Top News:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals … Diamondbacks right fielder Steven Souza Jr. homered twice on Tuesday night, giving him three in the past two days during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno. The way things are progressing, manager Torey Lovullo said, Souza is “trending toward a return.”
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Baseball News …
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Jack Magruder / UPI:
Diamondbacks look to keep Padres in slump — PHOENIX — Right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano has been spectacularly efficient in his first season in Arizona, part of the reason the Diamondbacks will enter their four-game series against the San Diego Padres with the best bullpen ERA in the majors.
Arizona Republic:
Next Slide — With Steven Souza Jr. nearing a return from the disabled list, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was peppered with questions early Wednesday afternoon about how he planned to handle his outfield surplus, what with Souza giving Lovullo at least five outfielders for only three spots.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Bob Baum / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Molina, Munoz HRs help Cardinals beat D-backs 8-4 — Miles Mikolas threw six strong innings and the — St. Louis Cardinals broke loose late to beat Arizona 8-4 on Wednesday night and take two of three from the first-place — Diamondbacks. — Molina's three-run shot on the first pitch from reliever
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Todd Frazier struggling since returning from DL, but provides clutch hit Wednesday — NY Mets third baseman Todd Frazier discusses Toronto starter Marcus Strowman Matt Ehalt, Staff Writer, @MattEhalt — TORONTO — Todd Frazier will tell you he's not a numbers guy, but the veteran third …
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Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Estrada frustrated with setback, but hopes to make his next start
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and MLB Baseball News …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Anthony Swarzak has yet to produce for NY Mets after signing two-year, $14-million deal
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Wilmer Flores shows love for Mets as trade possibility hovers
Discussion:
SNY and MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka looks sharp in Triple-A rehab start — New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, recovering from a strained right and left hamstring, struck out four over five innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees put Gleyber Torres on DL with hip strain
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — CHICAGO — The Detroit Tigers made a bunch of late-night roster moves after their two-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs. — Most notably, Dixon Machado, who showed unlikely power to start the season but has not hit well throughout, has been designated for assignment.
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Associated Press:
Red Sox sweep slumping Nationals with 3-0 win — WASHINGTON (AP) — Jackie Bradley Jr. drove in two runs, Eduardo Rodriguez struck out six in six innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 3-0 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep. — Rodriguez (10-3) allowed three hits and walked one.
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Hayden Bird / Boston Globe:
4 things to know about new Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce — Needing another righthanded bat, the Red Sox added a well traveled veteran who grew up a Boston baseball fan despite being a Florida native. — That only scratches the surface of Steve Pearce's story.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Alex Butler / UPI:
Red Sox, Nationals sport patriotic garb is series finale
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Federal Baseball and Royals Review
Beth Harris / Toronto Sun:
Hill pitches Dodgers past Pirates 6-4 for 3-game sweep — LOS ANGELES (AP) After launching 10 home runs in their first two games against the Pirates, the Dodgers kept it in the park and still won their fourth in a row. — Rich Hill earned his first victory in three months …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
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Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers acquire Cincinnati reliever Dylan Floro to bolster bullpen
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Dodgers Acquire Dylan Floro, Zach Neal From Reds; Designate Daniel Corcino
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, True Blue LA and ThinkBluePC
Associated Press:
Gattis' sac fly in 10th lifts Astros over Rangers 5-4 — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jose Altuve was more than due when he came to bat in the 10th inning, and got a winning rally started for the Houston Astros. — “He hadn't gotten a hit in four at-bats,” manager A.J. Hinch said of the second basemen …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and MLB Baseball News …
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Gene Warnick / UPI:
Resurgent Kole Calhoun, Angels face Mariners in rubber match — To say Kole Calhoun was struggling would be an understatement. — When the Los Angeles Angels' right fielder was placed on the disabled list June 2 with a strained right oblique, he was in a 12-for-122 slump (.098), dropping his season average to .145.
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds credit confidence, command of the strike zone for their offensive surge — All season long, the Reds felt like they were on the verge of proving themselves as one of the top offenses in the Majors. — Throughout the last month, they've left no doubt.
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Eddie MatzESPN Senior / ESPN:
Mariners' Nelson Cruz brings new meaning to the term ‘power nap’ — Nelson Cruz wakes up ready to hit. Literally. — During a recent series in Baltimore, the Mariners DH spent the better part of last Thursday's finale napping on one of the big black leather couches in the visitors' clubhouse at Camden Yards.
Jim Reineking / Arizona Republic:
Keon Broxton makes amazing catch to preserve Milwaukee Brewers' sweep of Minnesota Twins — Keon Broxton is making the most of his major-league call up, continuing to make highlight-reel catches for the Milwaukee Brewers. — In the Brewers' 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins …
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Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Twins end scoring drought but still fall 3-2 to Milwaukee Brewers
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Brew Crew Ball
ESPN:
Mike Trout and Mookie Betts have opposite approaches — and both are perfect — Something has been gnawing at me about Mike Trout and Mookie Betts. — Both are practically perfect hitters, and in practically identical ways. It's not just that they both hit the ball hard and far …
Patrick Reusse / The Charlotte Observer:
When teams like Twins lack a good catcher, it's a sure sign of trouble — MINNEAPOLIS — The Chicago White Sox went to the World Series in 1959 for the first time in 40 years and lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. Owner Bill Veeck decided there was a need for more punch in the Sox lineup and made two major trades:
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Who's in charge of rebuilding the Orioles at the trade deadline? — THE ALL-STAR GAME hasn't even arrived, and the Baltimore Orioles are already 33½ games out of first place in the American League East. But that mind-bending reality can't convey the magnitude of the challenge at Camden Yards …
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Manny Machado worth acquiring right now for Phillies | Bob Brookover — Sitting in front of his locker, Manny Machado autographed a bright orange Baltimore Orioles jersey early Wednesday afternoon in the visiting clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park. You had to wonder how many more times that is going to happen.
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Pat Graham / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Anderson stellar, Iannetta homers as Rockies beat Giants 1-0 — Chris Iannetta homered in the seventh, — Tyler Anderson pitched eight stellar innings in outdueling — San Francisco Giants 1-0 on Wednesday night to sweep a three-game series. — It was the first 1-0 game at Coors Field since June 12, 2010.
Discussion:
Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle and McCovey Chronicles
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs haven't been sidetracked by missing players — Chicago Tribune — The wait continues for Kris Bryant, Carl Edwards Jr. and Yu Darvish to return from the disabled list, but the Cubs haven't suffered a dropoff in their absence thanks to contributions from players like Willson Contreras and David Bote.
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Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Javier Baez steals home again as Cubs rally for sixth straight comeback win
