Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Marquis starts suspension — SAN DIEGO — Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis decided to drop his appeal and serve his five-game suspension starting Saturday. — The move means that his next start will be pushed back a day. Because of the off-day Monday, Marquis will now pitch Friday …
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats move Werth to leadoff, bat pitcher eighth — SAN DIEGO — Looking to score more runs on Saturday, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman decided to put right fielder Jayson Werth in the top spot of the lineup, left-hander John Lannan eighth followed by left fielder Brian Bixler.
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Mattheus promoted as Kimball lands on DL
Mattheus promoted as Kimball lands on DL
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Nationals Inquisition
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg visits Nationals for bullpen session
Buster Olney / ESPN.com:
MLB talks switching NL team to AL, sources say — A simple form of realignment has been raised in the labor talks between Major League Baseball and the players' association, according to three sources: two leagues of 15 teams, rather than the current structure of 16 teams in the National League and 14 in the American League.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Baseball Nation, NESN.com, Halos Heaven and baseballmusings.com
Associated Press:
A-Rod plunked after homer; Yanks dump Indians — NEW YORK (AP) — On a busy afternoon in the Bronx, what may have been the event most consequential to the Yankees' hopes this season came on a routine grounder. — Bartolo Colon , working on another strong start in a rebound season full of them …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
After Rest, Girardi's Ire Over Pitch Is Tempered — The Yankees were convinced that the Cleveland right-hander Fausto Carmona intentionally hit Mark Teixeira in the second inning of Friday night's game, an 11-7 Yankees victory. Carmona left Yankee Stadium without speaking to members of the news media …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and River Avenue Blues
Fox Sports:
Source: GIants to sign infielder Hall — The Giants, reacting swiftly to the loss of second baseman Freddy Sanchez, will sign free-agent infielder Bill Hall, according to a major-league source. — Giants at a glance — Sanchez dislocated his right shoulder Friday night while diving …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports, MLB Rumors, Baseball Nation and The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Reds pound Tim Lincecum in 10-2 win over Giants — SAN FRANCISCO - As good as it felt to shut out the World Series champions for eight innings, getting a pair of hits against two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum really made Mike Leake's day. — Leake held the struggling San Francisco hitters …
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Associated Press:
Lee goes eight strong as Phillies beat Cubs — PHILADELPHIA — Chase Utley homered and drove in four runs to back Cliff Lee's eight strong innings and lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. — Lee (6-5) passed teammate Roy Halladay for the league lead in strikeouts …
C. Wesley Baier Updated / Sports Haze:
The Sucktastic Six: Six Players costing the Diamondbacks — No, I'm not talking about six classic villains that have teamed up to get revenge against Spider-Man. What I am talking about is six D-backs players who have been assembled by Kevin Towers (for some reason) to cost the Diamondbacks wins.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
What's going to happen with Turner, Murphy, & Tejada? — In 133 at bats, Justin Turner has hit .293 with a .340 on base percentage, two home runs and 16 RBI. — In 192 at bats, Daniel Murphy has hit .297 with a .357 on base percentage, four home runs and 20 RBI, and he's hit .403 since May 20 …
Discussion:
The Daily Stache
Associated Press:
Sizemore Helps A's Top White Sox, End 10-Game Skid — CHICAGO (AP) — One strike from their 11th consecutive loss, the Oakland Athletics showed interim manager Bob Melvin the desire to win is still there. — Scott Sizemore hit a go-ahead three-run double to rally the Oakland Athletics past the Chicago White Sox 7-5 Friday night.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation, baseballmusings.com and South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Royals homer twice off Santana in win over Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif.—Jeff Francis survived a shaky sixth inning to get his first road victory of the season, left fielder Alex Gordon threw out a runner at home plate and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 Friday night.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball and Royals Review