Top News:
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Real or not? Mariners crashing Astros' party in AL West — This is what you might call a tough run of games. The Houston Astros just finished a stretch of four games at Cleveland, three games in the Bronx against the Yankees, and four games at home against the Red Sox.
Discussion:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Talking Chop
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Baseball notes: ‘Furious’ Arrieta blasts Phillies — Jake Arrieta is demanding the Philadelphia Phillies shift their strategy. Do it right now, too. The team's ace pitcher criticized his team following a 6-1 loss Sunday that completed a sweep by San Francisco of a three-game series.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Slumping Phillies irritate Jake Arrieta | Extra Innings — If a baseball team scores a run but it is provided by a solo homer from the pitcher, has the offense really made a sound? The Phillies had a four-hour charter flight from San Francisco to Chicago to figure out that little riddle Sunday night.
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Dereck Rodríguez powers Giants to series sweep with first career win
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and McCovey Chronicles
Associated Press:
Cardinals' Michael Wacha loses no-hit bid to first Pirates batter in ninth inning … Michael Wacha lost a no-hit bid in the ninth inning when pinch-hitter Colin Moran led off with a single, leaving to a huge ovation and pitching the St. Louis Cardinals past the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0 Sunday.
RELATED:
Peter Baugh / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pena to stay, Kelly to Memphis when Molina returns to Cardinals — St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez talks with teammates Francisco Pena and Jose Martinez before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on June 2, 2018. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
One-hit wonder: Wacha dominates in another near-miss no-hitter
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
No-no near miss highlights Michael Wacha's comeback season
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Ready to go jersey shopping? Your guide to the 2018 MLB draft — We take a break from our regularly scheduled programming to remind you the MLB draft kicks off Monday. Be sure to check out Keith Law's big board of the top 100 prospects and his mock draft heading into the first round.
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Which player will the Cincinnati Reds select with the No. 5 pick in the MLB Draft? — Reds No. 2 pick Hunter Greene is in Goodyear, Arizona, for his first experience at spring training The Enquirer/Adam Baum — Drafting in the Top 5 for the third straight season, the Reds have another opportunity …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and Talking Chop
Keith LawESPN Senior / ESPN:
Keith Law's 2018 Mock Draft 4.0 — It is draft day, the most wonderful time of the year, so here is my final — ahem, “final” — projected first-round selections, but one I present with the caveat that multiple GMs told me Sunday that nothing would really be final until at least Monday afternoon …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Associated Press:
Moreland, Benintendi homer in Boston 9-3 win over Astros — HOUSTON (AP) — Rick Porcello pitched well into the seventh, Mitch Moreland and Andrew Benintendi each homered and the Boston Red Sox beat the Houston Astros 9-3 Sunday night. — Boston slugger J.D. Martinez was pinch hit …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
RELATED:
Buster OlneyESPN Senior / ESPN:
Olney: The time is right for dynasty-minded Astros to be all-in
Discussion:
Royals Review, The Crawfish Boxes and MLB Trade Rumors
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Miami Marlins … PREGAME READING — Monday's game — Diamondbacks at Giants — Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco. — Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (5-4, 4.38) vs. Giants LHP Derek Holland (3-6, 4.94). — TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).
RELATED:
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner, needs to step in and fix Yankees vs. ESPN debacle — We are about to find out if baseball is running baseball or ESPN is running baseball. — In what has turned out to be a major dispute involving the game's integrity, ESPN announced it was picking up the Yankees …
RELATED:
George A. King III / New York Post:
Aaron Boone is going all-in on fight against MLB/ESPN
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Charlie Culberson is Atlanta's man of the moment — again — ATLANTA — There is a fine line between a good homestand and a great one. — Did the Atlanta Braves end up on the right side of it this weekend? We'll let you decide the answer to that on the basis of the following statement.
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Culberson does it again as Braves take three of four from Nats
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Talking Chop
Associated Press:
Lester, Cubs blank Mets 2-0 for 4-game sweep — NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Lester dominated for seven innings and Javier Baez stole home to break a scoreless tie as the Chicago Cubs blanked the New York Mets 2-0 Sunday, completing a four-game sweep and winning for the seventh time in eight games.
RELATED:
Pete Caldera / USA Today:
Yankees' ire about Sunday Night Baseball just one example of MLB's ‘ridiculous’ schedule — DETROIT - Aaron Boone said it was “ridiculous” that the Yankees are forced to play a night game July 8 at Toronto, with a doubleheader at Baltimore the next day. — And he's right.
RELATED:
Dana Gauruder / UPI:
New York Yankees, dominating AL Central, visit Detroit Tigers
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Johnny Almaraz defends scouting record with Phillies, hopes to find more gems this year — Frank Wren still remembers the phone call — and the enthusiasm in the voice on the other end. — “Wait till you see this kid!” — Johnny Almaraz didn't have to say anything more.
RELATED:
USA Today:
MLB draft: Order, schedule, start times, TV — The Detroit Tigers have No. 1 overall pick for second time in franchise history, and the first since taking Rice pitcher Matt Anderson in 1997. — The Major League Baseball draft starts Monday and continues for 40 rounds over three days …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Associated Press:
Rosario's 3rd homer of game lifts Twins over Indians 7-5 — Eddie Rosario hit his third homer of the game, launching a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Minnesota Twins over the Cleveland Indians 7-5 Sunday. — Rosario, who began the day with 10 home runs this season …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Let's Go Tribe
Luke Mann / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Top MLB draft prospects from St. Louis area high schools — The St. Louis area's top high school prospects going into the Major League Baseball draft, which begins Monday: — The 6-foot-2, 206-pound righthander is a two-way threat who has signed to attend Mizzou.
