Top News:
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 …
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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 …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Kevin Pillar / ESPN:
Blue Jays suspend Kevin Pillar 2 games for anti-gay slur
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:
CBSSports.com, SI.com, Outsports, Toronto Star, NBCSports.com, The Big Lead, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and NESN.com
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:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, FanRag Sports, Fox Sports, USA Today and NESN.com
Cincinnati.com:
Reds' Bryan Price gets clarification on controversial call
Reds' Bryan Price gets clarification on controversial call
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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
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
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman | Nationals begin exploring market for a closer — The Washington Nationals have begun making calls now for closer, and while they haven't found anyone who's immediately available, David Robertson is very likely to become available and perhaps makes the most sense.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, CBSSports.com, Washington Post and Royals Review
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ESPN:
Source: Doug Fister agrees to minor league deal with Angels
Source: Doug Fister agrees to minor league deal with Angels
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Angels To Sign Doug Fister
Angels To Sign Doug Fister
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Halos Heaven, FanRag Sports and MLB Daily Dish
Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' opponents preview: Rangers ride into Comerica Park on nine-game winning streak — Series: Texas at Tigers for three games, Friday-Sunday night. — TV/radio: Friday — 7:10 on Fox Sports Detroit, Saturday — 7:15 on Fox (Channel 2 in Detroit), Sunday — 8:05 on ESPN.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Column Alex Wood has adapted well to an ever-changing Dodgers pitching staff — The downside of constructing a team like the Dodgers is that players can feel like interchangeable parts. The active roster changes every other day. Roles switch. Not everyone responds well to the instability.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
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Associated Press:
Turner injures right hamstring, Dodgers beat Marlins 7-2 — Justin Turner left in the seventh inning after injuring his right hamstring, curbing the celebration for the Los Angeles Dodgers after a 7-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night. — Turner was hurt running from second base to home in the seventh inning.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, True Blue LA and ABC News
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees baffled by Danny Duffy, fall to Royals in series finale — A-Rod may have been in the broadcast booth, but the Yankees could've used him in the batter's box on Thursday. Maybe he could've hit Danny Duffy. No one else seemed to be able to. Duffy was dominant …
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Blair Kerkhoff / Kansas City Star:
Danny Duffy strikes out 10 Yankees in dealing Royals a 5-1 victory — Danny Duffy reported for duty in the second inning in a flash. When things are going this well, you can't wait to toe the rubber. — After two nights of watching Yankees circle the bases, the Royals needed a line …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notes: Wacha is taking an extra day off between starts — Outside of the Cardinals' recent rearrangement of the rotation to buy him more than a week off between starts, Michael Wacha has made a subtle shift to his schedule from years past that he believes has helped him throw better and stronger so far.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matheny named to MLB's reorganized competition committee
Matheny named to MLB's reorganized competition committee
Discussion:
True Blue LA and baseballmusings.com
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Only thing Mets and Yankees have in common is top division rivals are weaker than expected — Cruising through May in separate directions, the Yankees and Mets don't have a whole lot in common right now, other than the fact both their respective Eastern divisions are weaker than expected …
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
Todd Frazier, Tim Anderson homer as White Sox pull even with Mariners in 8th — Photos from the White Sox-Mariners game on Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Seattle. — Todd Frazier and Tim Anderson hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to push the White Sox into a 4-4 tie with the Mariners on Thursday night at Safeco Field.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Mets' Steven Matz, Seth Lugo pitch to Travis d'Arnaud in minors — NEW YORK — Help may be on the way for the hobbled New York Mets. — Steven Matz and Seth Lugo made their first minor league rehab appearances Thursday night, pitching to Travis d'Arnaud in a game with Class A St. Lucie.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Boston Herald:
A's spoil Velazquez's debut with 3 HRs in 8-3 win vs Red Sox — OAKLAND, Calif. — Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis hit first-inning homers to spoil Hector Velazquez's major league debut and the Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 8-3 on Thursday night. — Chad Pinder added a homer …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Athletics Nation
Ray Glier / VICE Sports:
The New Tommy John Surgery That Could Change Baseball — Dr. Jeff Dugas has scrubbed in for about 2,000 surgeries on the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow. He reconstructs the injured ligament with a tendon grafted from the patient's forearm or leg. All sorts of athletes come …
Evan Grossman / New York Daily News:
After pregame controversy, A-Rod has night of ups and downs in color commentary debut — He's not going to quit his day job. — Neither would you if you made $21 million to not play baseball. — But after his debut in the booth Thursday night as a color analyst on FS1 …
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers reaction wonders if they'll ever lose again in Arlington — ARLINGTON — Is this becoming old hat? Do people even use the expression “old hat” anymore? The Rangers' 8-4 win over the Phillies Thursday afternoon, which capped a three-game sweep, an 8-0 homestand …
Max Gelman / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Series preview: Giants at Cardinals — Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com — Scouting report • The Cardinals welcome in the San Francisco Giants this weekend for a three-game series. Coming off a two-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, the Cardinals have fallen …