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:
Evan Drellich / NBCSports.com:
Is this the Red Sox' last shot at Yanks? — NEW YORK — The three-game series that opens Friday night at Yankee Stadium represents a final opportunity for the Red Sox: Get your licks in before the Yanks get better. Probably significantly better. — Maybe even to the point that in a close race, you could call the Yanks favorites.
Discussion:
Ordway, Merloni & Fauria and Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Jays trade veteran Steve Pearce to Red Sox for minor leaguer, cash
Discussion:
Toronto, MLB Baseball News …, baseballmusings.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Christian Red / New York Daily News:
Odell Beckham Jr. takes batting practice, chats with Aaron Judge ahead of Yankees, Red Sox series opener
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire unsure if he'll speak to Chris Bosio again — TORONTO — Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire hasn't spoken to fired pitching coach Chris Bosio and isn't sure when or if he will again. — Gardenhire initially said he wasn't going to say much about the latest …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Daniel Stumpf has no knowledge of spider monkey nickname
Discussion:
The Athletic, Fox News, New York Post, Bless You Boys, MLB Baseball News …, Halos Heaven, Deadspin and Washington Post
Associated Press:
MLB: Yu Darvish heads to Texas for opinion on sore triceps muscle — Yu Darvish went to Texas to get another opinion on the sore triceps muscle that flared up again in a bullpen session on Thursday. — The setback ended plans for the right-hander's return to the Chicago Cubs rotation this weekend.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
After experiencing ‘pain,’ Yu Darvish's return to Cubs rotation pushed back again
Discussion:
Sporting News
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs emphasize positives after salvaging up-and-down trip
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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:
MLB Baseball News … and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
No reason Brian Cashman should stop pushing for Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard in deal with Mets — Brian Cashman understandably has been talking nonstop over the past few days about one of his team's biggest rivals. — Even with the Red Sox arriving in the Boogie Down for a first-place …
RELATED:
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees, Mets talking trade, but will it lead anywhere before July 31 trade deadline? — NEW YORK - In the summer of 2016, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he “called everybody” about the availability of his two best relievers, Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller. — That included the Red Sox and Mets.
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Shortstop or third base? Why scouts - and maybe Phillies - believe Manny Machado can play either position | Scott Lauber — For two months, the Phillies have played rookie second baseman Scott Kingery at shortstop. They were using a shortstop at third base, too, at least until …
RELATED:
Jim Salisbury / NBCSports.com:
Royals scouts watching Phillies' minor-league system in prep for possible Mike Moustakas trade
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Phillies Nation
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Want to keep benches from clearing? Change rule, Jim Riggleman and Joey Votto say — Reds manager Jim Riggleman says there's one way to avoid the bench-clearing brawl like they did Thursday night in the Reds game with the Milwaukee Brewers. — “I wish we had the hockey rule,” Riggleman said.
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Joey Votto says benches-clearing incident against Brewers was a ‘misunderstanding’
Discussion:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA Today
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:
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.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
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
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Addison Russell grand slam gives Cubs lead over Twins — Chicago Tribune — Addison Russell's arching grand slam in the fifth inning gave the Cubs a 6-5 lead over the Twins on a sweltering day at Wrigley Field. — The Twins struck first on Joe Mauer's three-run, opposite field home run …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Eddie Butler to join Iowa Cubs on rehab assignment — Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982. Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time. Mark Marturello and Michael Zamora/The Register
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 …
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:
The Good Phight, MLB Baseball News … and Federal Baseball
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.
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: White Sox pitcher Reynaldo Lopez looks capable of being the bell cow of rotation — Photos of the White Sox pitcher. — Chicago Tribune — One of the biggest trades of the White Sox rebuild came about 15 years ago at a Dominican Republic pawn shop when Reynaldo Lopez's grandfather …
Detroit Free Press:
Doubling up: Nicholas Castellanos — Castellanos has seemingly been a hitting machine this year; his 30 multi-hit games are tied for fifth in baseball this season, behind only Seattle's Jean Segura (34), Atlanta's Nick Markakis (33), Boston's J.D. Martinez (32) and Cleveland's Francisco Lindor (31).
