Top News:
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
RELATED:
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 …
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
Associated Press:
MLB: Bosio: remark was not racial — Pitching coach Chris Bosio said Thursday that he was fired by the Detroit Tigers for using the word “monkey,” but insisted he didn't say it in a racial or demeaning context. — Bosio told USA Today that he used the word while talking about pitcher Daniel Stumpf, who is white.
Discussion:
WSB Radio
RELATED:
Bob Nightengale / Detroit Free Press:
Chris Bosio ‘crushed’ by Tigers firing, insists he did not direct slur toward employee
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and MLB Baseball News …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Daniel Stumpf has no knowledge of spider monkey nickname
Discussion:
Fox News, Halos Heaven, Washington Post, Bless You Boys and Deadspin
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.
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.
RELATED:
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.
