Top News:
Toronto Sun:
Retooling Cardnals aim for series win over Cubs — It may not necessarily be a white flag that the St. Louis Cardinals waved Friday, but the reshaping of their bullpen was a first step in admitting their priority lies with 2019 and not the final two months of 2018.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
No target date for Kris Bryant's return: 'I'm trying to be smart about it' — Chicago Tribune — Kris Bryant assured reporters that he will return to the Cubs this season while tamping down speculation that his ailing left shoulder will require offseason surgery.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Fastball command, success at Wrigley will be critical for Cole Hamels — ST. LOUIS — The Chicago Cubs added a huge name, Cole Hamels, for their stretch run. But will it be the Hamels everyone remembers from his glory days in Philadelphia or the one with the highest ERA and OPS against in baseball since late June?
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Acquire Mike Moustakas — The Brewers have lined up with the Royals on a deal that will bring third baseman Mike Moustakas to Milwaukee, as MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan first reported (via Twitter). Outfielder Brett Phillips and righty Jorge Lopez are going to Kansas City in return.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Royals Review, MLB Daily Dish and Brew Crew Ball
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — SAN DIEGO - For the second outing in a row, Zack Greinke gave the Diamondbacks an outing his teammates felt carried added significance. And for the second time in a row, Greinke gave the equivalent of a shoulder shrug in his postgame session with reporters.
RELATED:
Bernie Wilson / The Charlotte Observer:
Greinke wins 7th straight decision, Diamondbacks cruise 6-2
Greinke wins 7th straight decision, Diamondbacks cruise 6-2
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Toronto Sun:
Boston's Porcello aims for win No. 13 — BOSTON — Rick Porcello has hardly dominated Minnesota throughout his career. — But the right-hander did beat the Twins in Minnesota in June, and Saturday night he tries to do it again when the Red Sox face the Twins in Game 3 of the four-game series at Fenway Park.
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Phil Miller / Star Tribune:
Twins rally, but lose to Boston on walk-off home run in 10th inning
Twins rally, but lose to Boston on walk-off home run in 10th inning
Discussion:
Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Trade talk we're hearing: Twins could be deadline's next big seller
Trade talk we're hearing: Twins could be deadline's next big seller
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Baseball Prospectus, AZ Snake Pit and MLB Daily Dish
Reuters:
Rangers sock it to Astros at Minute Maid Park — again — Robinson Chirinos slugged his third home run of the season against the Houston Astros and the visiting Texas Rangers continued that power display in the latter innings Friday, winning 11-2 win at Minute Maid Park.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Associated Press:
MLB: Cabrera traded to the Phillies — The NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies acquired infielder Asdrubal Cabrera from the New York Mets for double-A pitching prospect Franklyn Kilome. — Cabrera was hitting .277 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs as the Mets' second baseman.
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Brent W. New / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Freeland, Arenado help Rockies cool down A's 3-1 — Kyle Freeland threw six shutout innings, — Oakland Athletics with a 3-1 victory on Friday night. — Freeland (9-6) allowed five hits while striking out five, walking three and hitting a batter. Colorado's starting pitching is 6-0 with a 1.65 ERA at Coors Field in July.
Discussion:
Denver Post, Purple Row and Athletics Nation
RELATED:
Dalton Johnson / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Matt Chapman motivated by Nolan Arenado's praise, 'I wanna do what he's done'
Matt Chapman motivated by Nolan Arenado's praise, 'I wanna do what he's done'
Discussion:
Purple Row and Athletics Nation
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays fans, enjoy Chris Archer while you can — BALTIMORE — Mark De Rosa got a little dramatic, as even ex-players do when they get on TV, comparing Chris Archer's status with Rays to the long-imprisoned lead character in the classic Shawshank Redemption movie.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Royals-Yankees rained out, split doubleheader Saturday — NEW YORK (AP) — The game between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees scheduled for Friday night was postponed because of rain. The game never started and was called a half-hour after it was supposed to begin.
Discussion:
CBS New York
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Patrick Rose / Associated Press:
Gurriel Jr. homers twice in Jays' 10-5 rout of White Sox — CHICAGO (AP) — Marcus Stroman might be watching the next emerging star in Toronto. — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit two of Toronto's five home runs, Curtis Granderson led off the game with a homer and the Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 10-5 on Friday night.
RELATED:
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Aaron Boone: Yankees can still win without Aaron Judge — NEW YORK — As the Yankees turn to others to help account for the expected three-week absence of Aaron Judge for a chip fracture in his right wrist, manager Aaron Boone said he couldn't anticipate the future but that he “absolutely” …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley, MLB Baseball News … and HotNewHipHop.com
RELATED:
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Now in playoff race with Dodgers, Manny Machado says goodbye to Orioles and looks ahead — In his last eight months as an Oriole — dating to December's winter meetings when a trade first became a possibility — Manny Machado did everything he could to rise above the noise.
Discussion:
Orlando Sentinel, Camden Chat and MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Sources: Indians, Phillies among teams inquiring about availability of Joey Gallo — HOUSTON - As the Rangers seek creative ways to accelerate their rebuilding process, they must consider this conundrum: What to do about Joey Gallo? — While Gallo has struggled to hit for batting average …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, SBNation.com, NBCSports.com, Phillies Nation and Let's Go Tribe
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Guyer's pinch hit homer powers Indians past Tigers — Brandon Guyer smashed a three-run homer to highlight a four-run eighth, — Francisco Lindor homered twice and drove in three runs and the — Cleveland Indians overpowered the host — Detroit Tigers 8-3 on Friday.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Alex Butler / UPI:
Juan Soto, Max Scherzer lead Washington Nationals over Miami Marlins — Rookie phenom Juan Soto and ace Max Scherzer led the Washington Nationals in a 9-1 thrashing of the Miami Marlins Friday at Marlins Park. — Scherzer dazzled for eight innings, allowing just three hits and one run while tossing 11 strikeouts.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Federal Baseball and MLB Baseball News …
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Slump or no slump, Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto feels as good as last year at the plate — There are numbers that show Joey Votto is, as usual, one of the top hitters in baseball. — Votto leads the National League in on-base percentage by a sizeable margin. No player in the Majors has hit more line drives than him.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Diamondbacks acquire infielder Eduardo Escobar from Twins — PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired switch-hitting infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Minnesota Twins on Friday for minor league right-hander Jhoan Duran and outfielders Gabriel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Hall of Famer Jim Thome is proof nice guys can finish first — Chicago Tribune — With 612 home runs over a 22-year career, Jim Thome's Hall of Fame resume was based on his ability to swing a bat. — He's the all-time leader with 13 walk-off homers and widely regarded as one of the greatest clutch hitters of his era.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Possibility Chipper Jones could miss Hall of Fame induction ceremony — Braves legend Chipper Jones is set for induction Sunday into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. — There's a possibility he could miss the ceremony. — » More: How to watch Chipper Jones induction ceremony
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com