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 …
RELATED:
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
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.
RELATED:
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
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
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman | Nationals begin exploring market for a closer
Heyman | Nationals begin exploring market for a closer
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Federal Baseball and Royals Review
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
RELATED:
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 …
RELATED:
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 …
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.
RELATED:
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.
RELATED:
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
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
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
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 …
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
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 …
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 …