Top News:
D.J. Short / HardballTalk:
Mariano Rivera diagnosed with torn ACL in right knee, out for season — UPDATE: Uh-oh. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Mariano Rivera was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee. — It's being called a “preliminary report” and Rivera will travel back to New York to see team doctors …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Pinstripe Alley, Getting Blanked, Yahoo! Sports, The Big Lead and It's About The Money
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Mariano strains right knee while shagging flies — MRI for Yankees closer scheduled for later Thursday night — KANSAS CITY — The Yankees prepared for Thursday's game against the Royals with their fingers crossed after closer Mariano Rivera crumpled on the outfield warning track while shagging fly balls during batting practice.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Joe Christensen / Around the Majors:
Postgame: Weaver feasts on Twins; Gardenhire fumes — Postgame: Weaver feasts on famished Twins offense; Gardenhire fumes — Angels righthander Jered Weaver threw his no-hitter Wednesday night by feasting on a Twins offense that looked completely inept for most of the series.
Discussion:
6-4-2 and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / MLB:
Angels' Weaver tosses 2nd no-hitter of season
Discussion:
ESPN, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Halos Heaven, Batter's Box Interactive … and baseballmusings.com
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Alvarez powers Pirates to first lead — ST. LOUIS • The not-so-secret reason behind Jake Westbrook's success this season has been his ability to keep opponents grounder. — He has a sinker that the hitter knows he's going to throw and still it's good enough to get a groundout.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Mark Saxon / MLB:
Angels get Frieri from Padres to bolster bullpen — ANAHEIM — The Los Angeles Angels acquired reliever Ernesto Frieri from the San Diego Padres on Thursday in exchange for minor leaguers Alexi Amarista and Donn Roach. — Frieri will join the Angels before their game on Friday …
Discussion:
6-4-2 and Associated Press
Associated Press:
Blanton's rare shutout leads Phillies by Braves … ATLANTA — Joe Blanton pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout in five years and Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Purple Row
RELATED:
Terry Pluto / Plain Dealer:
Can the Cleveland Indians salvage Ubaldo Jimenez? Terry Pluto — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Dan O'Dowd made it known that Ubaldo Jimenez was available; it was as much a warning as an opportunity. — The Tribe knew that. Just as they know O'Dowd well. He is the team's former assistant general manager from 1988-98.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals place Betancourt on DL, promote Falu — KANSAS CITY — Infielder Yuniesky Betancourt's troublesome right ankle sprain has finally landed him on the Royals' 15-day disabled list. — The move was made on Thursday, and infielder Irving Falu was called up from Triple-A Omaha to take Betancourt's spot on the active roster.
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Inbox: Does Ross project to be a starter? — Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan fields questions from Rangers' fans — Robbie Ross is thriving in his current role, but will he eventually be in the rotation? — Not likely. If the Rangers needed another starter for an extended period of time …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Ben Lindbergh / Baseball Prospectus:
Spoiling the Bunch — If you've paid any attention to the 2012 season, you know that Albert Pujols has yet to hit a home run. The three-time MVP, fresh off the first homerless month of his career, is hitting just .208/.252/.287 with career-worst walk and strikeout rates.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Dodgers' under-the-radar moves paying off — Colletti's offseason acquisitions making significant contributions — CHICAGO — With new owners in place back home, general manager Ned Colletti rejoined his first-place club Thursday with decisions looming on making the Dodgers even better.
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Chris Schwinden roughed up by Chris Johnson and Houston, Astros complete sweep of NY Mets with 8-1 win — Mets finish six-game road swing 2-4 — Chris Schwinden struggles in four innings on Wednesday, allowing five runs on six hits, including two homers to Houston's Chris Johnson (below).
Discussion:
ESPN, Amazin' Avenue, New Jersey Online and New York Times
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Reds Rally vs Marmol, Beat Cubs 4-3 in 10 Innings — CINCINNATI (AP) — Wild Cubs closer Carlos Marmol helped Cincinnati rally for three runs in the ninth to tie it, and Scott Rolen hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning that swept the Reds to a 4-3 victory Thursday and two-game split.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Sandoval has broken hamate bone in left hand — Third baseman missed 41 games last year with broken right hand — Pablo Sandoval, the Giants' third baseman and second-leading hitter, has a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. — The Giants placed Sandoval on the 15-day disabled list …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
