Top News:
Mike Sheets / ESPN:
Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Saturday — We've officially hit the second half of the MLB season, with more than half of 2018's games now in the books. To celebrate, we have a smorgasbord of hurlers, ranging from Chris Sale and Justin Verlander at the top …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Jays trade veteran Steve Pearce to Red Sox for minor leaguer, cash — BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired veteran first baseman/outfielder Steve Pearce in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night. — Dave Dombrowski, the Red Sox president of baseball operations …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Alex Butler / UPI:
Red Sox acquire Steve Pearce from Blue Jays — The Boston Red Sox acquired Steve Pearce and cash considerations from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Minor League infielder Santiago Espinal. — Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced the deal on Thursday.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Why the Yankees — not the Red Sox — will win the AL East — You may as well go on and buckle up now. The upcoming push for the American League East pennant is already shaping up to be one for the ages. — Separated often this season by mere percentage points atop the division …
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yankees vs. Red Sox matchups: Which team has the edge at each position entering series
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees are finally calling up Brandon Drury for Red Sox series: report
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Daniel Stumpf has no knowledge of spider monkey nickname — Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Stumpf has told the Detroit Free Press that he has no knowledge of the nickname “spider monkey,” which fired pitching coach Chris Bosio said he called him and was fired for when it was taken out of context, according to Bosio.
Discussion:
Fox News, Halos Heaven, Washington Post, Bless You Boys and Deadspin
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / Detroit Free Press:
Chris Bosio ‘crushed’ by Tigers firing, insists he did not direct slur toward employee
Discussion:
New York Post, Bless You Boys and MLB Baseball News …
Toronto Sun:
Rays face another tough Astros pitcher — Cole — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays were beaten by the slimmest of margins in the series opener, and the Houston Astros' dominating starting pitching gets another chance to showcase itself at Tropicana Field on Friday night.
RELATED:
Dick Scanlon / Associated Press:
Astros beat Rays 1-0 for 11th straight road win — The Astros have won Lance McCullers' last six starts and have won 18 of 21 overall. Their latest win matched the club record set last May 14-June 5 on the way to winning the franchise's first World Series title.
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs emphasize positives after salvaging up-and-down trip — LOS ANGELES — Perhaps Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon's analysis of his team's woeful-looking road trip was spot on. — “The Reds are screwing this whole thing up,” Maddon said before the Cubs' 11-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Rizzo has huge day; Cubs rip Dodgers' bullpen in 11-5 win — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Rizzo's three-run double and Addison Russell's two-run homer highlighted a seven-run seventh inning as the Chicago Cubs broke loose after Clayton Kershaw exited, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-5 on Thursday.
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Seranthony Dominguez proves he has the short memory required to be an excellent reliever | Extra Innings — Aaron Nola did it again. For the seventh time in 11 starts, the Phillies' ace righthander allowed fewer than two runs. His latest gem — a 114-pitch mastery of the Nationals …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Midseason awards, bad All-Star positions and MLB's next big thing — At some point Friday evening, the 1,215th final score of the 2018 Major League Baseball championship season will be entered in the logs. It's the natural halfway point — peak baseball — when we have as many games behind us as we do ahead.
Discussion:
Daily Herald
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Joey Votto says benches-clearing incident against Brewers was a ‘misunderstanding’ — After watching a called strike in his second at-bat of Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, Joey Votto turned toward home-plate umpire Roberto Ortiz. — Votto stepped out of the batter's box and appeared to say a few words.
Discussion:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Knoxville News-Sentinel
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds notebook: Hunter Greene continues to pitch well; Nick Senzel has surgery — Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani discusses his third-inning grand slam in an 11-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. It was the first grand slam by a Reds pitcher since 1959. The Enquirer/Bobby Nightengale
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Tim Tebow improving, but call-up to majors would be a stretch — There has been some buzz around Tim Tebow of late. After a slow start, he went 2-for-4 on Thursday, raising his average for Double-A Binghamton to .318 in June and .261/.335/.398 with five home runs on the season. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Prodigal Panda: Pablo Sandoval enjoying renaissance with Giants — SAN FRANCISCO - Pablo Sandoval's loud banter resonates often throughout the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse. Fans at AT&T Park greet the announcement of his name cheerfully. Some teammates wear T-shirts bearing his likeness.
Bucky Dent / UPI:
Cardinals host NL East-leading Braves — Another series, another opponent sitting at the top of its division. — That's the scenario for the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend as they welcome the Atlanta Braves, who lead the National League East, for a three-game series at Busch Stadium starting Friday.
