Top News:
Associated Press:
Kelly Pitches Cardinals to 6-2 Win Over Braves — ST. LOUIS — Joe Kelly pitched six effective innings, Matt Holliday broke out of a slump with two doubles and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2 on Thursday night. — David Freese drove in two runs as St. Louis won for the fifth time in six games.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and TSN.ca
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
Mets fall apart in extra innings against Braves after blown call, Chris Johnson home run — In the top of the 10th, first base umpire Jerry Layne ruled Freddie Freeman had beaten out the throw on a come-backer that got past reliever Scott Rice. Johnson homered on the very first pitched offered …
Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Jason Heyward out 4-6 weeks with broken jaw — NEW YORK — The Braves' short two-game series in New York wasn't quite short enough. The team watched their dynamic young right fielder Jason Heyward get struck in the right jaw by a Jonathon Niese fastball in the sixth inning Wednesday …
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Deadspin, MLB Daily Dish and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Metsblog:
Mets sign Daisuke Matsuzaka, to start Friday — The Mets announced they have signed RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, and he has been named tomorrow night's starter against the Tigers. — Matsuzaka will wear number 16. — To make room on the active roster for Matsuzaka, the Mets option RHP Greg Burke to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com:
Daisuke Matsuzaka has a deal with the Mets, sources say. — Word is, he is expected to go right to the big leagues with the Mets. — The Mets have suffered some injuries to their rotation lately, including Jeremy Hefner and Jenrry Mejia.
Discussion:
SI Wire, Amazin' Avenue and MLB Rumors
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Big Papi defends A-Rod, 'didn't like' drilling — SAN FRANCISCO — In an era of increasing intolerance for users of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, Alex Rodriguez has been the target of sharp criticism from his peers and, on Sunday, a fastball at his midsection from Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster.
Discussion:
Red Sox Monster, The LoHud Yankees Blog, CBSSports.com, SBNation.com and Sportsnet.ca
RELATED:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Dempster gets five games for plunking A-Rod
Dempster gets five games for plunking A-Rod
Discussion:
Boston Globe, True Blue LA, Surviving Grady, The Providence Journal and MLB Rumors
Ben Cherington / Union-News:
Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington on the art of negotiation a year after Dodgers blockbuster
Boston Red Sox GM Ben Cherington on the art of negotiation a year after Dodgers blockbuster
Discussion:
Sportsnet.ca
Associated Press:
Gillaspie Lifts White Sox Over Royals, 4-3 in 12 — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Conor Gillaspie homered leading off the 12th inning Thursday night, lifting the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Royals and their first three-game sweep in Kansas City since 2005.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Adam McCalvy / Brew Beat:
Braun issues statement — Ryan Braun released this statement tonight: — Now that the initial MLB investigation is over, I want to apologize for my actions and provide a more specific account of what I did and why I deserved to be suspended. I have no one to blame but myself.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Brew Crew Ball
Associated Press:
Herrmann's Late Double Lifts Twins Over Tigers 7-6 — DETROIT — Chris Herrmann's second RBI double of the game broke an eighth-inning tie and helped the Minnesota Twins to a 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. — With two out, Herrmann lined a ball into the right-center field gap.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town, CBSSports.com and Associated Press
Canadian Press:
Nationals beat Cubs after Strasburg blows lead in 9th inning — CHICAGO — Denard Span scored the go-ahead run on pinch-hitter Chad Tracy's grounder in the 13th inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Thursday after Stephen Strasburg blew a three-run lead in the ninth.
Discussion:
ESPN and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Steve Adams / MLB Rumors:
Rays Claim David DeJesus Off Revocable Waivers — 11:37am: Rogers tweets that the Rays are the team that has claimed DeJesus. — 11:22am: The Braves are not the team that claimed DeJesus, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago (Twitter link). — 10:58am: An unknown team …
Discussion:
Tampa Bay Times, MLB Daily Dish and DRaysBay
CSN Bay Area:
Giants torn on how to wrap up the Barry Zito era — SAN FRANCISCO — So many times over so many seasons, it seemed the Giants would never reach the end of Barry Zito's seven-year, $126 million contract. — Zito is in his last stages of guaranteed life as a Giant now.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and The Strike Zone