SALEM, Va. — Children are everywhere.

Some are running on the grass behind the first base stands at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. A handful are playing whiffle ball inside a miniature version of Fenway Park, complete with a diminutive Green Monster, near the main entrance. Others are eating ice cream and hot dogs.

A few are even watching baseball.

In the first week of June, James Shields was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Chicago White Sox. On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers sent former top pitching prospect Zach Lee to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for infielder Chris Taylor.

Our mission as the dog days of summer begin is to construct an MLB superteam using the top teammate tandems from around the league.

The team's roster will be built using the following five groups of teammates:

This seemed to be the state of the Boston Red Sox's starting rotation at the outset of 2016: a true ace in David Price, a few guys they hoped could be his co-ace, and a knuckleballer who figured to be neither.

This is yet another reason there's a file marked "Can't Predict Baseball."

The first day of summer is here, and the MLB landscape continues to shift on a weekly basis as teams look to establish themselves as bona fide contenders.

At this point, the Chicago Cubs remain in a tier of their own at the top, but a handful of teams look like viable title contenders in their own right. The Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants are both red-hot right now, and the Washington Nationals certainly opened some eyes when they took two of three from the Cubs in Washington last week.

The fantasy baseball waiver wire can't stay hot forever.

Through hot streaks, call-ups and role changes, a steady stream of worthwhile free agents circulate on a regular basis. Yet an upgrade isn't always available at no cost, and there's no law requiring fantasy players to pick someone up every week. 

This might be a week to lay low. Assembling a fruitful list of 10 waiver-wire recommendations has never proved tougher this season. Some options are limited to smaller mixed leagues.

NEW YORK — The legend of Thor began with a single pitch.

It wasn't the first pitch Noah Syndergaard ever threw in the major leagues. It wasn't even a strike, although that was kind of the point.

It wasn't supposed to be a strike. It was supposed to make a statement.

And just in case it didn't, Syndergaard followed it up with words.

"Hit that first pitch," he said in a text that night to Frank Viola, his Triple-A pitching coach.

Last season, the New York Mets mixed a sputtering offense with a strong, young pitching staff, added a healthy dollop of trade-deadline cavalry and rolled to a World Series appearance.

Now, the Queens faithful had better hope history repeats itself.

San Diego Padres center fielder Jon Jay left Sunday evening's game against the Washington Nationals after suffering a right forearm contusion, the team announced. 

Continue for updates.

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood has landed on the disabled list with a back injury, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reported Sunday. Colorado has recalled Scott Oberg from the minor leagues to take his spot on the roster.  

Chatwood has been Colorado's ace this season with an 8-4 record and 3.15 ERA. 

More to follow.