Top News:
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Good guy Anthony Rizzo made a winning play — but he clearly crossed the line — Cubs manager Joe Maddon says Anthony Rizzo's slide into Pirates catcher Elias Diaz to break up a double play as “a perfect play” on Monday, May 28, 2018. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
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Associated Press:
MLB notebook: Pirates' Freese, third base coach in brouhaha — Pirates third baseman David Freese and third base coach Joey Cora had to be separated in the dugout late in Pittsburgh's loss to the Cubs on Monday afternoon. — Neither was available to reporters after the game.
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Pirates manager says it's ‘open season’ on catchers after Anthony Rizzo slide
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs considering having Tyler Chatwood pitch exclusively from stretch position
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards have yet to catch a base-stealer — MILWAUKEE • One of the skills the Cardinals have become so well-known for has led to some unusual history already this season, and when they had a rare wobble Monday, it proved costly. — In the seventh inning at Miller Park …
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals fall further behind the Brewers — MILWAUKEE • With a chance this week to show the gap on the field is slimmer than the one in the standings, the Cardinals visit first-place Milwaukee as a bruised contender, one able to argue that the real difference is the players they're missing and not the plays.
PETER SCHMUCK The Baltimore Sun / Sacramento Bee:
No matter what the Orioles' Alex Cobb does, the outcome seems to be the same — Orioles starter Alex Cobb threw one damaging pitch during the seven innings he pitched in Monday's interleague matchup against the Washington Nationals at Camden Yards, but he lost anyway.
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Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Five truths the Orioles must confront with Memorial Day and one-third of season having passed
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Taking a hard — and realistic — look at the Orioles' trade possibilities with Manny Machado
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Caleb Smith mystifies Padres, gets run support as Marlins snap skid — Caleb Smith was brilliant in dominating a matchup of rookie left-handers, Yadiel Rivera's two-run single capped Miami's four-run first inning, and Cameron Maybin had three hits and two RBIs against his old team to lead …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball and Fish Stripes
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Paul Sporer / ESPN:
Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Tuesday
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds … You could see the weight leaving the players' shoulders in the Diamondbacks dugout as shortstop Nick Ahmed watched his three-run home run leave Chase Field. — For the Diamondbacks, whose offensive struggles have turned them into a punchline …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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Logan Newman / Arizona Sports:
Defensive miscues help D-backs score most runs in one inning since April 26
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Baseball News …
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Oakland Athletics
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Ken Powtak / Associated Press:
Benintendi, Martinez Carry Red Sox Past Blue Jays — Andrew Benintendi celebrates with his Red Sox teammates after his three-run home run in the fourth inning Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. — Andrew Benintendi has continued the hot hitting out of the leadoff spot for injured star Mookie Betts.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Charlie Morton, Astros aim to keep streaking vs. Yankees — Charlie Morton secured the final 12 outs in Game 7 at Dodger Stadium as the Houston Astros became world champions for the first time in team history. — Two months into Houston's title defense, Morton has not stopped winning.
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Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees vs Astros: Gleyber Torres moves up, Didi Gregorius drops, Giancarlo Stanton sits
BEN WALKER (AP Baseball Writer) / MLB Baseball News …:
Verlander stops Yanks again, pitches Astros to 5-1 win
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
STEVE HERRICK (Associated Press) / MLB Baseball News …:
Encarnacion, Chicago's poor defense boost Indians to 9-6 win — Edwin Encarnacion homered and had four RBIs, and the — Cleveland Indians took advantage of Chicago's leaky defense to score five times in the fifth inning, beating the — White Sox 9-6 on Monday.
Discussion:
Columbus Telegram and South Side Sox
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox rookie Matt Skole: 'Couldn't have dreamed' of a better major-league debut
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Roller coaster night at Coors Field leaves Giants feeling ill — DENVER-Coors Field in Colorado is a reliever's theme park, a fantasy land of roller coaster rides where ERAs are destined to rise and late-game lead changes are certain to rock the core of a bullpen back and forth.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
The Hunter Strickland-Bryce Harper brawl ended Mike Morse's career - and it could have been worse
Discussion:
Citizen Times, Federal Baseball and McCovey Chronicles
ESPN:
Sizing up the standings at Memorial Day checkpoint — The old saying in baseball is that you shouldn't check the standings until Memorial Day. Well, with Memorial Day behind us, we figured it was time to assess how the divisions stack up and what stands out at the first unofficial checkpoint of the season.
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
First round MLB draft picks from Arizona … WHAT CHANGED?: MLB mock draft - first edition — 1. Tigers: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn — Explanation: Although it's not a foregone conclusion that he goes No. 1 overall, Mize still looks like the favorite. There isn't another starting pitcher …
Will Graves / Associated Press:
101. 102. 103. 104. 105. Cardinals rookie Jordan Hicks is lighting up radar guns — Jordan Hicks can't explain where the gas comes from. If he's being honest, the St. Louis Cardinals rookie flamethrower doesn't really want to. Best not to overthink it.
Doug Padilla / UPI:
Phillies' Jake Arrieta aims for rare win in Dodger Stadium — The Philadelphia Phillies' Jake Arrieta will take the mound Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, where he has won just once. It was a victory to remember. — In 2015, Arrieta delivered the first of his two career no-hitters …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
After multiple Tommy John surgeries, Jonny Venters gets first save since '11 — Tampa Bay Rays reliever Jonny Venters recorded his first save since August 22, 2011, striking out the only batter he faced on Monday to close out a 13-inning, 1-0 win over the Oakland Athletics.
