Top News:
Sarah Langs / ESPN:
What does being in first place on June 1 mean? — As baseball enters June, the Red Sox, Indians, Astros, Braves, Brewers and Rockies might feel like they're sitting pretty, holding the division lead as the season enters the summer months. — But the longevity of that divisional prowess is not a given.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
RELATED:
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Correa's 2-run shot helps Astros over Red Sox 4-2 — HOUSTON (AP) - Carlos Correa snapped an 0 for 10 slump with a two-run homer in the first and Tony Kemp and Jake Marisnick had an RBI each to help the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Minor League Ball, Over the Monster, MLB Baseball News … and The Crawfish Boxes
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Martinez goes four innings for Springfield — Carlos Martinez, who last pitched for the Cardinals on May 8 when he sustained a strained right lat, took what is presumed to be his last step toward rejoining the club when he worked four innings at Class AA Springfield Thursday night …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Part-time play hasn't limited Bader, Cards' new full-fledged WAR leader
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notebook: O'Neill's flaws exposed; DeJong hopes for early July return
Dana Gauruder / UPI:
Blue Jays say good riddance to May, face Tigers — The Toronto Blue Jays are glad to put May behind them. — They couldn't hit or pitch well for the balance of the month, resulting in a woeful 9-19 record. That was the team's lowest wins total in May since 1981.
Discussion:
Batter's Box Interactive … and Bluebird Banter
RELATED:
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — It was, in a word, impressive. — Most series wins are for the Detroit Tigers. But this one, over a team considered to be one of the top-heavy American League's best, in a four-game set, counted as their most impressive of the season. — The Tigers — without Miguel Cabrera …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Baseball roundup: Newcomb dazzles as Braves beat Nats — Sean Newcomb pitched seven strong innings for his sixth straight win, leading the Atlanta Braves back into first place with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Washington Nationals on Thursday night. — In the start of a four-game series between …
RELATED:
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
5 things about the Braves' series-opening win vs. the Nationals
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Newcomb impressive, Braves beat Nats to move back into 1st place
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Federal Baseball
DOUG PADILLA (Associated Press) / MLB Baseball News …:
Nola shuts down Dodgers as Phillies spoil Kershaws return — Aaron Nola pitched seven innings of two-hit ball and the — Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 Thursday, spoiling — Clayton Kershaw's first start in almost a month. — Hitting out of the No. 8 spot in the Phillies' lineup …
Discussion:
The Good Phight
RELATED:
ESPN:
Ten players who should be first-time All-Stars — Not only has Major League Baseball welcomed wave after wave of young, exciting talent into its player ranks in recent seasons, but science and technology advances — combined with testing conventional thinking — are allowing more veteran players to remake and improve themselves.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Eric KarabellESPN Senior / ESPN:
Karablog: What to do with Clayton Kershaw — The only thing that seems to be able to derail Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, other than the occasional October outing, as one is certainly obligated to point out, is injury. The team's ace — or is that Ross Stripling now? …
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Stephanie Apstein / Sports Illustrated:
The Control Pitcher: As Free Agency Looms, Will Clayton Kershaw Win It All in L.A.?
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Clayton Kershaw To Undergo MRI On Back
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, True Blue LA and MLB Baseball News …
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Votto: Letterman, Seinfeld ‘incorrect in their assumptions’ — Joey Votto's sense of humor is gold, Jerry! Gold! — Votto responded to the stories David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld told about their encounters with the Cincinnati Reds All-Star first baseman on Letterman's Netflix show …
Discussion:
USA Today
Associated Press:
Cruz homer sparks Mariners to 6-1 win over Rangers — SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have been waiting for Nelson Cruz to get going. They have been waiting for Dee Gordon to return from the disabled list. And they had been waiting for a victory after two losses at home.
Discussion:
ESPN
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Lindor's pair of homers leads Indians past Twins 9-8 — MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins were surging into the eighth inning after erasing Cleveland's eight-run lead, chasing what would have been a club-record comeback. — Ah, but Francisco Lindor still had another at-bat, and that's all the Indians needed to regain control.
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Vlad Jr. fever, the clutch factor and MLB's next big thing — The baseball world waits impatiently for the arrival of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With each homer, with each day ending with a batting average north of .400, the impatience grows. Yet the Toronto Blue Jays make us wait — and that's fine.
Associated Press:
MLB hits top strikeouts in May, reversing trend in April — NEW YORK — Hits exceeded strikeouts across Major League Baseball in May after a historic number of whiffs in April. — This marks a return to form. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there were 7,033 hits and 6,971 strikeouts in May.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Brewers' return to South Side rekindles memories of a once-heated rivalry — Chicago Tribune — Brewers owner Mark Attanasio tried to prevent Cubs fans from taking over Miller Park this year, approving a presale of tickets to Cubs game to Wisconsin residents only.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Homer Bailey's demotion is only the first move with Cincinnati Reds starting rotation — Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani had a rough second outing in spring training Sunday, allowing three earned runs on five hits in two innings against the Kansas City Royals The Enquirer/Adam Baum
Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
Corpus Christi Pro Baseball Player Update: Moody's Cantu hits home run in Lake Elsinore debut — Moody graduate — and former Texas Longhorn — Michael Cantu made his minor league debut this week after the San Diego Padres assigned him to Advanced-A Lake Elsinore of the California League.
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Daniel Palka hitting cleanup as White Sox open series against Brewers — White Sox manager Rick Renteria discusses the team's defensive mistakes against the Indians on Monday, May 28, 2018. (Paul Sullivan/Chicago Tribune)
Associated Press:
Russell Wilson joins Portland Major League Baseball drive — PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife, the singer Ciara, have joined the effort to bring Major League Baseball to Portland. — The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Portland Diamond Project …
