Top News:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves' 9th-inning rally falls short against Cubs — The Braves did what they have been adept at doing, but their ninth-inning rally against one of baseball's top closers fell just short Monday night in a 4-3 loss to the Cubs that had plenty of hearts beating excitedly in a sellout crowd at SunTrust Park.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Scott Cunningham / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Dansby sits again, Snitker says he'll go with best matchups now
Dansby sits again, Snitker says he'll go with best matchups now
Discussion:
ESPN, markbradley.blog.myajc.com, NBCSports.com and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jon Lester after strong start: ‘My stuff had a little more crispness to it’
Jon Lester after strong start: ‘My stuff had a little more crispness to it’
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Associated Press:
Rays beat A's 3-2 to move closer to first place in AL East — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A walk to Athletics leadoff hitter Matt Joyce was all the convincing that Tampa Bay right-hander Jake Odorizzi needed to pitch out of the stretch the remainder of the game.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Minor League Ball
RELATED:
Martin Gallegos / The Charlotte Observer:
A's offense, attendance numbers come back down to Earth against Rays — The Oakland A's offense shared something in common with the attendance number for Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. They were both dreadful. — In front of an announced crowd of 9,736 fans at the Coliseum …
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Why the Yankees and Red Sox should fear resurgent Tampa Bay Rays — OAKLAND - As the baseball world was engrossed - or not - by a New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox four-game series that yielded a split and had three of the games televised nationally over the weekend, the Tampa Bay Rays were quietly making inroads in the division race.
Doug Mittler / ESPN:
Rumor Central: Brewers, Rays, Yankees in mix for Pat Neshek?
Rumor Central: Brewers, Rays, Yankees in mix for Pat Neshek?
Discussion:
CBS Philly and DRaysBay
Alex Butler / UPI:
Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson hits umpire with bat on backswing … A frightening sound could be heard throughout the ballpark Monday when Josh Donaldson let go of his bat and it hit the home plate umpire in the head. — The Toronto Blue Jays third baseman was at the dish in the top …
Discussion:
USA Today
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Fox Sports:
Possible trade bait Happ starts for Jays vs. Red Sox (Jul 18, 2017) — BOSTON — Amid reports and speculation he could be on the move before the July 31 trade deadline, Toronto Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ faces the Boston Red Sox and rookie Brian Johnson in the second game of a four-game series at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Red Sox bare their biggest flaws in loss to Blue Jays
Red Sox bare their biggest flaws in loss to Blue Jays
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Travis Sawchik / ESPN:
Which teams are built to win in an era of power bats and power pens? — In the first inning of a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium on July 9, Travis Shaw smashed a Masahiro Tanaka splitter over the right-center bullpen for a three-run, first-inning homer.
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Buy or stand pat? Surprising Brewers weigh trade deadline — MILWAUKEE (AP) The Milwaukee Brewers' biggest fan calls team owner Mark Attanasio regularly and wonders occasionally what moves one of baseball's most surprising teams might make at the trade deadline.
Doug Mittler / ESPN:
Rumor Central: Brewers aggressively pursuing Sonny Gray?
Rumor Central: Brewers aggressively pursuing Sonny Gray?
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB trade deadline: Likely destinations for all the top stars on the block
MLB trade deadline: Likely destinations for all the top stars on the block
Discussion:
SBNation.com, Fish Stripes, DRaysBay, Cincinnati.com, Brew Crew Ball and ESPN
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers win third in a row with 10-2 win in series opener in Kansas City — Zimmermann very good over 6 2/3 innings, backed up by Castellanos, Mahtook homers. — CONNECT — KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Don't tell the Detroit Tigers their season is over. — Though all signs point to the team trading …
Discussion:
Royals Review, Bless You Boys and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Detroit Free Press:
Anatomy of a deal: Breaking down the Detroit Tigers' trade deadline challenges … Aside from October, it's the most exciting time of the baseball season: The July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. — For most of the past 11 years, the Detroit Tigers have been buyers, looking to tweak their roster for another playoff run.
