Top News:
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cubs fall into a tie for the No. 3 wild-card spot after an 8-6 loss: 'We've got to turn it around' — The calendar is working against the Chicago Cubs. — The Cubs' postseason hopes could not afford a series loss to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, yet their spiral continued Thursday with an 8-6 defeat at Wrigley Field.
Discussion:
Denver Post, ESPN, Boston Herald and Chicago Sun Times
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers Name Jeff Greenberg General Manager — The Tigers announced Thursday morning that they've hired Jeff Greenberg as their new general manager. The 37-year-old Greenberg worked with current Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris with the Cubs, serving as the team's director …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bless You Boys, Sportsnet.ca, Detroit Free Press, Baseball-Reference.com and Bleacher Nation
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Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Tigers hire ex-Blackhawks, Cubs exec Jeff Greenberg as GM — The Detroit Tigers hired Jeff Greenberg as their new general manager Thursday, filling out their front office a year after Scott Harris joined the team as president of baseball operations. — Greenberg spent the past two seasons …
Discussion:
Battery Power, Chicago Sun Times, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Nation and Daily Herald
The Athletic:
How the $445 million Mets crashed and burned — It was May, barely a month into the Mets season, and the visiting clubhouse at Comerica Park was silent. The typical frenzy of a getaway day had been replaced by introspection, players sitting at nearly every locker, heads down as they scrolled through their phones.
Nathan Ruiz / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles fall to Guardians, 5-2, reducing AL East lead to 1.5 games as boom-or-bust September continues — CLEVELAND — Orioles manager Brandon Hyde did not hide his rooting interests after watching the Tampa Bay Rays rally for an afternoon victory against the Los Angeles Angels.
Discussion:
Boston Herald, BaltimoreBaseball.com, Morning Journal and Sportsnet.ca
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Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com:
Orioles reduce rotation to five starters by changing Flaherty's role
Orioles reduce rotation to five starters by changing Flaherty's role
Discussion:
Camden Chat, MLB Trade Rumors and BaltimoreBaseball.com
Charlie Goldsmith / Cincinnati.com:
'I've been built for these situations': Hunter Greene is embracing expectations — For three weeks in July, Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene woke up early, went to the gym at the Reds spring training complex and tried to do a core muscle exercise that at times felt impossible.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Redleg Nation and Red Reporter
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Gordon Wittenmyer / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds' slumping Elly De La Cruz benched for crucial game vs. Minnesota Twins
Cincinnati Reds' slumping Elly De La Cruz benched for crucial game vs. Minnesota Twins
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Twinkie Town
Charlie Goldsmith / Cincinnati.com:
Pitching plans don't play out in Reds loss to the Twins. Reds out of playoff spot for now.
Pitching plans don't play out in Reds loss to the Twins. Reds out of playoff spot for now.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Red Reporter, Twinkie Town, Redleg Nation and DraftKings Network
Shams Charania / The Athletic:
Pacers, Buddy Hield have begun talks to find potential trade: Sources — After contract extension negotiations stalled out, Buddy Hield and the Indiana Pacers have started a dialogue to work on finding a potential trade with another team, league sources say.
Discussion:
Hardwood Houdini, Burn City Sports, Twin Cities, masslive.com and USA Today
LaMond Pope / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago White Sox expected to add 3 new front office members: Josh Barfield, Brian Bannister and Gene Watson — WASHINGTON — Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol lauded Josh Barfield's presence, Brian Bannister's creativity and Gene Watson's wealth of knowledge.
Discussion:
Denver Post, Chicago Sun Times, MLB Trade Rumors and South Side Sox
Tim Keown / ESPN:
Oakland vs. the A's: The inside story of how it all went south (to Las Vegas) — AT 6 P.M. ON Wednesday, April 19, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was driving home from an event for the opening of a local business when she received a call from A's president Dave Kaval. — “Hey, just a heads-up,” Thao recalls Kaval saying.
Discussion:
Forbes and Lookout Landing
Joe Reedy / Associated Press:
Detroit rookie Reese Olson pitches the Tigers past the Dodgers 4-2 to avoid a sweep — Reese Olson continues to make his case for being a part of the Detroit Tigers rotation next season. The rookie won for the third time in his last four starts, combining with two relievers on a three-hitter …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bless You Boys, DraftKings Network, Bleacher Nation and Detroit Free Press
Wall Street Journal:
The ‘Mini-Bombs’ Blowing Up the Elbows of Baseball's Top Pitchers — Pitching injuries are a huge problem in baseball. What's to blame: the pitch clock, the mechanics of throwing nasty stuff or even the ban of sticky stuff? — Max Scherzer made a dark prediction at the beginning of the baseball season.
Discussion:
Morning Call, Pinstripe Alley and New Jersey Online
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
Sources: Rays calling up top prospect Junior Caminero — The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up top infield prospect Junior Caminero, bolstering their roster for a stretch run that will cap one of the best seasons in franchise history, sources told ESPN. — Caminero, who turned 20 in July …
Discussion:
Baseball America, MLB Trade Rumors, DraftKings Network and Yahoo Sports
Brandon Judd / Deseret News:
What former BYU QB Jacob Conover said about being ready to play if Arizona State calls on him again — The Arizona native, who started the season as the Sun Devils' fourth-stringer, played last week in a lopsided loss after injuries sidelined three other Arizona State QBs
Discussion:
Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times