Each night we'll provide you with the nine top story lines from the day's action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day's matchups.
The Dodgers were trying to finalize a megadeal Wednesday night, and they might not stop there.
MORE: 11 memorable deadline deals of the 21st century | Eight best destinations for David Price
The Dodgers are on the verge of completing a pair of trades with the Braves and Marlins that will involve 12 players and a draft pick. Los Angeles may then try to package some of the six players it received in another deal to land Tigers ace David Price.
While the Dodgers were trying to complete their deals, the Phillies and Rangers agreed to an eight-player trade that will send Cole Hamels, fresh off his no-hitter on Saturday, to Texas. The Phillies will send Hamels, left-handed reliever Jake Diekman and cash to the Rangers in exchange for left-hander Matt Harrison and five prospects.
Meanwhile, on the field, there were some old-fashioned pitchers' duels in St. Petersburg and St. Louis.
Detroit's Justin Verlander struck out 10 batters over eight innings to outduel Tampa Bay's Chris Archer, who struck out 11 over seven innings in Detroit's 2-1 victory at Tropicana Field. Neither pitcher walked a batter.
John Lackey was a hard-luck loser at Busch Stadium despite going eight strong innings with eight strikeouts and a walk. Lackey's lone mistake was a second-inning pitch to Jay Bruce, who smashed the delivery to center field for the game's only run. Bruce's solo homer made a winner of Anthony DeSclafani, who allowed three hits and three walks over seven shutout innings while striking out three.
Here are more highlights from Wednesday's games:
Impact players
C — Yan Gomes, Indians: Gomes was 2 for 4, including a two-run homer as part of a three-RBI day.
1B — Jon Singleton, Astros: Singleton went 2 for 3 with a solo homer and two RBIs in Houston's 6-3 win over the Angels.
2B — Jason Kipnis, Indians: Kipnis went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI in Cleveland's rout of the Royals.
SS — Troy Tulowitzki, Blue Jays: Tulo had an excellent debut for Toronto, going 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs to go with three runs scored.
3B — Yangervis Solarte, Padres: Solarte went 4 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored in San Diego's 7-3 win over the Mets.
OF — Bryce Harper, Nationals: Harper homered twice and drove in four runs as part of a 3-for-4 night that extended his hitting streak to seven games. Harper has reached base in 25 straight games and now leads the National League with 29 home runs.
DH — Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: Bautista went 2 for 5 with an RBI, his 67th of the season, to move him one behind teammate Josh Donaldson and Kansas City's Kendrys Morales for the AL lead.
SP — Corey Kluber, Indians: The reigning American League Cy Young award winner tossed a five-hitter against the Royals. He struck out six and walked one in the complete-game win.
Play of the day
The Royals may have been spanked by the Tribe, but at least Omar Infante and Alcides Escobar teamed up for a pretty slick double play.
Key injuries
Mike Trout (wrist) was held out of the Angels' lineup for a second consecutive game Wednesday. He said the the move was precautionary and that he wants to be 100 percent before he returns.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw was scratched from Wednesday's scheduled start with a sore hip, but he is expected to start Friday against the Angels. Mike Bolsinger replaced Kershaw on Wednesday night against the A's. Bolsinger gave up eight hits and two runs over in five innings. The A's scored four in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead, but the Dodgers answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning en route to a 10-7 victory.
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner will miss a few days after being hospitalized because of a staph infection on his leg.
Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday left Wednesday's loss to the Reds with a strained quad. He will be re-evaluated Thursday.
Trade deadline roundup
The Dodgers, Marlins, Braves, Philies and Rangers weren't the only teams making headlines Wednesday.
The Tigers are in full "reboot" mode, according to general manager Dave Dombrowski. Detroit is willing to listen to offers for ace David Price and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, with the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Giants, Astros and Yankees seen as likely trade partners.
The Mets added Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson to their lineup last week, but they would still like to acquire another "big bat." While the Mets reportedly were interested in Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, they were ready to go another direction Wednesday night. The Mets reportedly reached an agreement with the Brewers that would have sent pitcher Zack Wheeler and infielder Wilmer Flores to Milwaukee in exchange for Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson later said no deal had been made, and later reports said concerns about Wheeler and Gomez's medical records killed the deal.
Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, who was expected to be moved by the deadline, is now unlikely to be dealt.
The Pirates acquired right-hander Joe Blanton from the Royals, who had designated him for assignment following the weekend acquisition of Johnny Cueto from the Reds. Blanton was 2-2 with a 3.89 ERA in 15 games (four starts) with the Royals this year.
Surprise performers
Good: The White Sox have won seven straight and are doing so in impressive fashion. They have scored eight runs or more in the first three games of their current series with the Red Sox while banging out 46 hits, 26 for extra bases.
Bad: You expect Major League Baseball to employ the best players in the world, but the Twins' defense Wednesday was straight out of Little League.
Facts of the day
Jon Lester's 14 strikeouts Wednesday against the Rockies were the most by a Cubs pitcher since Mark Prior fanned 16 Reds on Sept. 30, 2004.
The Red Sox have lost 12 of 15 since Clay Buchholz walked off the mound with elbow tightness on July 10.
Albert Pujols hit his 30th home run of the season, which was also the 550th of his career. With that blast, Pujols created a club in which he's the only member.
Albert Pujols: only player in MLB history to have 13 30-HR seasons within first 15 seasons of his career
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 30, 2015Off the field
A petition was started in May for the White House to award former Yankees great Yogi Berra the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. The White House responded on behalf of President Barack Obama, saying he will consider the St. Louis native for the honor. It also used the famous Yogi line "it ain't over 'til it's over."
The Dodgers sent their rookies, including Joc Pederson, on a coffee run before their game against the A's. The 23-year-old Pederson also revealed his breakfast cereal rankings: Cinnamon Toast Crunch — the favorite cereal of Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen — on top followed by Cap'n Crunch.
Scores
American League
Indians 12, Royals 1
Tigers 2, Rays 1
White Sox 9, Red Sox 2
Rangers 5, Yankees 2
Astros 6, Angels 3
National League
Cubs 3, Rockies 2
Giants 5, Brewers 0
Padres 7, Mets 3
Nationals 7, Marlins 2
Reds 1, Cardinals 0
Interleague
Pirates 10, Twins 4
Diamondbacks 8, Mariners 2
Orioles 2, Braves 0
Phillies 8, Blue Jays 2
Dodgers 10, Athletics 7
A look ahead
Thursday's best games (all times Eastern):
Padres (48-53) at Mets (52-49), 12:10 p.m.: This is one early game to watch, but not to see Andrew Cashner (4-10, 3.93 ERA) face off against Jon Niese (5-9, 3.75). The Padres and Mets are both expected to strike a deal or two before Friday's trade deadline.
Braves (46-55) at Phillies (38-64), 7:05 p.m.: Thursday's contest will be the first game the Phillies play without veteran pitcher Cole Hamels, who had been with the team since 2006. Atlanta and Philadelphia were busy on Wednesday and could make more moves Thursday. Shelby Miller (5-7, 2.27 ERA) will toe the rubber for Atlanta while Aaron Harang (4-11, 4.08 ERA) will go for the Phillies.
Angels (55-45) at Astros (57-45), 8:10 p.m.: Houston native Scott Kazmir (6-5, 2.24 ERA) will make his first home start for the Astros, who will try to remain on top of the AL West standings. Following Thursday's win, Houston is a game up on the second-place Angels, who will send Matt Shoemaker (5-7, 4.55) to the hill.