The trade deadline is two weeks after that. Soon division and wild-card races will really heat up. This season is flying by and, unfortunately, that means labor talks between MLB and the MLB Players Association will begin in earnest.

Rob Manfred has a message for players. Should they believe it? Plus: Reds-Red Sox was exciting (but not for the reasons we hoped), Rangers-Orioles was spellbinding for the same reason public meltdowns go viral,