Top News:
Kristie Rieken / KHOU-TV:
MLB to keep monitoring netting issue after child is hit — Like all major league stadiums, Minute Maid Park has netting to protect fans near the field from foul balls. — HOUSTON — Major League Baseball said Thursday it will keep examining its policy on protective netting at stadiums …
Discussion:
USA Today, MLB Baseball News … and ESPN
RELATED:
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Cubs player Albert Almora Jr. was visibly shaken after hitting a child with a foul ball
Cubs player Albert Almora Jr. was visibly shaken after hitting a child with a foul ball
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and USA Today
Kent Somers / Arizona Republic:
Major League Baseball can and should move quickly to extend netting to protect fans
670 The Score:
Jed Hoyer Calls For Extension Of Protective Netting
Jed Hoyer Calls For Extension Of Protective Netting
Discussion:
NBC New York, USA Today and Arizona Sports
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Jason Vargas hurls best start of the year, but Mets bats are silenced by Hyun-Jin Ryu — LOS ANGELES — Jason Vargas and Hyun-Jin Ryu provided a pitching duel in the Mets-Dodgers finale that fans expected out of Jacob deGrom and Clayton Kershaw in the series opener.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Ryu dominant again, Dodgers blank Mets 2-0 — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hyun-Jin Ryu was all but untouchable in May. — His final start of the month was no different Thursday night as the left-hander pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning of his latest dominant outing …
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Edwin Diaz overworked and unavailable for Mets series finale against Dodgers — LOS ANGELES — Edwin Diaz is recovering from what he called the “worst day of my career” by taking a day to rest during the Mets series finale against the Dodgers on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Edwin Diaz, Mets better hope that's their most painful loss of the year
Edwin Diaz, Mets better hope that's their most painful loss of the year
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB Baseball News …, True Blue LA, Dodger Blue and New York Post
Drew Davison / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Texas Rangers fall to Royals to open 11-game homestand — The Texas Rangers have played well at home all season, and had every reason for optimism beginning an 11-game homestand on Thursday night. — They were facing a Kansas City Royals team that had lost three straight, and six of their last seven.
Discussion:
Rangers News, Dallas-Fort Worth Sports News, The Athletic and Lone Star Ball
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Associated Press:
Giants avoid sweep by Marlins, beat Miami 3-1 — Fish take 2 out of 3 — MIAMI - Brandon Crawford hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning, and the San Francisco Giants broke a seven-game losing streak by rallying past the Miami Marlins 3-1 Thursday.
RELATED:
Field Level / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Pomeranz, Giants hope to regroup against Orioles
Pomeranz, Giants hope to regroup against Orioles
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Miami Herald
George A. King III / New York Post:
Aaron Judge's next comeback step is a crucial one — Aaron Judge threw strongly and accurately to bases from right field Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. — Now the Yankees' right fielder will begin taking batting practice in the indoor cage this weekend as he comes …
Discussion:
Sporting News
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Derrick Goold / Associated Press:
Hudson rewards Shildt's trust as Cardinals beat Phillies, 5-3 — Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks greets catcher Matt Wieters after securing the final out in a 5-3 victory at Philadelphia on Thursday. (AP Photo) — Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Hicks greets catcher Matt Wieters after defeating …
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Waiting and working while not starting, backup Wieters swats another homer vs. Phillies — PHILADELPHIA — At least once a series, veteran catcher Matt Wieters likes to get on the field and take batting practice against a pitching machine to get a feel for the ballpark and its background.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed proving he's more than just a Gold Glove shortstop — DENVER - After watching Nick Ahmed establish a career-high in home runs last year, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo believes he is seeing his Gold Glove shortstop continue to evolve at the plate.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks blow late lead, lose to Rockies, fall below .500 for season — ENVER - Almost a year ago to the day, in a deathly quiet visitors' clubhouse in Oakland, Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta spoke of ripping the month of May off the calendar, lighting it on fire and tossing it in a dumpster.
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
How will Kris Bryant be greeted in ‘boring’ St. Louis? — ST. LOUIS — Perhaps St. Louis sports fans will be distracted by the Stanley Cup Final, forgetting that the Chicago Cubs and Kris Bryant will be in town for a weekend series. It's the first time Bryant will be in St. Louis since famously calling …
Associated Press:
Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland Indians 10-4 for season-high 4th straight win — Carlos Carrasco gave up six runs on 10 hits to fall to 4-6 on the season. — CHICAGO (AP) — Yonder Alonso and José Abreu each hit a two-run homer, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 10-4 …
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, MLB Baseball News … and South Side Sox
ESPN:
MLB Weekend Watch: What we're excited to see — and why — It's a big weekend with Yankees-Red Sox, Cubs-Cardinals, Dodgers-Phillies and Astros-A's. And what series has the highest combined win total? Twins-Rays at the Trop, of course. — Here's what we're most excited to see:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Five things to know about the Braves on Friday — Five quick things to know about the Braves on Friday: — Riley remains hot: Austin Riley's grand slam Wednesday was his seventh home run in 14 games with the Braves. Riley is now batting .375 with 20 RBI and the seven home runs.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Tim Tucker / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves broadcasters will move into stands for Friday's game — The Fox Sports South broadcast team will change positions Friday night, calling the Braves' game against the Detroit Tigers from the right-field stands rather than the press box. — Chip Caray, Jeff Francoeur and Tom Glavine …
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies and Dodgers will renew an underrated rivalry this weekend | Extra Innings — The Phillies could not complete the three-game sweep of St. Louis during their brief homestand at Citizens Bank Park, and the sentiment that they are going to need help in the starting rotation …
Travis Sawchik / FiveThirtyEight:
Cody Bellinger Was Already Good. Then He Changed His Swing. — PITTSBURGH — The fly-ball revolution began with desperate players hoping to extend their careers with dramatic changes to their swings. Players like Justin Turner, nontendered by the New York Mets after the 2013 season …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and ABC News
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Even $1 million won't lure J.D. Martinez to Home Run Derby — NEW YORK — It was a nice try on behalf of Major League Baseball, but J.D. Martinez still isn't taking the bait. — The Red Sox slugger reaffirmed to WEEI.com Thursday at Yankee Stadium that despite MLB offering $1 million …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, NESN.com and Over the Monster
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels roll to rare easy victory after scoring in first 5 innings — SEATTLE — The Angels desperately needed a game like this. — The Angels started scoring early and often and cruised to a 9-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night, the first time since May 11 that they'd won …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, Lookout Landing, MLB Baseball News … and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Scott Boras brings Japan into latest attempt to circumvent MLB draft — About a month after Bobby Seay was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 1996 draft, the left-hander filed a grievance to become a free agent, citing an obscure rule that required teams to make written offers …