Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Ellsbury back on DL — Jacoby Ellsbury was seen by a thoracic specialist today who agreed with the diagnosis of four cracked ribs. — “I tried to play with some level of discomfort, knowing I wasn't 100 percent. In doing so, it worsened my condition,” Ellsbury said. — He was returned to the 15-day disabled list.
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Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
The Ellsbury dilemma — Jacoby Ellsbury is scheduled to see a specialist today to determine the status of his cracked ribs and the apparently related pain he has been experiencing lately. — Ellsbury has been on the active roster for 19 games this season. But he was not available to play on 10 of those days because of the injury.
TSN.ca:
BLUE JAYS, ORIOLES SET TO BEGIN STRETCH OF DIVISIONAL GAMES — Sports Network — (Sports Network) - Already 18 games out of first place in the American League East, the Baltimore Orioles can at least try to have some fun by shaking up the standings with 12 straight matchups against their division opponents.
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Richard Griffin / Toronto Star:
Young, rebuilding Blue Jays need to stay the course — In a rare reversal of roles at the major-league level, if the Blue Jays are still within spitting distance of the leaders in the AL East and of a wild-card berth, it's likely the club's young general manager may have to reel in the …
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Note: What Did Mike Francesa Just Say About Me? — Mike Francesa asked on WFAN, 'Who cares what Matthew Cerrone thinks? He then said I look like I am 12 years old, and later asked, “Who reads blogs anyway?” — To get on air and tell him why you read blogs, and engage in new media, call 877-337-6666.
Rob Neyer / ESPN:
Cubs' Lilly cheats, busted by Twitter — It's not often that you see a runner on first base arguing with the first-base umpire. But that's exactly what happened in the bottom of the sixth inning at Wrigley Field today, as Casey Blake got into it with crew chief John Hirschbeck.
Discussion:
DRaysBay, MLB Daily Dish, Fack Youk, Memories Of Kevin Malone, MLB.com, HardballTalk and Sons of Steve Garvey
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Tony Jackson / ESPN:
Andre Ethier of Los Angeles Dodgers ‘tentatively’ scheduled for Monday return
Discussion:
Purple Row
Ben Walker / sny.stats.com:
Mets zero in, shut out Phils for 3rd straight day — NEW YORK (AP) Mike Pelfrey and the New York Mets zeroed in once again. — Pelfrey and the Mets bullpen pulled off a most extraordinary pitching feat in this big-hitting era, shutting out Philadelphia for the third straight game Thursday night …
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pirates place pitcher Morton on DL — The Pirates have placed starter Charlie Morton on the 15-day disabled list because of shoulder fatigue. — Reliever Steven Jackson had his contract purchased from Class AAA Indianapolis. — General manager Neal Huntington said in a statement …
Sports Illustrated:
Lee, Oswalt and Fielder headline summer trade candidates … Thanks to the Astros' longtime pitching star Roy Oswalt and his unusually early trade request, trade speculation has already begun — though the majority of trade-deadline deals won't happen for two months.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Randy Galloway / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers must sweeten the deal to get Roy Oswalt — Our baseball team was in bankruptcy court this week, with a local judge wading through Tom Hicks' red ink, which is so deep that at one point the Honorable Michael Lynn had to make this strange request: — Would a credit card company …
Associated Press:
Kubel belts two homers, powers Twins over Yankees — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jason Kubel (FSY) ended Minnesota's long power drought in a big way, belting two home runs and driving in five runs in the Twins' 8-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday night.
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Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Tigers get Guillen back for A's series — The Tigers got longtime lineup linchpin Carlos Guillen back from the disabled list on Friday, rounding out their roster. — Guillen, who had been sidelined since April 23 with a strained left hamstring, played through a five-game rehabilitation stint for Triple-A Toledo.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
New York Yankees to update plans for Phil Hughes Rules — MINNEAPOLIS — New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland will soon decide how much of the next phase of Phil Hughes Rules they need to implement, ESPNNewYork.com has learned.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Baker to be examined by eye doctor — CHICAGO — Cubs third baseman Jeff Baker was pulled from Thursday's 1-0 win against the Dodgers because he lost vision in his right eye. He was taken to the team's eye specialist to be examined. — Baker didn't react when the Dodgers' Russell Martin lined …
