Top News:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Surging Ben Zobrist bats leadoff against the Pirates — Chicago Tribune — Ben Zobrist will become the Cubs' fourth leadoff hitter in their last five games when they face the Pirates on Saturday night at PNC Park. — Zobrist will play right field as Tyler Chatwood makes …
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Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Record-tying 7 double plays, 5 induced by Cole Hamels, propel Cubs' win
Record-tying 7 double plays, 5 induced by Cole Hamels, propel Cubs' win
Discussion:
ABC News and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kyle Schwarber homers, Cubs turn 7 double plays in 1-0 win over Pirates
Kyle Schwarber homers, Cubs turn 7 double plays in 1-0 win over Pirates
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
With Cubs clinging to NL Central lead, their rotation remains in a state of flux
With Cubs clinging to NL Central lead, their rotation remains in a state of flux
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and MLB Baseball News …
Toronto Sun:
Yankees' Severino tries to get back into groove vs. Jays — NEW YORK — One of the many questions surrounding the New York Yankees as they slog through mid-August is the state of Luis Severino and his recent performances. — Severino will be five days removed from his shortest start …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Bluebird Banter
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Daily Record:
New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays announce lineups for second game of series — After winning a shortened game Friday night due to rain, the Yankees look to make it two wins in a row against the Blue Jays on Saturday. — Luis Severino gets the ball for the Yankees.
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Orioles fall 50 games below .500, incredible 50½ games behind Red Sox
Orioles fall 50 games below .500, incredible 50½ games behind Red Sox
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score and Camden Chat
Janie McCauley / Toronto Sun:
Matt Olson homers in 10th, A's pull within game of Astros — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) With September approaching, the Oakland Athletics are showing the baseball world what they believed from the start: This group and its young sluggers are ready to make a playoff push.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Crawfish Boxes and baseballmusings.com
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Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Avisail Garcia returns to White Sox lineup against Royals — Chicago Tribune — Avisail Garcia returns to the White Sox lineup Saturday night against the Royals. — Garcia, who is fighting pain in his right knee, was pulled from Friday night's game by manager Rick Renteria for not running hard …
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Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
Jason Adam's emotions spiral as frustrating season continues with Royals' loss to White Sox — CHICAGO — In a span of 13 minutes at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday night, the Royals went from clinging to a one-run lead over the White Sox in the seventh inning to trailing by six in what became a 9-3 loss.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers had the depth to survive key injuries in the past; Kenley Jansen is a different story — When the New York Mets spent the first pick of the 1961 expansion draft on a catcher, manager Casey Stengel explained why. — “You gotta have a catcher,” he said, “or you're gonna have a lot of passed balls.”
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Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and manager Dave Roberts have their fingers crossed for Monday
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and manager Dave Roberts have their fingers crossed for Monday
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score and DodgerBlue.com
Tom Timmermann / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wong's ‘next to impossible’ play saves the day for Cardinals — From his ringside spot at first base, Matt Carpenter, who knows a thing or two about playing second base, saw what Kolten Wong did in the eighth inning and was amazed. — “It's next to impossible,” Carpenter said. “An amazing play.
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Stats / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Cardinals close in on Brewers in wild-card race
Cardinals close in on Brewers in wild-card race
Discussion:
Star Tribune and Brew Crew Ball
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
What Aaron Judge's absence means for the rest of his season — NEW YORK — Aaron Judge has willingly embraced his current role as the New York Yankees' big-bodied hype man and cheerleader on the bench. — But he's long past ready to retire from it. — When the right fielder was taken …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Marly RiveraESPN / ESPN:
How far have the Phillies come? Ask pair who started at the bottom — The Philadelphia Phillies have been through darker periods before. After all, they had a record-setting steak of 16 consecutive losing seasons on their way to becoming the first team in professional sports to lose 10,000 games.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Harvey Valentine / Associated Press:
Scherzer picks up 16th win, Nationals beat Marlins 8-2 — WASHINGTON (AP) - Max Scherzer is using all his tools to help keep the Nationals' playoff hopes alive. — Scherzer pitched six scoreless innings, doubled and scored twice as the Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 8-2 on Friday night for his major league-leading 16th win.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Hitting refresh button may be Chris Sale's key to winning 1st Cy Young Award — Chicago Tribune — Red Sox ace Chris Sale has a career ERA of 2.82 or lower for April, May, June and July. But the number rises to 3.16 in August and 3.78 in September, suggesting he tires as the season wears on.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Baseball News … and Over the Monster
Toronto Sun:
Bottom 5th Balls: Strikes: Outs: … Bottom of 5: — Yankees fifth. Gregorius grounded out, second baseman Travis to first baseman Smoak. Andújar homered to left on a 0-1 count. Torres singled to left. Petricka pitching. Bird grounded out, pitcher Petricka to first baseman Smoak, Torres to second.
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Twenty years ago, the '98 Yankees ruled baseball like no one had ever done before ... or since — Brian Cashman remembers the two cross-country flights from California back to New York very differently, but he recalls them vividly two decades later. — The second plane trip was the far …
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Jose Ramirez homers, leads Cleveland Indians to victory over Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field — On the strength of a two-run home run from Jose Ramirez in the first inning of play, the Cleveland Indians topped the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1, in their series opener at Progressive Field Friday night.
Discussion:
Plain Dealer
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Steve Herrick / Star Tribune:
Carrasco gets 15th win, Ramirez homers as Indians top O's
Carrasco gets 15th win, Ramirez homers as Indians top O's
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Remember all that Rays hate? — BOSTON —Nope, this is not going to be the worst Rays team of all time, as a certain writer for a certain website that you may happen to be reading right now suggested in April was a real possibility. Not going to be second worst, third, even bottom 10.
Discussion:
DRaysBay