Top News:
ESPN:
Red Sox promote 1B prospect Sam Travis — The Boston Red Sox have promoted top prospect Sam Travis from Triple-A Pawtucket. — Travis, 23, is batting .286 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 33 games this season at Pawtucket and has exclusively played first base throughout his minor-league career.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Over the Monster and Minor League Ball
RELATED:
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Trying times for John Farrell as Boston Red Sox manager — Dave Dombrowski, the Red Sox's president of baseball operations, can play the “Fire John Farrell” card at any time. — That time might have come Monday, if the Red Sox had not avoided getting swept four straight in Oakland by winning the final game of the series.
Discussion:
Sports on Earth Writers, CBS Boston and Over the Monster
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers-Red Sox preview: Texas hitters to get stiff test at Fenway
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Punchless Red Sox - last in the AL in home runs - are picture of mediocrity
Punchless Red Sox - last in the AL in home runs - are picture of mediocrity
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Boston
Fox Sports:
Cano comes off DL for Mariners to begin series at Nationals — WASHINGTON (AP) The Mariners have activated second baseman Robinson Cano from the 10-day disabled list before the opener of a three-game set against the Nationals Tuesday. — Cano has been sidelined since May 11 with a strained right quadriceps.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
RELATED:
ESPN:
Mariners activate Robinson Cano from DL for return vs. Nationals — The Seattle Mariners activated star second baseman Robinson Cano from the 10-day disabled list Tuesday. — Cano has not played since May 10 because of a quadriceps injury. The Mariners said Cano will be available to play Tuesday against the Washington Nationals.
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Nationals vs. Mariners series preview: An unfamiliar foe
Nationals vs. Mariners series preview: An unfamiliar foe
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and Federal Baseball
ESPN:
Could stopping a Cubs dynasty be in the Cards? — While the Red Sox-Yankees and Dodgers-Giants rivalries have gotten the most historical ink, Cubs vs. Cardinals is also one of baseball's best long-term feuds, pitting the Wrigley Field faithful against the self-proclaimed “Best Fans in Baseball.”
RELATED:
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
What's in the Cubs' new building? The Tribune's private tour
What's in the Cubs' new building? The Tribune's private tour
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and FanRag Sports
Jack McCarthy / UPI:
Ty Blach battles, leads San Francisco Giants past Chicago Cubs
Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Chris Carter's glove, bat help New York Yankees defeat Kansas City Royals — NEW YORK — From various vantage points at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees could not tell if Alcides Escobar was out or safe after first baseman Chris Carter made a nice scoop of Starlin Castro's off-balance throw in the seventh inning.
RELATED:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Yankees in weird position of counting on Michael Pineda
Yankees in weird position of counting on Michael Pineda
Discussion:
Royals Review and Pinstripe Alley
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers see encouraging signs from bullpen — BOSTON — Rather than looking outside the organization for potential help to upgrade the roster, general manager Jon Daniels said that improvement from within and players returning to health could be what the Texas Rangers rely upon to get them to the postseason.
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers value Gallo's production over batting average — BOSTON — General manager Jon Daniels and manager Jeff Banister continued to say Tuesday that no decision has been made on what the plan is for Joey Gallo after Adrian Beltre comes off the disabled list, but they provided some insight …
Kevin Sherrington / The Charlotte Observer:
If the MLB is trending young, look to these Rangers stars for the next big thing
If the MLB is trending young, look to these Rangers stars for the next big thing
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Tim Heaney / ESPN:
Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Wednesday — Chris Sale, Jacob deGrom and Jon Lester headline fantasy starting pitchers on Wednesday's slate. Rich Hill and Luis Severino also reside in the safe zone with sparkling matchups. — However, as the rest of these pitcher rankings reveal, it gets dicey from there.
RELATED:
Greg Auman / UPI:
Settling in after 1st inning, Los Angeles Angels' JC Ramirez shut down Tampa Bay Rays
Dick Scanlon / Associated Press:
Wild pitch helps Angels beat Rays 3-2
Wild pitch helps Angels beat Rays 3-2
Discussion:
DRaysBay, Minor League Ball and Halos Heaven
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Houston Astros win pitching duel over Detroit Tigers — HOUSTON — With right-hander Brad Peacock stepping in with Dallas Keuchel on the 10-day disabled list, the team hoped he could manage expecatations. — Peacock exceeded all expectations by delivered a stirring effort in his spot start …
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
RELATED:
Jeff Wallner / UPI:
Cincinnati Reds top Cleveland Indians, 5-1 — CINCINNATI — Scott Schebler went hitless in 13 consecutive at-bats last week but only struck out twice. He figured it was just a matter of time before a few of his hard-hit balls would start to find gaps. — On Monday night …
RELATED:
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Royals notebook: Miguel Almonte could make first career start on Thursday — NEW YORK — Rookie Miguel Almonte could draw a spot start Thursday at Yankee Stadium as the Royals patch together their starting rotation after an injury to right-hander Nathan Karns.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' reliever shuffle: Felix Pena to Chicago, Zac Rosscup to Iowa — Chicago Tribune — The Chicago Cubs kept their revolving door of relievers turning Tuesday, promoting Felix Pena from Triple-A Iowa and sending left-hander Zac Rosscup to Iowa. — Pena was optioned May 13 when the Cubs promoted infielder/outfielder Ian Happ.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
USA Today:
MLB awards: Mike Trout, Bryce Harper leading MVP candidates — Mike Trout, a two-time American League MVP, is on course for an unprecedented third trophy at the age of 25. — The Los Angeles Angeles center fielder was the unanimous choice in USA TODAY Sports' quarterly award rankings.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Cincinnati.com:
Reds' Robert Stephenson finding his comfort level in bullpen — Sometimes it's easier for Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson to just be told what to do and not have a chance to think. That happened last week at Wrigley Field, when he was called to come in with the bases loaded in the sixth inning of an eventual 7-5 loss to the Cubs.
Salt Lake City Sun:
Angel option C.J. Cron to Triple-A Salt Lake — On Monday, the Angels optioned C.J. Cron, who'd been a fixture in the team's first base/designated-hitter mix for the better part of four seasons, to Triple-A Salt Lake. — Cron, who hit his first home run of the season Sunday, hit .232/.281/.305 over 24 games this season.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Arizona Republic:
What the Eephus? Taking another look at Zack Greinke's funky pitch — Zack Greinke's slider has been critical to his resurgence this season, but another tool in his arsenal caught some attention Monday night in Greinke's 12-strikeout performance for the Diamondbacks against the White Sox.
ESPN:
Former Tigers OF Anthony Gose throws 99 mph in minor league pitching debut — Anthony Gose, a former major league outfielder who was converted to a pitcher earlier this year, was clocked throwing 99 mph in his minor league pitching debut Monday, according to a Detroit Tigers official.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Sporting News and MLB on Yahoo! Sports