Top News:
TSN.ca:
Blue Jays host Rays with wild card spot on the line — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays appeared headed toward a postseason spot this weekend, but losing the first two meetings of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays has their playoff fate in a cloud.
Discussion:
Canadian Press, baseballmusings.com and DRaysBay
RELATED:
TSN.ca:
Indians eye playoff spot, sweep of Twins at Target Field — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians' hot streak has put their playoff destiny in nobody's hands but their own. — Currently the holders of the AL's first wild card spot, the Tribe can punch …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation and Canadian Press
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Sloppy Rays see streak end, fall to Jays
Sloppy Rays see streak end, fall to Jays
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, DRaysBay, Bluebird Banter and MLB.com
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mike Piazza returns to enter Mets Hall of Fame as chilly relationships begin to thaw — Will his return to Queens on Sunday for the induction signal the beginning of a phase in which the former Met catcher inches toward becoming a more regular presence? — This happens when a memory is so intense …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog and ESPN
RELATED:
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Mike Piazza to be inducted into Mets Hall of Fame Sunday — As jarring as it was for Mike Piazza to be dealt to New York from Florida on May 22, 1998, in his second disorienting trade in eight days, it was obvious that the Mets really were the ones who had changed addresses. — He merely had changed cities.
Discussion:
Metsblog
Associated Press:
Astros' strikeouts set single-season record — HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have broken the major league record for strikeouts by batters in a season. — J.D. Martinez took a called third strike from New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances that ended the ninth inning Sunday …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Final Score: Mets 3 Brewers 2 — The Least You Should Know... The Mets tied the game at two in the eighth inning when Juan Centeno attempted to sacrifice Juan Lagares to second, but the Brewers threw the ball away at first, allowing Lagares to score all the way from first base.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and Amazin' Avenue
Canadian Press:
Royals beat White Sox to end best season in 24 years — CHICAGO — Bruce Chen pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Kansas City beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Sunday in the finale of the Royals' best season in 24 years. — Kansas City won three of four in Chicago and went 17-10 …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Jeff Todd / MLB Rumors:
Giants Extend Hunter Pence — SUNDAY: The Giants officially announced the extension, which, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, will pay Pence $16MM in 2014 and $18.5MM in each of the remaining four years with no signing bonus. — SATURDAY: The Giants …
Discussion:
San Francisco Giants, McCovey Chronicles, Minor League Ball, HardballTalk, Amazin' Avenue and Al's Ramblings
RELATED:
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Giants:
SF GIANTS UPDATE: With Pence deal done, team begins talks with Lincecum
SF GIANTS UPDATE: With Pence deal done, team begins talks with Lincecum
Discussion:
Boston Globe and baseballmusings.com
Jon Heyman / CBSSports.com Sports News …:
Pence and Giants agree on $90M, five-year deal
Pence and Giants agree on $90M, five-year deal
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, CSN Bay Area, MLB.com, MLB Daily Dish and MLB Rumors
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Alvarez in the Ninth — Henderson Alvarez comes out for the top of the ninth inning, pitching a no-hitter in a scoreless game. He'll face the pitcher's spot, Don Kelly, and Andy Dirks as the Tigers and Marlins continue to look for offense. — Update: Alex Avila pinch hits and grounds back to the pitcher.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and Bless You Boys
Jeremy Warnemuende / MLB.com:
Baker turns to Cueto for NL Wild Card Game — CINCINNATI — At the beginning of the season, pitching Johnny Cueto in an elimination game such as Tuesday's National League Wild Card Game would have been a no-brainer. But after three trips to the disabled list for Cueto this year …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Gaslamp Ball and Bucs Dugout
Canadian Press:
Pearce drives in two in the eighth, O's rally past Red Sox — BALTIMORE — Steve Pearce drove in the go-ahead runs with a double in the eighth inning Saturday night and the Baltimore Orioles rallied to a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox, who clinched home-field advantage throughout the post-season earlier in the day.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Boston Globe, Over the Monster and Camden Chat
Todd Zolecki / MLB.com:
Amaro: Phillies will tender Kendrick contract — ATLANTA — It looks like Kyle Kendrick will be back next season. — Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. ended speculation about Kendrick's future Saturday afternoon at Turner Field, when he said he planned to tender him a contract in the offseason.
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins name Hill president, Jennings GM — MIAMI — The Marlins on Sunday announced a new structure for their front office, naming Michael Hill president of baseball operations and Dan Jennings general manager. — Jennings has been with the club for 12 seasons, as the organization's vice president …
Discussion:
HardballTalk