Top News:
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Encarnacion ties Mantle for most AL homers hit in May — First baseman drills two vs. Royals to break Blue Jays mark for any month with 16 — TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion's production during May has been so hot that his name is now being mentioned alongside some of the game's all-time greats.
Discussion:
Royals Review
RELATED:
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Blue Jays have often struck gold in past Drafts — From Hallday and Stieb to Olerud and Barfield, Toronto has found many gems — Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft is just a few days away, which means another group of young talent will soon join the Blue Jays in the hopes of one day playing at Rogers Centre.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:
NY Mets get big start from Zack Wheeler, Chris Young goes deep in win over Phillies — Wheeler went 6-1/3 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. He struck nine, three off his career high and one off his season high, but most notably, he did not walk a batter.
Discussion:
New York Post, ESPN, Amazin' Avenue, Metsblog, New York Times, New Jersey Online and The Good Phight
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Marc Carig / Newsday:
Zack Wheeler beats Phillies, 4-1
Zack Wheeler beats Phillies, 4-1
Discussion:
Metsblog, New Jersey Online and ESPN
Danny Abriano / Metsblog:
Game Recap: Mets 4 - Phillies 1
Game Recap: Mets 4 - Phillies 1
Discussion:
The Good Phight, sny.stats.com, Phillies Nation and Amazin' Avenue
Associated Press:
Giants put Matt Cain (hammy) on DL — ST. LOUIS — San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, one day ahead of his scheduled start against the St. Louis Cardinals. — The move was made Friday, retroactive to May 22.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and MLB
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rougned Odor Changes Representation — Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, who is in the midst of his first MLB stint at age 20, has switched agencies, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Venezuelan has returned to Beverly Hills Sports Council after spending time under the representation of Relativity Baseball.
Michael Beschloss / New York Times:
How Sandy Koufax's Motel Helped Lead to Baseball's Big-Money Era — In 1962, the star Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax invested in a West Hollywood motor inn, which was renamed “Sandy Koufax's Tropicana Motel.” Down Santa Monica Boulevard from the famed Troubadour club, these …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Mike Scandura / MLB.com:
Drew plays full game at shortstop for Pawtucket — Veteran goes 0-for-4, handles three chances in field without issue — PAWTUCKET, R.I. — For nearly seven months, Stephen Drew was a player without a team. — Drew's status changed dramatically when the Red Sox called on their former shortstop …
Discussion:
Over the Monster and HardballTalk
John Manuel / Baseball America:
Mock Draft 4.0: Separating Fact From Fiction — Mock Draft 1.0: Track Record Lands Rodon At Top Of First Mock — Mock Draft 2.0: Rodon Remains Atop Shifting Class — Less than a week before the draft, teams start getting a bit more tight-lipped about their plans and it's harder to separate the information and the obfuscation.
Discussion:
Mariners Insider and True Blue LA
Keith Law / ESPN:
Updated top 25 MLB prospects — Keith Law updates his top prospects, with Byron Buxton still leading … As I have in past years, I'm pausing my draft coverage here around the two-month mark of the season for a quick update of the top 25 prospects already in professional baseball.
Discussion:
ESPN
Sarah McLellan / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks' Martin Prado showing better production at plate — The arrival of his mother, Irma, as a roommate during the All-Star break last season coincided with Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado's offensive surge and while he was willing to pass off some of the credit for that rejuvenation …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
csnphilly.com:
Phils scouting boss has no regrets in draft controversy — Bud Selig has ‘great faith’ in Phillies organization — Phillies scouting director Marti Wolever has arrived in town for the final stage of preparations before next week's draft. — Wolever met with reporters before Thursday night's …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and The Good Phight
Stephania Bell / MLB:
New app aims to limit Tommy John surgeries — Noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews has performed numerous Tommy John surgeries on the elbows of baseball players. Dr. Kevin Wilk, his longtime physical therapist colleague, has overseen the rehabilitation of many of these athletes following the procedure.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, baseballmusings.com and HardballTalk
Paul Lukas / ESPN:
Men of letters — Names on Mets' roster a lowercase lettering challenge — Travis d'Arnaud was the first of three Mets players whose nameplates needed lowercase letters. — The New York Mets are going through another miserable season, but they lead the league — and probably the world …
Discussion:
Metsblog