Top News:
Toronto Sun:
Astros' Verlander goes for eighth win vs. Rangers — The Texas Rangers, mired in last place in the American League West while acknowledging they are in a rebuilding mode, announced Thursday that they've reached an agreement with general manager Jon Daniels on a multi-year contract extension.
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Cardinals want to make some hay vs. Reds — The St. Louis Cardinals can't seem to find any traction in the National League Central race, unable to pull past the Milwaukee Brewers or Chicago Cubs or develop any consistency. — Maybe they can generate some this weekend in Cincinnati …
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Sale, Red Sox square off with White Sox — BOSTON — Chris Sale, in his second year with the Red Sox, carries a 22-11 record with Boston into Friday night's start against his old team, the Chicago White Sox. — But while Sale has a .667 winning percentage with his new team …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Red Sox Select Contract Of Justin Haley
Red Sox Select Contract Of Justin Haley
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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Nationals play host to Giants, who begin road stretch — WASHINGTON — The San Francisco Giants will look to build on a solid homestand when they begin a 10-game road trip Friday night against the Washington Nationals. — The Giants (31-31) won five of six games to move within 1 1/2 games …
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and MLB Baseball News …
Michael Wagaman / Associated Press:
Chapman, A's break through in 6th to beat Royals 4-1 — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Athletics pitcher Paul Blackburn couldn't wait for the postgame meal following his first start of the season. Jittery nerves kept the right-hander from eating beforehand, and he was anxious to dig in.
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Athletics' Blackburn sharp; beats Royals in 2018 debut
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
Past and present collide as Oakland A's host Kansas City Royals
Past and present collide as Oakland A's host Kansas City Royals
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Royals Review and MLB Baseball News …
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To shift or not, the bullpen shuttle and MLB's next big thing — My working assumption about shifts in baseball has been that they work so often that when they don't, it sticks in our minds. I also kind of figured pitchers who get burned by a shift now and again tend to see it the same way.
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Phillies return home seeking more offense from shortstop, third base | Extra Innings — Close your eyes, Phillies fans. Now, click your heels and repeat after me: There's no place like home. After 11 days on the road — and a 3-7 record in 10 games against the Dodgers, Giants and Cubs …
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Orioles ‘slugger’ Chris Davis is having a mind-bogglingly bad season — It was a relatively slow day of baseball on Thursday, so indulge me as I go down the rabbit hole with Chris Davis. Hopefully we'll all come out alive. — Davis is having a terrible season.
Discussion:
Deadspin
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Blue Jays try to make it two straight vs. Orioles — TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles are offensively challenged teams looking for something good to happen during their four-game series at the Rogers Centre. — The bottom two clubs in the American League East deserve each other.
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Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Gibbons' job becoming a hot topic around Blue Jays
Gibbons' job becoming a hot topic around Blue Jays
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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Keith Law's draft recap: AL team-by-team breakdown — After our breakdown of the 2018 draft began with a recap of the National League's most notable picks, it's now time to examine — you guessed it — the American League. — Baltimore Orioles — The Orioles started their draft …
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Shohei Ohtani placed on DL with a sprained UCL, will miss weeks — Shohei Ohtani may or may not be placed on the disabled list due to a recurring blister problem. That was half right. — The correct part: the Angels have placed Ohtani on the disabled list. The unexpected part: it's because he has a sprained elbow ligament:
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, Lone Star Ball, The Comeback and NBCSports.com
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Marlins hope to contain Padres' turnaround — MIAMI — The San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins are rebuilding. — The Padres' effort is starting to pay off. — They have won three straight series for the first time in 11 months. Their bullpen's 3.29 ERA ranks seventh in the majors.
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Seven deserving first-time MLB All-Stars — More than a month remains before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is set to be played, but it's never too early to forecast the rosters. — The regulars — Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer - figure to return …
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Remember hero MLB umpire Steve Palermo? Here's how he is still being honored — A stretch of road in Steve Palmero's hometown of Oxford, Mass., was dedicated to the former major-league umpire who died of cancer in 2017. — Palermo, who made his home in Kansas City …
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Top prospect Adbert Alzolay out with injury but promotion to Cubs is ‘close’ — Cubs' senior vice president of player development/scouting Jason McLeod on the Cubs' draft. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs hope Adbert Alzolay will be wiser once he returns …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' draft provides balance in farm system
Cubs' draft provides balance in farm system
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …