Top News:
Jose M. Romero / Associated Press:
Verdugo, bullpen help Dodgers end skids, 2-1 over D-backs — PHOENIX (AP) Alex Verdugo doubled and scored twice, and a struggling Los Angeles bullpen picked up injured starter Hyun-Jin Ryu to help the Dodgers defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 on Wednesday night.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
PUJOLS' PATH — Albert Pujols is two hits from No. 3,000. He got two Wednesday night for the Los Angeles Angels, and can reach the milestone at home against Baltimore. Chris Tillman is set to pitch for the O's — Pujols is 4 for 15 against him. Starting this weekend, the Angels begin a five-game trip to Seattle and Colorado.
Associated Press:
Dodgers' Ryu leaves game with apparent injury — PHOENIX (AP) — Los Angeles starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu left the Dodgers' game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with an apparent injury in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday night. — Ryu stretched his legs before walking off …
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, AZ Snake Pit and True Blue LA
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
L.A. strains to get a victory over Diamondbacks
Discussion:
Sporting News
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Todd Frazier has tirade against umpires after Mets' loss
Discussion:
Sporting News and MLB Baseball News …
Jerry Beach / UPI:
Braves, Mets duke it out for early lead in NL East — NEW YORK — Jason Vargas will take the mound Thursday afternoon for the New York Mets against the Atlanta Braves as the Mets try to return to first place after spending most of the season's opening five weeks atop the National League East.
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Associated Press:
Mets' deGrom leaves loss to Braves with hyperextended elbow
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing and ESPN
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets manager Mickey Callaway says Jacob deGrom, who doesn't have ligament damage, will try to make Monday start
Greg Beacham / Toronto Sun:
Trout, Pujols, Upton HRs power Angels' 10-7 win over Orioles — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Albert Pujols reached 2,998 career hits with a home run and a double, and Justin Upton hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 10-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.
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Alex Butler / UPI:
Angels' Mike Trout breaks Statcast with ‘524-foot’ homer vs. Orioles … Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout broke Statcast, which said he hit a 524-foot homer in a win against the Baltimore Orioles. — The long ball came in the Angels' 10-7 victory against the Orioles Wednesday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif.
Discussion:
New York Daily News, Whittier Daily News and The Comeback
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Bundy allows 3 homers in Orioles' 10-7 loss to Angels; loss is club's 14th in past 17 games
Discussion:
Camden Chat and MLB Baseball News …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Carl Edwards Jr.'s “nasty” stuff earns praise from fellow Cubs pitchers — Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses the team's 11-2 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — New Cubs closer Brandon Morrow didn't know much about Carl Edwards Jr. outside of one trendy statistic.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs-Cardinals rivalry isn't living up to the hype — so far
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
C. Martinez sparks Cards to victory over White Sox
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and MLB Baseball News …
Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Warming Indians play two vs. Blue Jays — CLEVELAND — After an extremely slow start to the season offensively, Cleveland Indians hitters have warmed with the weather. Cleveland will conclude its longest homestand of the season, 11 games, on Thursday with a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
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ESPN:
Blue Jays activate Josh Donaldson from DL — The Toronto Blue Jays activated third baseman Josh Donaldson from the 10-day disabled list on Thursday. — Donaldson was placed on the DL last month with right shoulder inflammation. — Donaldson, the AL MVP in 2015, is batting .239 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 12 games.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Associated Press:
Fernando Romero wins MLB debut for Twins, 4-0 over Blue Jays — MINNEAPOLIS — Fernando Romero's major league debut for Minnesota carried the extra weight of a Twins team that won only once in its previous 12 games. — No pressure, kid. — Well, he sure didn't appear to feel any.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Twinkie Town and globalnews.ca
Ken Powtak / Associated Press:
Betts homers 3 times as Red Sox beat Royals 5-4 — BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts belted three solo homers and J.D. Martinez also went deep, powering the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. — It was the fourth three-homer game for the 25-year-old Betts …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Over the Monster
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Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Harper shining as Nats go for sweep of Pirates — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals can reach the .500 mark when they go for their fifth straight victory Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. — Washington, led by new leadoff hitter Bryce Harper, pounded the Pirates again Wednesday night, this time 9-3.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
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Harvey Valentine / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Harper homers, Strasburg whiffs 11 as Nats top Pirates 9-3
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Joey Votto reminds St. Louis Uber drivers that he won an MVP over Albert Pujols — Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was the National League MVP in 2010, beating out then-Cardinals star Albert Pujols, who had won the award the previous two years. — Votto is so proud of this that he brags …
Discussion:
The Athletic and MLB Baseball News …
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Aaron Nola cements ace status, stops Phillies' skid by dominating Marlins — MIAMI — It started to happen last summer. — Pitch by pitch, start by start, every five days or so, Aaron Nola began to resemble the honest-to-goodness ace the Phillies lacked since they traded Cole Hamels midway through 2015.
Discussion:
The Good Phight, MLB Baseball News … and Phillies Nation
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Associated Press:
Severino hurls shutout, Stanton powers Yanks past Astros 4-0 — New York has taken two of three in a four-game series against Houston. — HOUSTON - Luis Severino pitched a five-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts for his first career complete game, Giancarlo Stanton homered twice and drove in four runs …
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notebook: Waino sharp, but unlikely to start this weekend — Cardinals righthander Adam Wainwright, recovering from a sore right elbow, threw his first bullpen session in two weeks and was pleased. He threw 35 to 40 pitches in a couple of increments with no pain as he renewed his lower arm slot.
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Associated Press:
Yoenis Cespedes snaps chain sliding into 2B, leaving diamonds on the diamond — NEW YORK — Yoenis Cespedes left it all on the diamond Wednesday night — or, at least, probably several thousand dollars' worth of diamonds. — The New York Mets slugger snapped his glitzy necklace during …
Steve Rosenbloom / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Did the Cubs get the extended warranty when they purchased Yu Darvish? — Cubs starter Yu Darvish discusses his “bad rhythm” in the team's 11-2 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Did the Cubs also pay for the extended warranty with Yu Darvish?
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and Bleed Cubbie Blue
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Yelich homers, Miley wins debut, Brewers sweep Reds 3-1 — CINCINNATI (AP) — Wade Miley made a positive first impression in his debut with the Milwaukee Brewers. — Miley pitched six effective innings, Christian Yelich homered and the Brewers swept the sloppy Cincinnati Reds with a 3-1 win on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Grading early returns on the MLB offseason's biggest moves — Grading a hot stove transaction in early May is the baseball equivalent of judging Tiger Woods' round when he's standing on the fourth tee at Augusta National. In the face of such a limited sample size, the numbers are subject to constant re-evaluation.
