Top News:
Associated Press:
Astros win on road again with 5-3 victory at rival Rangers — Houston is 11-4 this season against its instate division rival, with seven consecutive road wins in the series. Houston is a majors-best 31-14 on the road this season. — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Josh Reddick and Tony Kemp homered …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers Reaction: Enjoy the enjoyable even if your team stinks — ARLINGTON — Negative Nellies never turn down a chance to look on the dark side. Especially a certain segment of fans. — Case in point: Tuesday night. — The last-place Rangers were facing the first-place Astros at Globe Life Park.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News and Lone Star Ball
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros hang on to beat Rangers in series opener
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Real or not? Ohtani is back too late to save the Angels — Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Angels lineup at a much-needed time, with the Angels scuffling at a game over .500 and beginning a must-win series against a team they have to chase down for a playoff spot.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets waste yet another solid Zack Wheeler start, but at least his trade stock is rising
Barry M. Bloom / Forbes:
Shohei Ohtan Returns To The Los Angeles Angels As Their Designated Hitter
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Associated Press:
Eflin wins again, Knapp has key hit as Phillies beat O's — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zach Eflin and the Phillies are on a roll. — Eflin pitched seven strong innings for his sixth straight victory, Andrew Knapp had the winning hit for the second straight game and Philadelphia beat …
RELATED:
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies look to get 10 games over .500 vs. O's | Extra Innings — Thanks to Zach Eflin and Seranthony Dominguez, the two biggest pitching surprises of the season, and a spectacular game-saving play by third baseman Maikel Franco in the top of the eighth inning, the Phillies pulled out another …
Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees try to keep doing right thing — NEW YORK — If there is a common theme for the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees through two games at sweltering Yankee Stadium, it is a matter of inches for fly balls hit to right field and right-center field.
RELATED:
Wallace Matthews / New York Times:
Yankees Display Their Flaws, but Still Beat the Braves
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News … and Talking Chop
Marly RiveraESPN / ESPN:
Paul Goldschmidt delivers an epic in-season comeback — Paul Goldschmidt's first National League Player of the Month Award came hard on the heels of one of the worst slumps of his career. While the Arizona Diamondbacks slugger led all qualified NL hitters in batting average, runs scored …
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals … Every at-bat is a fact-finding mission, especially for a team that's facing a pitcher it hasn't seen before - and even more so when that pitcher is as good as Jack Flaherty, the St. Louis Cardinals' rookie right-hander. — Flaherty has a fastball that can touch 97.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs juggle lineup against Tigers; recall Victor Caratini while designating Chris Gimenez — Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses the team's confidence level after beating the Tigers on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Dennis Georgatos / Associated Press:
Senzatela throws 7 shutout innings, Rockies beat Giants 8-1 — Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado, center, is congratulated by teammates Charlie Blackmon, left, and DJ LeMahieu after Arenado hit a three-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Chris Stratton during the fifth inning …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Jack Etkin / UPI:
Colorado Rockies try to complete sweep of San Francisco Giants — DENVER — When Andrew Suarez starts Wednesday for the San Francisco Giants, he will try to help them avoid being swept by the Colorado Rockies and solidify his spot in the Giants' changing rotation.
Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Hot Red Sox, slumping Nationals play morning game — WASHINGTON — The Boston Red Sox will look to get a jump on the day and complete a sweep of the Washington Nationals Wednesday morning at Nationals Park. — The Nationals, hosting their traditional 11:05 a.m. July Fourth game …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Toronto Sun:
Dodgers ready to keep flexing muscles vs. Pirates — LOS ANGELES — The Pittsburgh Pirates are undecided on a starter for Wednesday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and volunteers might be hard to come by. — The Dodgers' offense is coming off a productive June when they hit 55 home runs …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Bucs Dugout
RELATED:
Toronto Sun:
White Sox try to ride momentum versus Reds — The slumping Chicago White Sox are playing a team that didn't give up on its season despite a terrible start, so maybe they decided that was a pretty good strategy to adopt. — The White Sox could have easily given up on their Tuesday night game …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Daniel Palka makes ‘power’ move up rookie home run board — Chicago Tribune — It didn't immediately dawn on White Sox right fielder Daniel Palka that when he hit home runs in the fourth and sixth innings against the Reds during Tuesday's 12-8 win, it was the rookie's first career game with multiple homers.
Associated Press:
Yan Gomes' grand slam helps Cleveland Indians rally past Kansas City Royals, 6-4 — The Indians lead the American League with eight grand slams and Gomes' blast was their second in two nights. — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Yan Gomes hit a grand slam in the sixth inning and the Cleveland Indians rallied …
RELATED:
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Francisco Lindor continues to deliver in the clutch for Cleveland Indians
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds manager Jim Riggleman ejected after umpire told him to ‘do your job’ — Trailing by four runs in the top of the 12th inning Tuesday, Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman attempted to signal an intentional walk from the dugout. — Holding up four fingers …
ESPN:
Roundtable: What stands out in the standings on July 4? — Before lighting up the grill, reaching for a cold beverage or looking up for fireworks on the Fourth of July, there's one tradition that should sit atop every baseball fan's holiday to-do list: checking the MLB standings.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and FanGraphs Baseball
