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 …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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:
MLB Trade Rumors, baseballmusings.com and ESPN
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
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees are finally calling up Brandon Drury for Red Sox series: report
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
After experiencing ‘pain,’ Yu Darvish's return to Cubs rotation pushed back again
Discussion:
Sporting 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.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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.
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:
MLB Baseball News …, Fox News, Halos Heaven, The Athletic, 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:
Bless You Boys, New York Post, Washington Post, Deadspin and MLB Baseball News …
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:
MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight and 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
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.
RELATED:
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:
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — Detroit Tigers right-handed pitching prospect Alex Faedo took the latest questions about his velocity dip in stride. He said he was asked similar questions early in 2017 as a junior at Florida, before being named Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kris Bryant's injury eases the Cubs' Albert Almora Jr.-Ian Happ debate — Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. on Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw's exit: ‘It worked for our favor’ (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — In assessing the Albert Almora Jr.-Ian Happ situation …
UPI:
Padres happy to be back home vs. Pirates — SAN DIEGO — There will be a double homecoming Friday night at Petco Park. — Right-hander Joe Musgrove, who was born and raised 20 minutes east of San Diego in El Cajon, will be facing the Padres for the first time as the starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
