Top News:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Solid outing will keep Minor in rumor mill. Here are his thoughts on a possible trade — Mike Minor knows he hasn't been as good of late as he was earlier this season for the Texas Rangers, but the stuff has still been there and opposing teams haven't been making much hard contact against him.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Camden Chat and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
DeShields' revamped swing produces walk-off win, pathway to sticking with Rangers — The Baltimore Orioles are in town, which means it's reunion time. — The roster crossover isn't what it once seemed to be, but there are four Texas Rangers players, one former draft choice, and two coaches who returned to Globe Life Park.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Evan Grant / Dallas-Fort Worth Sports News:
Rangers could call top pitching prospect to make major league debut on Saturday
Rangers could call top pitching prospect to make major league debut on Saturday
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles' Hanser Alberto having homecoming to remember against Texas Rangers
Orioles' Hanser Alberto having homecoming to remember against Texas Rangers
Discussion:
Camden Chat and BaltimoreBaseball.com
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Cubs To Sign Craig Kimbrel — 9:06PM: The deal pays Kimbrel $10MM this season, and $16MM in both 2020 and 2021, ESPN.com's Jeff Passan reports (Twitter link). There is a vesting option for 2022 that pays Kimbrel $16MM if it vests, Heyman reports (via Twitter), while it becomes a club option if it doesn't vest.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball, MLB Baseball News …, MLB & FANTASY …, MLB Daily Dish, New York Post, UPI and NESN.com
RELATED:
Jack Pickell / Boston Globe:
Cubs win Craig Kimbrel sweepstakes, reportedly agree to deal with closer — After more than seven months of on and (mostly off) negotiations, rampant rumors and lonely bullpen sessions far away from any big league stadium, seven-time all-star closer Craig Kimbrel appears to have reached …
Discussion:
Cubs Den, Forbes and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Cubs add closer Craig Kimbrel and Dodgers get company in N.L. pennant race — On Wednesday morning, the Chicago Cubs loomed as one of the few teams capable of challenging the Dodgers for supremacy in the National League. Only three years removed from their curse-breaking World Series triumph …
Chris Nelsen / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' gaps on defense, at the plate pop up again in loss to Rays — Yes, he wants to win. Yes, errors and walks drive him crazy. Yes, he'd love to score six, seven runs a game. — But those days are far off in the Detroit Tigers' painful rebuild, and despite continued mistakes …
RELATED:
Chris Nelsen / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers on 2019 top pick Riley Greene: ‘Enjoy it and stay true to who you are’ — Nobody can predict Riley Greene's future with the Detroit Tigers. But he's off to a good start, receiving high praise from “Mr. Tiger” himself, Al Kaline. — Before Tuesday's game at Comerica Park …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and MLB Baseball News …
Stu Durando / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards need starting pitcher for Sunday; Wacha's in the mix — As often happens when a spot in the Cardinals rotation is open, manager Mike Shildt fielded questions that attempted to narrow down the contenders. — And as usual, Shildt deftly avoided answering so that the speculation would linger for another 24 hours.
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Wacha says he didn't do anything different in strong relief stint — Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws a pitch in the seventh inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium Tuesday, June 4, 2019. (Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com)
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Evaluating some of the Cincinnati Reds' picks in the 2019 MLB Draft — ST. LOUIS - After three days and 40 rounds, Reds scouting director Brad Meador completed his first Major League Baseball Draft in his new position. — They Reds leaned on experienced talent, selecting 28 collegiate players and 12 high schoolers.
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo takes advantage of extra days between starts
Mark Schmetzer / Cincinnati.com:
Top Cincinnati Reds games: No. 40 - Anthony DeSclafani's 2018 grand slam vs. Chicago Cubs
Top Cincinnati Reds games: No. 40 - Anthony DeSclafani's 2018 grand slam vs. Chicago Cubs
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Michelle Gardner / Arizona Republic:
Rookie Jon Duplantier settling in nicely as Diamondbacks starter — The first two months of the season have been a little chaotic for Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Jon Duplantier. He is on his fourth stint with the major league club, with three trips to Triple-A Reno in between.
