Top News:
Fox Sports:
Cubs-Pirates stopped by rain, first tie in majors since 2005 — PITTSBURGH (AP) The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates played to the first tie game in the major leagues since 2005 when rain forced the teams to stop in the sixth inning Thursday night with the score 1-all.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and CBS Pittsburgh
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jake Arrieta, Miguel Montero not keen on Cubs' September spring training — Chicago Tribune — With the home field advantage for the National League playoffs already wrapped up, Jake Arrieta and Miguel Montero don't seem keen on the Chicago Cubs' current plan of treating the last week …
Discussion:
Wrigleyville and The Athletic
Associated Press:
Buxton Doubles, Triples in Twins' 7-6 Victory — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Byron Buxton tripled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-6 on Thursday night. — After Salvador Perez's pinch-hit RBI single with two outs in the ninth pulled …
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Yahoo Sports
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Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Royals beat the Twins, are eliminated from the playoffs after Baltimore beats Toronto
Royals beat the Twins, are eliminated from the playoffs after Baltimore beats Toronto
Discussion:
Royals Review and Kansas City
Sarah Scrivens / ESPN:
Image of David Ortiz is mowed into Fenway Park outfield — David Ortiz has just three regular-season games left in his baseball career, and the Boston Red Sox are pulling out the stops to make it a home series Big Papi and his fans won't forget. — What better way to pay tribute to the 10 …
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USA Today
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Jay Schreiber / New York Times:
Playoff Update: Yankees Eliminated — The Boston Red Sox lost dramatically Wednesday night, on a two-out ninth-inning grand slam by the Yankees' Mark Teixeira. But they captured the American League East title, anyway, because the Toronto Blue Jays also lost on a ninth-inning home run, by Baltimore's Hyun Soo Kim.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Pinstripe Alley, Amazin' Avenue and Lookout Landing
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Associated Press:
Freeman's Streak Over, Braves Rally Past Phillies 5-2 — ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman's 30-game hitting streak ended when he struck out in the eighth inning of a tie game Thursday night, but the Atlanta Braves managed to score four runs after that off Philadelphia closer Jeanmar Gomez and beat the Phillies 5-2.
Jon Heyman / Todays Knuckleball:
Indians' Brantley could miss significant time in 2017 — Sources familiar with Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley's shoulder surgery suggest they believe it is quite serious, and that he could in fact miss significant time next season. Word based on those sources is that “they had to re-anchor the muscle to the bone.”
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Plain Dealer, Bleacher Report and Let's Go Tribe
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Jesus Montero Receives 50-Game Suspension — Blue Jays Triple-A first baseman Jesus Montero has been slapped with a fifty game suspension after testing positive for a banned stimulant, dimethylbutylamine, the league announced. Montero was once a hyped prospect, but has been trying unsuccessfully to revive his career in recent years.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and Yahoo Sports
Associated Press:
Tigers, Indians Postponed After Delay of Over 4 Hours — DETROIT — Thursday's game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians was postponed because of bad weather, a move that could force the teams to squeeze in a makeup game next week if it needs to be played because of postseason implications.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs give Theo Epstein a five-year extension — Cubs' President Theo Epstein discusses his five-year contract extension. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — President Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a five-year contract extension.
Discussion:
Yahoo Sports, FanGraphs Baseball, Bleacher Nation, Todays Knuckleball and CBS Chicago
New York Daily News:
Mets closer Jeurys Familia becomes first Dominican-born pitcher to save 50 games — MIAMI — They were not sure Jeurys Familia could do the job. In April 2015, when Terry Collins and Dan Warthen approached him about closing after Jenrry Mejia was busted for PED use, they knew Familia …
Discussion:
Newsday, Amazin' Avenue and New York Post
Josh Norris / Baseball America:
2016 Northwest League Top 20 Prospects - Tooled-Up Outfielders Lead The Way — A year ago, No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson helped Hillsboro win its second straight Northwest League championship en route to earning top prospect honors. He's already a big leaguer after being traded to the Braves.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball