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 — 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 …
New York Daily News:
Blue Jays suspend outfielder Kevin Pillar 2 games for yelling homophobic slur; MLB investigating
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, Talking Chop, baseballmusings.com and Fox Sports
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Heyman | Freddie Freeman expected to miss significant time
Heyman | Freddie Freeman expected to miss significant time
Discussion:
Call to the Pen, Minor League Ball, Talking Chop, MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and FanSided
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, The Big Lead, NBCSports.com, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and NESN.com
Chicago Tribune:
Cubs fan dies after falling over railing at Wrigley: ‘He was a great guy, everyone loved him’ — Exterior of Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2016. A Wheaton man died May 17, 2017, after falling over a railing at the ballpark on May 16, 2017. — A Wheaton man died a day after falling …
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports, USA Today, FanRag Sports, Fox Sports and NESN.com
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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
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
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.
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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:
FanRag Sports, Halos Heaven and MLB Daily Dish
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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 …
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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:
South Side Sox
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 …
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 …
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 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
SBD Articles:
United Gets L.A. Coliseum Naming Rights In College-Record Deal … United Airlines is buying the naming rights to L.A. Memorial Coliseum for more than $70M over 15 years, according to sources, making it the richest naming-rights deal among college football stadiums.
Discussion:
USA Today, ProFootballTalk, CBS Los Angeles, FanRag Sports and CollegeFootballTalk
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:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Twinkie Town and Purple Row