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Even J.D. Martinez's mom asked if Tigers traded him, but they didn't (yet)
Even J.D. Martinez's mom asked if Tigers traded him, but they didn't (yet)
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Doug Mittler / ESPN:
Rumor Central: Rangers, A's pursuing Chris Carter? — The Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics are interested in Chris Carter, and one of those clubs is “likely” to sign the free-agent first baseman, reports Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. — Carter hit a league-high 41 home runs …
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers Reaction, rotation on same page: Where's the offense?
Rangers Reaction, rotation on same page: Where's the offense?
Discussion:
WFAA-TV and Dallas Morning News
Todd Karpovich / UPI:
Seth Smith's homer lifts Baltimore Orioles to win over Texas Rangers
Seth Smith's homer lifts Baltimore Orioles to win over Texas Rangers
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Gallo's return can't spark Rangers in 3-1 loss
Gallo's return can't spark Rangers in 3-1 loss
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Fox Sports:
Cardinals grind out a 6-3 win over Mets — NEW YORK — Paul DeJong homered against the New York Mets for the fourth straight game and Adam Wainwright hit an RBI double while winning his fourth consecutive start, sending the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-3 victory Monday night.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Stanton 2 HRs, Gordon hit in 10th sends Miami over Phils 6-5 — MIAMI (AP) — After a couple of homers from All-Star Giancarlo Stanton kept the Marlins in the game Monday night, Miami was unable to score with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. — The Marlins loaded the bases again in the 10th …
RELATED:
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Real or Not? A strange and wild day for the Astros — When you're past the All-Star break and you're leading your division by 15.5 games, these summer days are supposed to be relaxing. Monday was anything but for the Houston Astros. — It all started with a little bit of good-natured frivolity.
Discussion:
Sporting News and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Kyle Seager, Danny Valencia homer in 10th inning as Seattle Mariners top Houston Astros — HOUSTON — With his bullpen stretched thin following a long but successful weekend in Chicago, Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais was looking for precisely the type of all-around effort his club produced …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, The Crawfish Boxes and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Fox Sports:
Blackmon, Marquez propel Rockies to 9-6 win over Padres (Jul 17, 2017) — DENVER (AP) Charlie Blackmon 's fourth leadoff homer of the season hit the facing of the third deck, hard-throwing rookie German Marquez tied a career high with nine strikeouts and the scuffling Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 9-6 on Monday night.
Discussion:
Purple Row and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Dennis Lin / sandiegouniontribune.com:
Padres' Luis Perdomo chased early in loss to Rockies
Padres' Luis Perdomo chased early in loss to Rockies
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Associated Press:
Giants' NL-record sellout streak ends in 5-3 loss to Indians — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a rare scheduling perk, the Cleveland Indians didn't have to travel far for a much-needed change of scenery after a disappointing weekend dud at Oakland. — Just a quick jaunt across San Francisco Bay.
RELATED:
Janie McCauley / The Charlotte Observer:
Josh Tomlin's solid outing lifts Indians past Giants 5-3
Josh Tomlin's solid outing lifts Indians past Giants 5-3
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Let's Go Tribe
Valerie Wigglesworth / Dallas Morning News:
Cowboys' Elliott appealing conviction for speeding 100 mph on tollway in Frisco — Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is dealing with even more off the field troubles, this time in Collin County. — The 21-year-old is appealing a misdemeanor conviction for speeding …
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, FanRag Sports, The Big Lead and TMZ.com, more at WeSmirch »
Associated Press:
Houston All-Star Carlos Correa leaves game with thumb injury — HOUSTON (AP) — All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa has left a game against the Seattle Mariners with a jammed left thumb. — Correa was pulled Monday after swinging and missing at a pitch in the fourth inning.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Could Mike Trout and Bryce Harper become baseball's all-time greatest superstar duo? — Mike Trout is back just in the nick of time. The Angels superstar, who missed six agonizing weeks with a torn ligament in his left thumb, returned to action Friday, getting five hits and a walk during L.A.'s weekend series against Tampa Bay.
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yankees' Greg Bird: ‘My season is not over’ after undergoing ankle surgery — Greg Bird vows that you haven't seen the last of him this season. — The injured Yankees first baseman said as much after undergoing what he termed “successful” surgery to remove the os trigonum in his right ankle …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports