Top 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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Another rough outing for Jason Vargas is a reminder for Mets to be careful with Jacob deGrom — The Mets got good news in the morning and everything was downhill from there. After announcing they were hopeful that Jacob deGrom could make his next start after leaving Wednesday night's game …
Associated Press:
Mets' deGrom leaves loss to Braves with hyperextended elbow
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing, Talking Chop and ESPN
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
No pitching, no hitting for NY Mets adds up to three-game sweep at hands of Braves
John Rowe / Daily Record:
No pitching, no hitting for NY Mets adds up to three-game sweep at hands of Braves
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.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Bob Baum / Associated Press:
Ryu out until after All-Star break with groin injury — PHOENIX (AP) — More bad news for the Los Angeles Dodgers. — Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will be sidelined until after the All-Star break with a severe left groin strain.
Discussion:
Purple Row and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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:
Yankees rally past Astros for wild 6-5 win — HOUSTON (AP) — Aroldis Chapman struck out AL MVP Jose Altuve on three straight 101 mph fastballs with two on to end the game, and the New York Yankees got a key hit from rookie Gleyber Torres during a three-run rally in the ninth inning to seesaw past the Houston Astros 6-5 Thursday.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Royals hit 3 homers as offense powers 10-6 win over Tigers — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ned Yost was happy to see Jorge Soler's pitch recognition sharpen, slugging first baseman Lucas Duda produce some timely hits and Alex Gordon's long-awaited breakout continue for at least another day.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Gleyber Torres delivers clutch 9th inning hit as Yankees come back to win wild one vs. Astros, 6-5 — HOUSTON — Leave it to the kid. — Gleyber Torres delivered a game-tying, two-run single in the ninth inning, as the Yankees rallied back from a 5-3 deficit to defeat the Astros, 6-5 …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Ichiro Suzuki Moves To Front Office Role, Will Not Continue Playing In 2018 — The Mariners announced today that future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki has is moving to a front office role where he'll serve as a special assistant to the chairman, effective immediately.
Discussion:
Mercury News, NBCSports.com, The Seattle Times, MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball and Lookout Landing
RELATED:
MarinersPR / From the Corner of Edgar & Dave:
Mariners Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki Transitioning to New Role
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, USA Today, Chicago Sun-Times, The Comeback and Deadspin
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 …
RELATED:
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Padre punch: Rookies Franchy Cordero, Christian Villanueva show off power
C. Trent Rosecrans / The Athletic:
Q&A: Joey Votto on Albert Pujols' place in the game, competitiveness, and relationship to St. Louis
Discussion:
USA Today and MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
MLB to announce Yankees-Red Sox games in London — Major League Baseball intends to announce next week that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will play two games at London's Olympic Stadium in June next year, a person close to the planning told The Associated Press.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball and Pinstripe Alley
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.
Discussion:
Naples Herald
RELATED:
Alex Butler / UPI:
Angels' Mike Trout breaks Statcast with ‘524-foot’ homer vs. Orioles
Discussion:
New York Daily News, Whittier Daily News and The Comeback
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:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Daniel Norris back on feet after successful surgery — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Daniel Norris is back on his feet. — That was the most interesting news in the Detroit Tigers' announcement Thursday morning that Norris had underwent successful surgery on his left groin and pelvic region.
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
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.
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
NESN.com
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 …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
