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.
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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, Over the Monster, MLB Baseball News … and The Crawfish Boxes
ESPN:
Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts ailing as Red Sox open series with Astros — Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was a late scratch from Thursday night's lineup against the Houston Astros with left knee soreness and is listed as day-to-day. — Pedroia returned to the Red Sox lineup …
Tom Timmermann / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Welcome back Luke: Called up by Cards in the morning, Voit comes through at night — The numbers haven't necessarily been great for Luke Voit this season, but on Thursday night, that didn't matter. — Voit was hitting .237 when he got called up from Memphis on Thursday morning.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards notebook: O'Neill's flaws exposed; DeJong hopes for early July return
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Martinez goes four innings for Springfield
Cardinals notebook: Martinez goes four innings for Springfield
Discussion:
Associated Press
Tom Timmermann / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Reyes' lat strain is ‘significant’
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 …
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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
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Associated Press:
Phillies' Hoskins goes on DL with broken jaw — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies slugger Rhys Hoskins has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a broken jaw that the team says likely will not need a surgical procedure. — Hoskins could be back in a matter of weeks instead of months, according to manager Gabe Kapler.
Abbey Mastracco / Daily Record:
Mets' bullpen spoils strong outing by Seth Lugo in 5-1 loss to Cubs — NEW YORK - Point to the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's... A home run given up by Hansel Robles. — The Mets' reliever has a habit of doing this. He often has trouble differentiating between a fly ball and a home run.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Amazin' Avenue and MLB Baseball News …
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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:
Bluebird Banter
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers feeling goosed after series win over L.A. Angels
Detroit Tigers feeling goosed after series win over L.A. Angels
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, USA Today and globalnews.ca
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
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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.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Clayton Kershaw To Undergo MRI On Back — Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw threw five useful innings today in his return from the DL, but the outing did not end quite as hoped. He's headed for an MRI after experiencing back tightness during the outing, skipper Dave Roberts tells reporters …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, True Blue LA and MLB Baseball News …
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Stephanie Apstein / Sports Illustrated:
The Control Pitcher: As Free Agency Looms, Will Clayton Kershaw Win It All in L.A.?
The Control Pitcher: As Free Agency Looms, Will Clayton Kershaw Win It All in L.A.?
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
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.
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.
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.
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
Royals found an unsigned prospect who throws 99. He's pursuing his master's as backup — LEXINGTON, KY. — Royals minor-league pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan has a routine. — He pulls himself off the mattress that lays on the living room floor of a three-bedroom home he shares …
Todd Karpovich / UPI:
Yankees, Orioles heading in opposite directions — BALTIMORE — The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles will open their series at Camden Yards a day later because of rain. — The opener scheduled for Thursday was postponed until July 9 because of the inclement weather.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Steve Cishek welcomes heavy workload — Joe Maddon: Very happy with Jose Quintana and Jason Heyward on Thursday night. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — Steve Cishek doesn't mind the heavy workload he's received since joining the Cubs.
Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds acquire catcher Curt Casili — A goose landed on the field during a rain delay at the Detroit Tigers game Wednesday night. The ensuing chase ended with the goose flying into an LED board and falling two levels into the stands. Luckily, a veterinarian was in the crowd. (May 31) AP
Discussion:
Detroit Free Press
Associated Press:
Bethencourt, Amaya lift South Bend over Great Lakes 11-5 — MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Jhonny Bethencourt tripled and singled, scoring three runs while driving in two as the South Bend Cubs defeated the Great Lakes Loons 11-5 on Thursday. — Miguel Amaya homered and doubled with five RBIs for South Bend.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Young stars are taking over MLB spotlight thanks to a new philosophy among GMs — In case you haven't noticed — and the way Gleyber Torres has been lighting up Yankeeland, Juan Soto has ignited the Nationals and Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies have accelerated the Braves' rebuild …