The Texas Rangers, who have emerged as one of the most dominant teams in the majors this season, pulled off the first major trade of the summer on Friday, snagging perennial All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman from the Kansas City Royals.

Cole Ragans, a 25-year-old starting pitcher, and Roni Cabrera, a 17-year-old outfielder, were acquired from the Royals in exchange.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres wrapped up a three-game series at PNC Park on Thursday despite a 45-minute delay.

The game was delayed because of smoke and poor air quality in Pittsburgh stemming from wildfires in Canada. The air quality index in Pittsburgh was in the "very unhealthy" range Thursday afternoon.

Multiple games were postponed due to poor air quality earlier this month. Major League Baseball has the final say on such matters.

Andrew McCutchen wore a mask on the bases, which is the current recommendation when you go outdoors in Pittsburgh.

"Of course I'm concerned," McCutchen said. "You read the alerts. You read everything they're saying, trying to stay safe from outside. One of the main things is to avoid strenuous activity, and that's what we're doing for three-plus hours out there."

The San Diego Padres have had a disappointing first half of the season, but Joe Musgrove still believes in the club.

Halfway through the season, the Padres are 37-44.

"I know from the outside it looks like a bunch of overpaid guys not performing," Musgrove said. "But sometimes there's just no answer. We're going through it right now."

San Diego began the season with baseball's third-highest payroll at nearly $258 million.

Clayton Kershaw is dealing with a "cranky" pitching shoulder and remains optimistic he'll be able to make his next start for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kershaw said that he felt some tenderness in his left shoulder during his last outing Tuesday at the Colorado Rockies.

He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and left the game after 79 pitches and one hit allowed in an eventual 5-0 win. Kershaw, 35, said he underwent a medical exam on Wednesday and was given a shot to relieve inflammation.

"So somewhat optimistic that it should be good to hopefully not miss a start," said Kershaw, who leads the Dodgers with a 2.55 ERA and 105 strikeouts. "With the All-Star break coming up, we have some time to potentially shift things around, so we'll see. But as of now, I'm kind of on the same day-to-day basis."

The Milwaukee Brewers are shaking up their infield, sending Luis Urias to the minor leagues.

In a corresponding move, the Brewers promoted infielder Brice Turang from Triple-A Nashville.

Urias hit .145 with a .299 on-base percentage, .236 slugging percentage, 1 homer and 5 RBIs in 20 games since returning from a hamstring injury. 

The Texas Rangers will have a franchise-record four starters at the All-Star Game in Seattle, the most of any Major League club.

Catcher Jonah Heim, third baseman Josh Jung, shortstop Marcus Semien and shortstop Corey Seager will represent the first-place Rangers.

"We all strive to be the best we can be. And if the fans acknowledge us this year, that means we're doing something," Semien said.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and All-Star starter Mookie Betts will participate in this year's Home Run Derby.

Betts is now the third hitter to confirm he'll be part of the eight-man field, joining Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners and Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Last week, Betts said he would take part in the Derby provided he was named as an All-Star.

"It's the last thing I haven't done," he said. "My wife kind of compared it to [NBA superstar LeBron James] not doing the dunk contest. And that's not a knock or anything, but she just feels like for what I'm trying to do in baseball, bring awareness to Black culture, I should probably be more involved."

For the first time since his rookie season in 2019, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. will participate in the Home Run Derby.

He announced Thursday that he will take part in this year's event July 10 in Seattle.

Guerrero, 24, finished second but set a Derby record with 91 home runs in 2019.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider will pitch to Guerrero. Schneider, who managed Guerrero at Double-A, was a Blue Jays coach when he pitched to Guerrero at the 2019 derby in Cleveland.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will activate Julio Urias off the injured list on Saturday to start against the Kansas City Royals.

The left-hander has been out since May 18 due to a hamstring injury. 

Urias had a 4.39 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings prior the injury. He finished third in National League Cy Young voting in 2022.

The Houston Astros will prioritize adding offense ahead of the trade deadline, says general manager Dana Brown.

During an appearance on the Sean Salisbury Show, Brown said that while the front office is "always open to acquiring an arm," the club is "focused right now on a bat."

Brown also suggested the trade market has yet to really heat up, in large part because of the number of clubs that have yet to pick a direction.