Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cratering Cardinals can't play much worse than they do in brutal loss to Phillies — Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper follows the flight of the ball after hitting a home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Genesis Cabrera during the third inning of Wednesday's game. (AP Photo)
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wacha's route back to rotation is through relief — PHILADELPHIA — While the Cardinals are still figuring out how and when to use Michael Wacha in his new role as a reliever, they do have a place in mind for where they'd like see to this turn through the bullpen take him.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Rolling bands of severe weather force another delay for Cardinals, Phillies
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
As Cabrera makes major-league debut, Molina yields to Wieters, rests injured hand
As Cabrera makes major-league debut, Molina yields to Wieters, rests injured hand
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and The Good Phight
Joe Kay / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Josh Bell homers again, Pirates beat Reds 7-2 for split — Pirates record with his 12th homer in May, and Pittsburgh stopped — Derek Dietrich's home run spree Wednesday, beating the — Cincinnati Reds 7-2 for a split of their four-game series. — Bell's three-run homer tied Jason Bay's mark from May 2006.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, baseballmusings.com, Red Reporter and Cincinnati.com
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster John Wehner rips Derek Dietrich for home run celebrations — Derek Dietrich has done a lot of damage against the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, hitting seven home runs in nine games against them. He drilled three homers to right field during the Reds' 11-6 victory …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
ChiSox employee on viral 1st pitch: ‘It was scary’ — CHICAGO — Mary Ruich anticipated control issues. — “I knew it wasn't going to be good, but I thought I'd be close,” she said Wednesday. “It was scary.” — The rookie right-hander threw one of the most wayward ceremonial …
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Dean Reynolds / CBS News:
Chicago White Sox employee's ceremonial opening pitch goes wrong
Chicago White Sox employee's ceremonial opening pitch goes wrong
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, CBS Chicago, TODAY.com, South Side Sox and Associated Press
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB parks need full protective netting before it's too late — HOUSTON — Look at her face. Look at the little girl, orange bow in her hair, fear in her eyes, pain and suffering evident. Look at her. Really look at her, no matter how difficult it may be.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and The Crawfish Boxes
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Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Young fan struck by foul ball during Astros-Cubs game
Young fan struck by foul ball during Astros-Cubs game
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News …, NPR and ABC News
Gordon Wittenmyer / Chicago Sun-Times:
No Zo Effect catching up to Cubs, who must face possibility Ben Zobrist might not return
No Zo Effect catching up to Cubs, who must face possibility Ben Zobrist might not return
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, NBCSports.com, MLB Baseball News …, New York Post and MLB Trade Rumors
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Brandon Dixon delivers big hit again in Detroit Tigers' rare series winner — BALTIMORE — Before he was summoned to the clubhouse manager's office, Blaine Hardy just wanted to give him a high five. — Brandon Dixon walked through the visitors clubhouse at Oriole Park at Camden Yards …
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Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros' Carlos Correa placed on injured list with fractured rib — At Tropicana Field this March, sidelined by another ambiguous injury in a career becoming full of them, Carlos Correa exuded optimism. — The All-Star shortstop sat out Houston's first three regular-season games against the Rays …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Crawfish Boxes and UPI
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Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros send prospect Forrest Whitley to minor league injured list with shoulder fatigue
Astros send prospect Forrest Whitley to minor league injured list with shoulder fatigue
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Baseball News …
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
John Smoltz thrilled to see All-Star Game return to Atlanta — The Braves rolled out an alumni red carpet while announcing they'll host the 2021 MLB All-Star Game on Wednesday afternoon. — Among the former Braves greats in attendance was John Smoltz, the Hall of Fame righty who earned eight All-Star nods.
RELATED:
Tim Tucker / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves line up star power for All-Star Game announcement
Braves line up star power for All-Star Game announcement
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Federal Baseball
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Forsythe, Santana keep producing. But here's why Rangers are sticking with struggling Odor — Logan Forsythe and Danny Santana might be the two most productive bench players in the American League, now that Hunter Pence has become a must-have for every Texas Rangers lineup.
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Sarah Valenzuela / New York Daily News:
James Paxton pitches as if he never left in return from IL; B-Bombers live up to their nickname — Getting James Paxton back is a big boost for the Yankees. — In his first game back from the injured list, Paxton's four shutout innings reminded the Bronx Bombers what they were missing …
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Activate James Paxton
Yankees Activate James Paxton
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and New York Post
Sam Miller / ESPN:
How Cody Bellinger could have the best season in MLB history — For the first two weeks of the baseball season, WAR goes dark. Baseball-Reference didn't roll out the first run of its all-encompassing stat until the morning of April 9, by which point the Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger was hitting .435 …
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians' Zach Plesac gets thumbs up from Roberto Perez and another start — BOSTON — Rookie Zach Plesac earned another start and that's OK with catcher Roberto Perez. — Perez wasn't sure who he'd be catching Tuesday night when Plesac made his big-league debut for the Indians.
RELATED:
Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
Indians SP Zach Plesac receives letter from David Price after Major League debut
Indians SP Zach Plesac receives letter from David Price after Major League debut
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Over the Monster, MLB Baseball News … and UPI
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
As Rocco Baldelli returns leading Twins, why he is ‘a pretty big deal’ with Rays — Having spent 18 years with Tampa Bay, he comes back managing the Twins. Also, Mike Zunino and Matt Duffy updates. — ST. PETERSBURG — For almost his entire adult life, 18 of his first 19 years in pro ball, Rocco Baldelli was a Ray.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers accept Hyun-Jin Ryu's ‘fascinating’ routine between starts — In the middle of April, as Hyun-Jin Ryu nursed a sore groin, the Dodgers made a request. If Ryu wanted to return from the injured list, he had to throw a bullpen session. The assignment deviated Ryu from his usual routine, but he complied.
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Gausman, Braves crushed by Nationals in two-game sweep — It took less than 20 minutes to deflate the enthusiasm and energy of a high-voltage crowd at SunTrust Park on Wednesday. On the heals of the Braves announcing the 2021 All-Star Game would be held in Atlanta, Kevin Gausman couldn't keep the good vibes going.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Eduardo Escobar's power surge a welcome development for Diamondbacks — DENVER - Eduardo Escobar does not have an explanation for his sudden power surge. He offers no backstory about a swing change or some realization of what pitches he can drive. And he objects to the notion that home runs have become a bigger part of his game.
Mark Schmetzer / Cincinnati.com:
Top games in Cincinnati Reds history: No. 42 - Reds get no-hit, but beat the Houston Colt .45s — Ken Johnson was a key contributor to Cincinnati's 1961 run to the National League pennant, going 6-2 with a 3.25 earned-run average in 15 games, including 11 starts, in the second half.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Dominic Smith makes first start of year in left field — LOS ANGELES — Dominic Smith jogged out to left field with a renewed sense of purpose on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. — Smith made his first start of the year in left field for Game 3 between the Dodgers and the Mets on the West Coast.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …