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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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
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Sean Farrell / Daily Record:
The Giancarlo Stanton of old is back for the New York Yankees — Sean Farrell, Staff Writer, @seanfarrell92 — NEW YORK - Julio Teheran just put his head down. — The bat was still hanging in Giancarlo Stanton's hand, and the ball just beginning its majestic 410-foot flight into the right-field bleachers.
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Adry Torres / Associated Press:
Stanton, Sabathia lead Yankees to 6-2 win over Braves
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
ESPN:
Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka looks sharp in Triple-A rehab start
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees put Gleyber Torres on DL with hip strain
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 …
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Trade-deadline hopes bleak as Mets look to dangle B-listers
Discussion:
SNY and MLB Trade Rumors
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.
RELATED:
Hayden Bird / Boston Globe:
4 things to know about new Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Alex Butler / UPI:
Red Sox, Nationals sport patriotic garb is series finale
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Federal Baseball and Royals Review
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:
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Bye-bye, Buffalo: Why the Rays will trade Wilson Ramos — NEW YORK — Wilson Ramos is the best catcher the Rays have ever had. — And they are not likely to have him for much longer. — Sure, it's a matter of dollars. — But also one of sense. — The season and a half Ramos …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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:
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:
MLB Baseball News … and The Crawfish Boxes
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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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Matt Breen / Philly.com:
What a Phillies trade for Cole Hamels might mean for their rotation | Extra Innings — Aaron Nola started Wednesday, so of course the Phillies won. They've won four in a row and six of their last seven. They entered Thursday's off day just 1.5 games behind the Braves and 5.5 games ahead of the Nationals.
Discussion:
Philly.com
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers acquire Cincinnati reliever Dylan Floro to bolster bullpen
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com
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 …
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 …
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.
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
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: David Bote's perseverance pays off as an unlikely Cubs contributor — Chicago Tribune — They lived in the basement of a sister-in-law's friend in Mishawaka, Ind. — David Bote was chasing his major-league dream in the minors with the Class A South Bend Cubs and his wife …
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
South Jersey native Jeff Singer working his way toward Phillies — Greg Legg remembers the first few times he saw Jeff Singer pitch, and that's why he is so impressed with what he sees from the South Jersey native. — “He is a hell of a story,” the manager of the Phillies' double-A Reading affiliate said.
