooner rather than later....

The Rangers were aggressive before the lockdown hit, signing middle infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to massive deals and bringing Jon Gray in to help shore up the rotation. The Mets locked down Max Scherzer, plus Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha. The Tigers brought in Javier Baez and Eduardo Rodriguez. MORE: Why baseball fans often side with owners during a labor dispute Fans of those clubs are happy, with the big presents wrapped and under the tree....

A two-month hot start will now mean the same thing as a two-month hot finish. The short-terming would seem to favor the more established winning teams vs. upstart clubs, but there’s bound to be more unpredictability with batter and pitching performances, too, with a smaller sample size. That makes the MLB odds a lot more interesting for 2020, from World Series futures to team win totals to individual player props....

DeGrom’s strikeouts tied Tom Seaver’s single-game franchise postseason record set in Game 1 of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds. It’s also the first time a pitcher has struck out 13 batters and surrendered zero runs in his postseason debut since Tim Lincecum in 2010. MORE: Best NLDS photos | Starters combine to make postseason history Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy opened the scoring with a solo home run in the fourth inning....

The Rangers’ All-Star third baseman sat out Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Friday with a back strain. His replacement, Hanser Alberto, delivered an RBI single in the top of the 14th inning to give the Rangers the lead for good in Toronto. MORE: Top ALDS photos | MLB postseason schedule Delino DeShields Jr. gave Texas insurance with an RBI infield single off Jays reliever Liam Hendriks....

The Phillies selected Goeddel, a corner outfielder, from the Rays with the first pick in Thursday’s Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn. Goeddel, who turned 23 in October, was the 41st overall pick in the 2011 draft. Drafted as a third baseman, he shifted to the outfield full-time in 2015 at Double-A Montgomery. He hit .279/.350/.433 with 17 doubles, 10 triples and 12 homers in 123 games while also stealing 28 bases....