Top News:
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Blue Jays add to villainous reputation in loss to Braves — ATLANTA — Whatever happened when Kevin Pillar struck out in the top of the seventh inning of the latest unsightly Blue Jays loss to the Atlanta Braves, he was quick to apologize. — And if teammate Jose Bautista offended anybody …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, The Guardian, Fox Sports, MLB Daily Dish, Talking Chop, Bluebird Banter and FanRag Sports
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Richard W. Rodriguez / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Tensions high, suspension levied in Braves-Blue Jays series — In the hours leading to the final game Thursday night in a contentious home-and-home series between the Braves and Blue Jays, fallout continued from Wednesday's wild 8-4 Braves win including confirmation of Freddie Freeman's fractured wrist …
ESPN:
Braves' Julio Teheran hits Jose Bautista in thigh day after bat flip — Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran hit Toronto's Jose Bautista in the left thigh with his second pitch of the at-bat in the top of the first inning Thursday night at Atlanta. — The Braves weren't pleased …
Kevin Pillar / ESPN:
Blue Jays suspend Kevin Pillar 2 games for anti-gay slur — The Toronto Blue Jays have suspended outfielder Kevin Pillar two games for using an anti-gay slur during Wednesday night's game. — Toronto general manager Ross Atkins told reporters that the suspension was arrived at in consultation …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
Kevin Pillar under inquiry for shouting at Braves pitcher
Kevin Pillar under inquiry for shouting at Braves pitcher
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Globe and Mail, Fox Sports and baseballmusings.com
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman | Freddie Freeman expected to miss significant time
Heyman | Freddie Freeman expected to miss significant time
Discussion:
Minor League Ball, MLB Trade Rumors, Call to the Pen, FanSided, Talking Chop and MLB Daily Dish
New York Daily News:
Blue Jays suspend outfielder Kevin Pillar 2 games for yelling homophobic slur; MLB investigating
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB investigating incident involving Kevin Pillar's homophobic slur
MLB investigating incident involving Kevin Pillar's homophobic slur
Discussion:
SI.com, Toronto Star, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, NBCSports.com, The Big Lead and NESN.com
Amara Grautski / New York Daily News:
MLB investigating Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar for possibly yelling homophobic slur
Cincinnati.com:
Amir Garrett struggles in his return as Cincinnati Reds fall to Chicago Cubs — CHICAGO - Amir Garrett's return to the big leagues didn't go as anyone expected, as the left-hander gave up five runs in the first inning and the Reds lost 9-5 to the Cubs, pushing their losing streak to six.
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Chicago Tribune:
Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley: ‘He was a great guy, everyone loved him’
Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley: ‘He was a great guy, everyone loved him’
Discussion:
Fox Sports and FanRag Sports
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ben Zobrist leads off as Cubs go for sweep of Reds
Ben Zobrist leads off as Cubs go for sweep of Reds
Discussion:
Red Reporter
UPI:
Cincinnati Reds recall promising LHP Amir Garrett to start series finale vs. Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds recall promising LHP Amir Garrett to start series finale vs. Chicago Cubs
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Scott Gleeson / USA Today:
Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley Field
Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley Field
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and NESN.com
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — Victor Martinez is expecting another addition to his family. — The Detroit Tigers will place their veteran designated hitter on the paternity list Friday afternoon and he will miss the upcoming weekend series against the Rangers. — But before he left, Martinez made sure to get his last licks in.
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Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels To Sign Doug Fister — The Angels are in agreement with free-agent right-hander Doug Fister on a Major League contract, reports SB Nation's Chris Cotillo (via Twitter). Fister is a client of PSI Sports Management. — As of last week, the 33-year-old Fister was said to be close to signing …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, FanRag Sports and MLB Daily Dish
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ESPN:
Source: Doug Fister agrees to minor league deal with Angels — The Los Angeles Angels have reached agreement on a major league deal with veteran right-hander Doug Fister, a source told ESPN's Buster Olney. — Because of his service time, the 33-year-old Fister has agreed to be optioned to the minors …
Fox Sports:
Royals can't overlook Yankees' running game (May 18, 2017) — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The perception is the Runnin' Royals versus the Ponderous Yankees. That would be fake news. — As the Yankees and Royals prepare to close out a three-game series Thursday at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City has stolen fewer bases than New York.
Discussion:
Royals Review
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Max Gelman / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Despite loss, Tuivailala growing into role — Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com — Sam Tuivailala's role with the Cardinals seemingly has always been in flux. — Originally drafted out of high school as a shortstop in 2010, Tuivailala transitioned to the mound two years later …
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matheny named to MLB's reorganized competition committee — ST. LOUIS • Within his first few years as manager of the Cardinals, Mike Matheny found himself standing before the commissioner and other baseball officials making a case for a rule change that he, as a catcher, would have been adamantly against.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and True Blue LA
Associated Press:
Rob Manfred acknowledges pace of game in MLB has gone ‘backwards’ — NEW YORK — Acknowledging that games have gotten even slower this season, commissioner Rob Manfred says MLB with will meet with players in an attempt to find a solution. — The average time of a nine-inning game is a record 3 hours …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rays Acquire Michael Martinez, Place Brad Miller On Disabled List — The Rays have acquired infielder/outfielder Michael Martinez from the Indians in exchange for cash or a player to be named later and placed fellow infielder Brad Miller on the 10-day disabled list due to a left abdominal strain.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Let's Go Tribe
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers finish undefeated homestand with ninth straight win — ARLINGTON — The Rangers won their ninth consecutive game Thursday afternoon, sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies with a 8-4 win at Globe Life Park. The Rangers went 8-0 on their homestand. They begin a nine-game road trip Friday in Detroit.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals Notes: McCutchen, Gio, Harper, Fedde, Ross — Last December's Andrew McCutchen trade talks between the Nationals and Pirates included top prospect Lucas Giolito and left-hander Gio Gonzalez, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Heyman notes that talks between Pittsburgh …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports, Nationals Pastime and Bucs Dugout
Fox Sports:
Twins ace Ervin Santana struggles early in rare loss — MINNEAPOLIS — Nolan Arenado got Colorado going with a first-inning home run, Mark Reynolds added a two-run single and the road-tough Rockies beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 on Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and Purple Row