Top News:
Associated Press:
Mets Slugger Cespedes Hit in Hand by Pitch, Fingers Bruised — PHILADELPHIA — New York Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes has been bruised on two fingers of his left hand after being hit by a pitch. — X-rays were negative after Cespedes left the game Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Yahoo Sports
RELATED:
Tim Rohan / New York Times:
Mets Must Deal With Injuries to Yoenis Cespedes, Steven Matz and Wilmer Flores — PHILADELPHIA — During the third inning of a lazy game Wednesday, an 89-mile-per-hour fastball drifted high and tight toward Yoenis Cespedes and struck him on his left hand, pinching his middle finger between the ball and the bat.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Yahoo Sports
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Jonathon Niese not sharp but comfortable in new relief role
Jonathon Niese not sharp but comfortable in new relief role
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Associated Press:
Cardinals Rout Pirates, Clinch 3rd Straight NL Central Title — PITTSBURGH — The St. Louis Cardinals are back in a familiar spot: on top of the NL Central looking down at everyone else. — Jason Heyward's third-inning grand slam powered the Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-1 …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright makes the ‘almost’ happen; cleared to relieve Wednesday
Wainwright makes the ‘almost’ happen; cleared to relieve Wednesday
Discussion:
CBSSports.com
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Piscotty could return to field this weekend
Piscotty could return to field this weekend
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Bucs Dugout
Associated Press:
Twins Win First, Then Split Doubleheader With Indians — CLEVELAND — Twins manager Paul Molitor tried to take the positives from Wednesday night's doubleheader split with the Cleveland Indians. — Kyle Gibson threw six shutout innings for a 7-1 Minnesota win in Game 1 …
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Indians OF Michael Brantley out vs. Twins with shoulder injury — CLEVELAND — Indians outfielder Michael Brantley has toughed it out, playing through aches and pains all season long. — Now a right shoulder injury could sideline him for Cleveland's final week.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Twinkie Town and Yahoo Sports
Associated Press:
Leake Throws 2-Hitter as Giants Beat Dodgers 5-0 — SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Leake pitched a two-hitter for his first career shutout, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 on Wednesday night. — A day after being eliminated from playoff contention …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Astros Rally Past Mariners, Take Over 2nd AL Wild-Card Spot — SEATTLE — Colby Rasmus' broken-bat RBI single capped Houston's rally from a three-run deficit, and the Astros retook the lead in the race for the second AL wild-card spot, beating the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Yanks Bullpen Falters in 9-5, 11-Inning Loss to Red Sox — NEW YORK — The Yankees' normally steady bullpen wasted a chance to clinch New York's first playoff berth in three years when Dellin Betances gave up a tying homer and Andrew Bailey allowed the go-ahead hit in Boston's 9-5, 11-inning victory Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports and Over the Monster
Associated Press:
AL West-Leading Rangers Win Again, 6-2 Over Tigers — ARLINGTON, Texas — Adrian Beltre hit the first of three Texas home runs as the AL West-leading Rangers moved closer to a postseason berth with a 6-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. — Robinson Chirinos and Mike Napoli …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Baseball's culture clash: Vast majority of brawls involve differing ethnicities — A scene from the Texas Rangers' clubhouse at Oakland's Coliseum last week neatly captured the blending of cultures that's so prevalent in baseball. — As Shin-Soo Choo highlights flashed on a TV screen …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Sporting News, CBSSports.com, Bleacher Nation and Lone Star Ball
Associated Press:
Angels Slowed With 8-7 Loss to Athletics — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Collin Cowgill's soft groundout to third wasn't a terribly appropriate way to end a seven-game winning streak and a rollicking homestand that propelled the Los Angeles Angels back into playoff position.
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago:
Hosmer's homer in 10th lifts Royals past White Sox — Eric Hosmer's two-run homer against closer David Robertson with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the Kansas City Royals to a 5-3 victory over the White Sox Wednesday night. — Jose Abreu hit his 30th homer and Tyler Flowers matched …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Anderson Leads Diamondbacks to 3-1 Win Over Rockies — PHOENIX — Chase Anderson pitched effectively into the sixth inning in a combined five-hitter and the Arizona Diamondbacks scratched out a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. — Anderson was solid in his last start of the season …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Associated Press:
New MLB Commissioner Envisions More Speed-Up Experiments — NEW YORK — Rob Manfred envisions more experiments with speed-up rules, such as limiting pitching changes and trips to the mound, or requiring each pitcher to face multiple batters. — Speaking at the Sports Diversity & Inclusion Symposium …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com