Baseball

The Pittsburgh Pirates Systems Check video offers a quick overview of the team's farm system, addressing its strengths and weaknesses and how it can improve moving forward.

The video also provides a breakdown of the Pirates’ top prospects for 2014—outfielder Gregory Polanco, right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon and middle infielder Alen Hanson—including each player's ETA in the major leagues and potential long-term role within the organization.

Following Wednesday night's first-inning RBI double, Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies extended his hit streak to 27 games, tying a franchise record, per The Denver Post. Michael Cuddyer—the defending National League batting champion—recently set the mark with his own 27-game streak last season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to conclude a grueling nine-game road trip this week, one that has featured almost every challenge the team could imagine.

The Chicago White Sox Systems Check video offers a quick overview of the team's farm system, addressing its strengths and weaknesses as well as how it can improve moving forward.

The video also provides a breakdown of the White Sox’s top prospects for 2014, right-hander Erik Johnson, third baseman Matt Davidson and outfielder Courtney Hawkins, including each player's ETA in the major leagues and potential long-term role within the organization.

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Just as Clayton Kershaw is coming off the disabled list, Hyun-Jin Ryu is heading onto the disabled list with a shoulder injury. The Los Angeles Dodgers swap their No. 3 pitcher for their No. 1, but their depth has already been tested by injuries, making any further time lost a tough proposition.

Michael Bourn could be headed back to the disabled list after starting the season there. His repaired left hamstring is acting up again, a big problem so closely after surgery.

Missing any time is frustrating to Matt Cain, but the San Francisco Giants are making good use of a little understood MLB rule in order to minimize that lost time. Cain's finger laceration will only cost the minimum time due to the Giants' use of the "retroactive" provision of the disabled list rules.

Baseball's rumor mill is just beginning to spin as we enter the second month of the 2014 season, and with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline only a blip on the horizon at the moment, more rumors will sprout up with each passing day.

Over the next 12 weeks, injuries to key contributors, prospects bursting onto the scene and teams near the bottom of the standings all but throwing in the towel will dictate which squads truly are buyers and sellers—but it's never too early to take a look at which role each team projects to occupy.

The Reds took a bite out of a 7.5-game deficit by taking three of four from the first-place Brewers. Last week, we witnessed a healthy shot of offense while getting the same consistent pitching we've come to expect from this team. Here are the top 10 Reds from last week:

1. Johnny Cueto (last week No.1)

The Atlanta Braves encountered ups and downs over the first month of the season and have now seen their division lead disappear in the National League East.

The Braves didn't finish the month how they'd hoped, as they were swept by both the Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants.

The current seven-game losing streak is the longest slide for the team since an eight-game skid in 2012.