Top News:
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Mets make it five straight games with four or fewer hits in loss to Cubs … The way the Mets have been struggling at the plate lately, a deficit must feel as hopeless as trying to swiftly navigate New York City rush-hour traffic. — For the fifth straight game, they were held to four or fewer hits.
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Carlos Torres gets no help from offense, bullpen as Mets fall to Cubs — Pitching for Bartolo Colon, Torres threw five shutout innings but the Mets managed just four hits and give up late home runs to Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez on route to a 4-1 loss, their fifth in the last seven games.
Discussion:
Metsblog
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Bartolo Colon to miss start
Bartolo Colon to miss start
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing, Amazin' Avenue, CBSSports.com and HardballTalk
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
Mets manage only four hits, lose to Cubs on Starlin Castro's homer in ninth
Mets manage only four hits, lose to Cubs on Starlin Castro's homer in ninth
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Amazin' Avenue, MLB Trade Rumors, NY Daily News, New York Times and New Jersey Online
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wacha's throwing impresses Matheny — • By Rick Hummel rhummel@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8196 — Michael Wacha's throwing program reached step two Monday afternoon, and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said he was taken aback — in a good way. — “I was expecting less,” …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Lee Enterprises / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Holliday (0 for 18) slowed by sore knee
Holliday (0 for 18) slowed by sore knee
Discussion:
HardballTalk
MLB.com:
Angels lose challenge, while Red Sox win theirs — Ruling on Napoli's slide stands; review overturns safe call on Pujols — BOSTON — Angels manager Mike Scioscia burned his challenge early in Monday's 4-2 victory, when replay officials ruled a call would stand that Red Sox …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Metsblog:
Colon's mother dies; Germen called up — Bartolo Colon's mother died of breast cancer Monday, hours after he was scratched from his scheduled start against the Cubs so he could fly home to see her. The Mets will place Colon on the bereavement list Tuesday.
Jeff Beckham / Wired:
Baseball Bat With an Axe Handle Brings More Power, Fewer Injuries — The shape of a baseball bat hasn't changed much in the past 150 years, and the axe is many times older than that. By combining those age-old tools, however, the makers of the Axe Bat believe they can bring something new to the Grand Old Game.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
ESPN:
Red Sox demote Jackie Bradley Jr. — The Boston Red Sox demoted struggling outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, calling up outfielder Mookie Betts to take his spot on the roster. — Bradley is scheduled to play Monday night in Pawtucket for the PawSox's game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, The Crawfish Boxes, Associated Press and Over the Monster
Canadian Press:
Blanco hits first HR in three years as Phillies top Mariners — PHILADELPHIA — Jerome Williams took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, Andres Blanco hit his first homer in three years, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 in an interleague game Monday night.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and Lookout Landing
Greg Johns / MLB.com:
Felix good to go for Friday's start in Boston — PHILADELPHIA — Mariners ace Felix Hernandez said Monday his hip is fine after taking a one-hopper off the bat of Ian Kinsler in the fourth inning of his last start on Saturday in Detroit. — “I'm good,” Hernandez said upon arrival …
Discussion:
HardballTalk and CBSSports.com
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Colletti looking to make waiver deals to boost Dodgers — General manager eyes reliever, power bench bat to add depth for postseason run — LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are trying to make waiver deals for a reliever and power bat off the bench. If general manager Ned Colletti's track record …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
Orioles Hit 3 Homers in 8-2 Win Over White Sox — CHICAGO — Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer and prevented one with a leaping catch in right field, and Nelson Cruz and J.J. Hardy each added a solo shot to power the Baltimore Orioles past the Chicago White Sox 8-2 Monday night.
Discussion:
Camden Chat, ESPN and Canadian Press
Associated Press:
Kratz, Vargas lead Royals over Twins 6-4 — MINNEAPOLIS — Erik Kratz had played in only five games for Kansas City since being acquired from Toronto in a trade on July 28. — But the big guy always stayed ready and that discipline paid off Monday night to keep the Royals rolling.
Discussion:
HardballTalk and ESPN