RELATED:
Greg Moore / Arizona Republic:
As Diamondbacks slip, Torey Lovullo should lead the charge against shifts, analytics — Torey Lovullo has a chance to do something major between now and September. — Relax, nobody's trying to say he's going to guide the Diamondbacks into contention, not even after his team salvaged …
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Live updates: Jon Duplantier allows two-run homer in third inning
Live updates: Jon Duplantier allows two-run homer in third inning
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Steve Herrick / Associated Press:
Roberto Pérez's homer caps comeback as Cleveland Indians beat Minnesota Twins 9-7 — Jordan Luplow and Francisco Lindor also homered to help complete the Tribe victory — CLEVELAND (AP) — Roberto Pérez hit a solo homer in the seventh inning to drive in the go-ahead run …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Tyler Carey / WKYC-TV:
Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood condition
Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood condition
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and MLB Baseball News …
Tom Withers / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Indians starter Carrasco diagnosed with blood condition
Indians starter Carrasco diagnosed with blood condition
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals target potential on final day of MLB draft — The pitcher the Cardinals made their seventh-round draft pick didn't throw a pitch in competition his first two seasons at UCLA, didn't have a role because his coach told the Los Angeles Times bluntly he “wasn't good enough,” …
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels' Justin Upton faces live pitching, moves closer to rehab assignment — ANAHEIM — Justin Upton took a significant step toward a return to the Angels lineup. — Upton, who has missed the whole season with a sprained toe, had eight at-bats against live pitching. — “He was good,” Manager Brad Ausmus said.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Joe Reedy / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Garneau's double in 9th gives Angels 10-9 win over A's
Garneau's double in 9th gives Angels 10-9 win over A's
Discussion:
Orange County Register and Athletics Nation
Ryan Divish / The Charlotte Observer:
Mariners bats erupt, Leake shuts down Astros in 14-1 romp — Mike Leake sauntered toward catcher Tom Murphy to shake his hand as those remaining in the announced crowd of 13,652 stood on their feet cheering to reward his work. His face showed no emotion - no anger, no happiness …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Keith Law / ESPN:
Draft heist of the century? How Mike Trout fell to the Angels — Mike Trout might be the best player in MLB history, but he wasn't even seen as the best player in his own draft class, or close to it. Ten years ago, he lasted until the Los Angeles Angels' back-to-back picks at Nos. 24 and 25 …
Associated Press:
Bote's career-high 7 RBIs lead Cubs over Rockies 9-8 — David Bote drove in a career-high seven runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 9-8 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. — Bote had four hits, including a three-run homer and bases-clearing double to hand the Rockies …
Discussion:
Purple Row and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Haseley's first hit lifts scrambling Phils over Padres 7-5 — Andrew Haseley and Andrew McCutchen shared a quiet moment in the Philadelphia clubhouse on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Heasley made his big league debut a day earlier because of McCutchen's season-ending knee injury.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Gaslamp Ball
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
There's a chance Aaron Judge could return for the Yankees' game in London — TORONTO — Aaron Judge is hitting in a batting cage at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa. It's a step forward for the slugger, who has been out since April 21 with a strained left oblique. — But Big Ben is ticking.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and MLB Baseball News …
David Wilson / Miami Herald:
A look at the Marlins' 17-game power surge and how it compares to their first 41 games — Ryan Braun didn't even bother to backtrack to the left-field fence in the fourth inning Tuesday when Garrett Cooper launched a solo home run out of Miller Park. It was a no-doubter for the outfielder …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Brew Crew Ball
Paul Halfacre / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Hillsboro's Brewer leads trio of area players picked on final day of MLB draft — Liberty's Chase Krogman (24) bats against Francis Howell, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Francis Howell High School in Weldon Spring, Mo. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves' Snitker on struggling Gausman: We need to get him right — When Kevin Gausman joined the Braves from the Orioles last July, he was a reclamation project of sorts. He went on to provide 10 starts down the stretch, earning a 2.87 ERA for the National League champs.