Top News:
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — The Detroit Tigers lost their sixth game in a row Monday, and it wasn't because their bats went quiet or because their starter couldn't get through the first few innings. — No, it was because of a familiar source of pain: an implosion from the bullpen, one that took place across several innings.
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Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — The Detroit Tigers, losers of five straight, are slumping, and manager Ron Gardenhire says there's only one solution. — “We just need to come up with a way to get some hits and score some runs,” Gardenhire said at Comerica Park before Detroit's game against the Oakland Athletics on Monday …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bless You Boys
Dana Gauruder / UPI:
Oakland A's turn to well-traveled Edwin Jackson to start against Detroit Tigers
Oakland A's turn to well-traveled Edwin Jackson to start against Detroit Tigers
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Athletics Nation and South Side Sox
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Bob Castellini's .500 prediction could send Paul Daugherty to Flying Wallendas in Germany — Joey Votto talks about the Reds' seven-game winning streak following their 8-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. The Reds completed a 6-0 homestand. Bobby Nightengale/The Enquirer — CONNECT
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John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Billy Hamilton working his way back to leadoff for Cincinnati Reds — Joey Votto talks about the Reds' seven-game winning streak following their 8-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. The Reds completed a 6-0 homestand. Bobby Nightengale/The Enquirer — CONNECT — ATLANTA - Next stop, leadoff spot?
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Jim Riggleman may make managerial search for Cincinnati Reds unnecessary — ATLANTA - President of baseball operations Dick Williams said the other day that the managerial search has not really begun. — “It's something that'll be more of a second-half exercise,” Williams said.
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers Sign Casey Mize — The Tigers announced today that they've signed No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize. He'll be introduced today at a press conference. Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports (via Twitter) that the former Auburn ace received a $7.5MM signing bonus — a new record bonus for the current draft structure.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Baseball News …
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Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays being coy about Borucki — HOUSTON — For whatever reason, the Blue Jays are being coy about left-handed starter Ryan Borucki. — Borucki was scratched from his scheduled start for Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday and is expected to replace Aaron Sanchez (finger) in the Blue Jays' rotation.
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Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
No hard feelings as Hernandez thrilled to be back in Houston — HOUSTON — Sitting inside the visiting manager's office at Minute Maid Park, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was asked what he thought of outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and reliever Tyler Clippard receiving a World Series ring from the Astros.
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Justin Verlander faces Happ when Astros, Blue Jays tangle
Justin Verlander faces Happ when Astros, Blue Jays tangle
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Bluebird Banter
Steve Rosenbloom / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs need to make a trade for a reliever, maybe two, maybe three, maybe . . . Chicago Tribune — Ladies and gentlemen, please return your tray table to its locked and upright position and buckle your seat belt as we experience a sentence as turbulent as your basic Cubs relief appearance:
Discussion:
Orlando Sentinel
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs look great one day and awful the next. What can we expect the rest of the way?
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs, Dodgers enter four-game series moving in opposite directions
Cubs, Dodgers enter four-game series moving in opposite directions
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Stephen Pianovich / UPI:
New York Yankees stay on road after getting swept to play Philadelphia Phillies — The New York Yankees are in the midst of their longest losing streak of the season. — It's only three losses in a row for the Yankees, but they enter the week with an injured starting catcher and a meeting with a surging opponent.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Pinstripe Alley and The Good Phight
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ESPN:
Power Rankings: Which AL power is No. 1 this week? — It's more of the same at the top of the rankings, with the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs hanging on to the top three spots. Houston picked up four first-place votes, with Boston picking up the other one.
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
After tough stretch, New York Mets schedule lightens up over next two weeks — Greg Tartaglia, Staff Writer, @NJTags13 — The Mets have had better weeks. — They went 1-6 this past week and have now lost six straight after being swept by the Dodgers this past weekend at Citi Field.
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Nationals' Davey Martinez enjoys Trop visit — ST. PETERSBURG — Davey Martinez felt “a little weird” walking into the Trop and heading to the visiting manager's office Monday. — But also right at home. — Having spent three years playing and eight coaching for the Devil Rays and Rays …
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Yu Darvish all set for rehab start with South Bend Cubs — Photos of Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish. — Chicago Tribune — Imagine how nervous 19-year-old Class A catcher Miguel Amaya felt Monday night at Four Winds Field. — Amaya was unavailable for a pregame interview …
ESPN:
Who's indispensable to his team's postseason chances? — As we head toward the second half and the trade deadline, the teams with the most incentive to make a splash are those living on the margins, with their playoff fates in doubt. Manny Machado is a no-doubt-about-it superstar …
Discussion:
Arizona Sports
Christian Red / New York Daily News:
Mariano Rivera thinks Yankees can win World Series, Joe Girardi still hopes to return to managing — Mariano Rivera is not ready to step into Broadway Joe Namath's shoes and make a guarantee that the Yankees will win the 2018 World Series, but the legendary former Yankee closer thinks …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Marlins Lefty Caleb Smith Diagnosed With Grade 3 Lat Strain — Marlins lefty Caleb Smith, who had already been placed on the DL, has been diagnosed with a grade 3 lat strain, per a club announcement. Unfortunately, that's the most severe designation for a muscle injury.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes