noteworthy

Chris Coghlan set a career-high with his 10th homer on Friday for the Chicago Cubs, but the former Ole Miss standout is a long way back in the all-Mississippi home run derby. The leader, Southern Miss product Brian Dozier, shows no signs of powering down. He yanked his 21st of the year on Friday, a second-deck shot at Target Field in Minnesota. Second on the list is Mitch Moreland, the ex-Mississippi State star, who has 16 for Texas. … Several clubs are asking about Moreland’s availability in a trade, reports say. The left-handed hitting first baseman, having a big year, is making an affordable $2.95M; he is eligible for arbitration in 2016. The Rangers reportedly are not eager to deal him. … MSU product Jonathan Papelbon, who is on the trading block but with no apparent takers, notched save No. 17 (in 17 opportunities) for Philadelphia. … Meridian Community College alum Corey Dickerson returned to the Colorado lineup on Friday and banged out two hits in his first game since June 16 (plantar fasciitis). He is hitting .308 with five homers in 39 games. … Taylorsville’s Billy Hamilton grounded into a double play on Friday, just the fourth time in 250 career MLB games that he has been doubled up. … Ex-State star Tyler Moore picked up a couple of RBIs for Washington, giving him 22 for the season in 139 at-bats, but he still hasn’t homered since June 12. … Pascagoula’s Joey Butler has gone 23 days without an RBI for Tampa Bay; he has 21 in 64 games. … Ole Miss alum Alex Presley was outrighted to the minors by Houston. There had been speculation that the lefty-hitting outfielder might be traded when the Astros designated him for assignment a week ago.