Top News:
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies have seemed to shift Maikel Franco to a reserve role — The Phillies faced a righthanded pitcher on Friday night and Maikel Franco sat on the bench, seeming to offer a view into how the team sees Franco's role going forward. — Matt Klentak offered a scenario of playing Franco …
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Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies injury updates: Rhys Hoskins could return Saturday; Jerad Eickhoff won't need surgery — The final hurdle to Rhys Hoskins' return from the disabled list could be the protective helmet that was en route Friday afternoon to Citizens Bank Park. — Hoskins is “pretty hopeful” …
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies return home seeking more offense from shortstop, third base | Extra Innings
Phillies return home seeking more offense from shortstop, third base | Extra Innings
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani placed on DL with sprained UCL; to be re-evaluated in 3 weeks — Shohei Ohtani will be placed on the Los Angeles Angels' disabled list with a sprained elbow ligament and miss at least three weeks before the club re-evaluates him. — The Angels announced …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Shohei Ohtani placed on DL with a sprained UCL, will miss weeks
Shohei Ohtani placed on DL with a sprained UCL, will miss weeks
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, The Comeback, Lone Star Ball and NBCSports.com
Mike Shalin / UPI:
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:
South Side Sox and 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
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
For veterans like Martin, talk of Blue Jays rebuild does not ring true — You get the definite impression that Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin would rather crawl through a pit of broken glass than talk about his team embarking on a rebuild. — Martin has played in the MLB playoffs in nine …
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Larry Millson / UPI:
Blue Jays try to make it two straight vs. Orioles
Alan Robinson / UPI:
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 …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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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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Harvey Valentine / UPI:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Federal Baseball
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds manager Jim Riggleman trying out Scott Schebler in leadoff spot — For the second straight game Friday, Scott Schebler's name was written at the top of the Reds' lineup. — Entering this week, he'd only hit leadoff in seven games throughout his career but the early results look promising.
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Acuna begins baseball activities as injury rehab progresses — LOS ANGELES - Braves left fielder Ronald Acuna began hitting balls off a tee Friday in Atlanta, the first baseball activities for the rookie phenom since he injured his left knee and lower back in a frightening tumble May 27.
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.
RELATED:
Jerry McDonald / Mercury News:
Athletics' Blackburn sharp; beats Royals in 2018 debut
Athletics' Blackburn sharp; beats Royals in 2018 debut
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
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.
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets Place Jeurys Familia On 10-Day DL — The Mets have placed closer Jeurys Familia on the 10-day DL, per a club announcement. He'll be replaced on the roster by right-hander Jacob Rhame. — Familia is said to be dealing with right shoulder soreness. There's no further information available …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Daily Dish and Amazin' Avenue
UPI:
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.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and Gaslamp Ball
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds Beat Podcast: Catching up on the MLB Draft, Homer Bailey news — How to listen: — Get the latest Reds news. Download our app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android users.