Top News:
Matt Eisenberg / Metsblog:
Kershaw takes perfect game into seventh, shuts out Mets — Clayton Kershaw took a perfect game bid into the seventh inning Thursday night, as the Dodgers shut out the Mets, 3-0, at Citi Field. — Curtis Granderson broke up Kershaw's perfect game with a clean single to right field …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Amazin' Avenue and True Blue LA
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Dodgers' Kershaw Breezes Through Meek-Hitting Mets — NEW YORK — Clayton Kershaw pitched a three-hitter, retiring the first 18 batters in his second shutout of the season, as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 3-0 on Thursday night. — Kershaw (8-6) now has thrown 29 consecutive …
Bob Klapisch / NorthJersey.com:
Late meltdown leaves Mets a battered bunch
Late meltdown leaves Mets a battered bunch
Discussion:
New York Post, Metsblog, Newsday, True Blue LA and Mack's Mets
Dom Amore / Hartford Courant:
Mets Have Big-Time Bat In Minors; Conforto (.321) Visits Rock Cats
Mets Have Big-Time Bat In Minors; Conforto (.321) Visits Rock Cats
Discussion:
Metsblog, Mets Minor League Blog and FanGraphs Baseball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Acquire Aramis Ramirez — The Pirates and Brewers have announced a trade that will send third baseman Aramis Ramirez to Pittsburgh in exchange for minor league right-hander Yhonathan Barrios and cash considerations. The Pirates are reportedly taking on $3MM of the $5.74MM that remains on Ramirez's $14MM salary.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, Bucs Dugout, Let's Go Tribe, Brew Crew Ball, HardballTalk, Milwaukee, Al's Ramblings and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Working On Trade For Reliever — Hours after acquiring Aramis Ramirez, the Pirates are working on a second trade, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Rosenthal adds that the target of the current trade is believed to be a relief pitcher, though no specific name or team has been reported at this time.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, Brew Crew Ball, MLB Daily Dish and Al's Ramblings
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
Scott Kazmir could be first A's player dealt — Scott Kazmir is scheduled to pitch for the A's on Thursday against the Blue Jays, and with the trade deadline approaching, it might be his final outing with Oakland. Talks are heating up, according to sources, with division foe Houston among the top potential landing spots.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Scott Kazmir traded to Astros — 8m - MLB SCOTT KAZMIR HOUSTON ASTROS OAKLAND ATHLETICS + more — Tim Kurkjian explains why the addition of Scott Kazmir to the Astros' rotation is important for them to make a charge to the playoffs.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and ESPN
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Astros Acquire Scott Kazmir
Astros Acquire Scott Kazmir
Discussion:
Baseball America, redsminorleagues.com, DRaysBay, The Crawfish Boxes, Yahoo Sports and Al's Ramblings
Associated Press:
Altuve's Walkoff Homer Lifts Astros Over Boston 5-4 — HOUSTON — Jose Altuve homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth, the last of his four hits, and the Houston Astros beat Boston 5-4 on Thursday night, extending the Red Sox's losing streak to a season-high eight games.
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John Wilcox / Boston Herald:
Buckley: Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval must go — Photo by: — If the Red Sox are serious about putting a winning team on the field for 2016 and beyond, they need to liberate themselves — and their fans — from Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. — It begins there, right?
Discussion:
Over the Monster, McCovey Chronicles and Surviving Grady
CSN Chicago:
Source: Cubs chasing Cole Hamels, David Price not in play yet — With the Major League Baseball non waiver trade deadline just eight days away the rumor mill is cranking out potential trade scenarios almost non stop. While the Cubs sit nine games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and Bleacher Nation
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Notes: Don't expect Price to stay in Detroit if not dealt
Notes: Don't expect Price to stay in Detroit if not dealt
Discussion:
Bleacher Nation, Talking Chop and Metsblog
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Who'll win the hunt for Cole Hamels — if anyone?
Who'll win the hunt for Cole Hamels — if anyone?
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish, CBS Chicago, Lone Star Ball, ESPN and CBSSports.com
Associated Press:
Lackey Goes 7, Rosenthal Holds On as Cardinals Beat Royals — ST. LOUIS — John Lackey threw seven strong innings after a shaky beginning, Trevor Rosenthal escaped his own jam in the ninth and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Royals Review
RELATED:
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago:
Molina's triple rallies Cardinals past White Sox
Molina's triple rallies Cardinals past White Sox
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos, South Side Sox and Royals Review
Associated Press:
Ellsbury, Headley Lead Yankees to Sweep of Orioles — NEW YORK — Jacoby Ellsbury finished a triple shy of the cycle and drove in four runs and Chase Headley hit a three-run double in the first inning as the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 Thursday to bolster their spot atop the AL East.
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Yahoo Sports and baseballmusings.com
Matthew Cerrone / Metsblog:
Wright will start baseball activity in NY this week — David Wright will resume baseball activity next week in New York, not St. Lucie, Mets GM Sandy Alderson told reporters at Citi Field on Thursday. — According to Alderson, money recouped this season from Wright's contract will not afford …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Pirates Designate Steve Lombardozzi For Assignment — The Pirates announced that they've designated infielder Steve Lombardozzi for assignment in order to clear space on the 40-man roster for third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who was acquired from the Brewers this afternoon.
Discussion:
Al's Ramblings
Associated Press:
Samardzija, Cabrera Lead White Sox Past Indians 8-1 — CLEVELAND — Jeff Samardzija, perhaps pitching for the final time in a Chicago uniform, allowed one run in eight innings and Melky Cabrera homered from both sides of the plate, leading the White Sox to an 8-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
Mike Digiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
David Freese breaks finger in Angels' win over Twins — A 5-2 win over Minnesota on Wednesday night proved costly for the Angels, who lost David Freese to a fractured right index finger, an injury that will sideline the third baseman for several weeks, and center fielder Daniel Robertson …
Discussion:
HardballTalk
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
David Freese To Be Placed On DL With Fractured Finger
David Freese To Be Placed On DL With Fractured Finger
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, MLB Daily Dish and Orange County Register