Top News:
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs TV crew beats ESPN and White Sox TV crews in Game 3 ratings — Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo talks about the win over the White Sox. (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — The visiting Cubs not only beat the White Sox on Wednesday night, their TV crew won the three-way competition for Chicago-area viewers.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Chicago Tribune
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ESPN:
Rays get lefty slugger Lucas Duda from Mets for minor league pitcher — NEW YORK — The out-of-contention New York Mets started their veteran dispersal by trading first baseman Lucas Duda to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league pitcher Drew Smith. — The Rays are taking on all of Duda's salary …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
ESPN:
Rays closing on trade with Mets for left-handed slugger Lucas Duda — The Tampa Bay Rays are finalizing a deal to acquire New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda, according to ESPN and multiple reports — Duda, 31, is hitting .246 with 17 home runs and 37 RBIs for the Mets, an organization with whom he's spent his entire career.
UPI:
Tampa Bay Rays acquire LHP Dan Jennings from Chicago White Sox — The Tampa Bay Rays acquired left-hander Dan Jennings from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday in exchange for switch-hitting first baseman Casey Gillaspie. — Jennings has posted a 3-1 mark with a 3.45 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 48 appearances …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Minor League Ball
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
Ozzie Guillen, Carlos Zambrano will call Cubs, White Sox game in Spanish next week
Alex Tekip / ESPN:
Rumor Central: Rays making progress in Lucas Duda deal, Yankees and Mariners interested?
Rumor Central: Rays making progress in Lucas Duda deal, Yankees and Mariners interested?
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Daily Dish and NESN.com
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs, Jon Lester aim to take City Series from White Sox
Kevin Santo / USA Today:
Nationals slug eight home runs in 15-2 rout over Brewers — WASHINGTON - If Max Scherzer needed a birthday present on Thursday, the Washington Nationals gave him one in the form of plenty of run support - homering eight times against the Milwaukee Brewers and cruising to a 15-2 victory.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Nationals hit 8 HRs to blast Brewers 15-2 (Jul 27, 2017) — WASHINGTON (AP) The Washington Nationals staged their own version of the Home Run Derby, with Michael Blazek serving as the unwilling batting practice pitcher. — Washington tied a franchise record with eight homers and matched …
Kevin Santo / USA Today:
Thanks to trade, Travis Shaw thriving with Brewers — WASHINGTON — When Travis Shaw was first called up to the majors, his father's message was simple. — “There's gonna be some ups and downs,” Shaw remembers his father saying. “You just got to get through it.”
Associated Press:
Nationals place Strasburg on 10-day DL with elbow injury — WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg has been placed on the 10-day disabled list by the Washington Nationals, who want the standout right-hander to rest his elbow by missing a turn in the rotation. — The Nationals describe the injury as a “right elbow nerve impingement.”
Tom Haudricourt / The Charlotte Observer:
Brewers' bullpen falters in 8-5 loss to Nationals — This showed why Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns acquired relief help earlier in the day. — Ruining a brilliant start by Jimmy Nelson, the Brewers' bullpen blew up in horrific fashion in the eighth inning Wednesday night …
Kevin Santo / USA Today:
Nationals slug eight home runs, including four straight, off Brewers — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals broke out with a home run derby against the Milwaukee Brewers. — Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman each sent solo shots over the wall off Brewers starter Micheal Blazek …
ESPN:
Nationals homer five times in third inning vs. Brewers — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals tied a major league record on Thursday by hitting five home runs in an inning. — The barrage came in the bottom of the third against Milwaukee Brewers starter Michael Blazek and included back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers.
Fox Sports:
Rangers' Adrian Beltre on the brink of 3,000th career hit — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Adrian Beltre just wanted to work hard, be consistent and earn respect in the game. As a young player, he never even thought about historical numbers like 3,000 hits. — “Never in my mind …
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Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Adrian Beltre is on the brink of a Hall of Fame milestone. Here's why — Adrian Beltre is just one big game away from baseball immortality. — The Texas Rangers veteran third baseman needs only four hits to reach the 3,000-hit milestone, something only 30 players have accomplished.
Associated Press:
Twins send catcher Murphy to D-backs for left-hander Moya — PHOENIX (AP) — The Minnesota Twins are sending Triple-A catcher John Ryan Murphy to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Double-A left-hander Gabriel Moya. — The deal agreed to Thursday was pending physicals for both players.
RELATED:
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Diamondbacks Acquire John Ryan Murphy
Diamondbacks Acquire John Ryan Murphy
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, Minor League Ball and MLB Daily Dish
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Dodgers in curious Sonny Gray spot with Yankees waiting — MORE FROM: … In the past 24 hours, I have had multiple executives play connect the dots, with the end result being Sonny Gray ends up a Dodger. — Yet every time I check, I hear he is not a front-burner issue for them and that other teams …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and MLB Trade Rumors
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Associated Press:
Dodgers turn to Wood as dominant lefty in Kershaw's absence — LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Clayton Kershaw sidelined by injury, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in need of a dominant left-hander. — Baseball's best team need look no farther than one locker past Kershaw's in the clubhouse.
Teddy Bailey / Philly.com:
Pitcher Tom Eshelman will remain on the disabled list for the IronPigs — Lehigh Valley IronPigs righthander Tom Eshelman threw a side session on Tuesday but felt discomfort as he battles back from a strained right hip flexor. Lehigh Valley manager Dusty Wathem said Eshelman will remain on the disabled list and skip his next start.
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Teddy Bailey / Philly.com:
J.P. Crawford continues July surge with grand slam — ALLENTOWN — J.P. Crawford clapped three times, flipped to his feet, and enthusiastically high-fived every member of Lehigh Valley's dugout. — Once the unanimous choice as the Phillies' top prospect, Crawford had deceptively slid underneath …
Discussion:
USA Today, The Good Phight and CBS Philly
Fox Sports:
Indians top Angels 2-1; Bauer, Lindor key 7th straight win (Jul 27, 2017) — CLEVELAND (AP) Trevor Bauer pitched a season-high eight innings, Francisco Lindor singled to break a tie in the seventh and the Cleveland Indians won their seventh straight game Thursday with a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Marc Carig / Newsday:
Addison Reed could be packaged with other Mets, source says — SAN DIEGO — On his own, Mets closer Addison Reed represents the Mets' most sought-after trade chip, and their best chance of beginning a quick retooling with an eye toward contention in 2018. — But the Mets have at least kicked around …
Discussion:
Metro
RELATED:
Doug Mittler / ESPN:
Rumor Central: Mets considering package deal for Addison Reed?
Adam London / NESN.com:
Five Blockbuster Trades We'd Like To See Before MLB Trade Deadline — We're just days away from the Major League Baseball trade deadline, and there are several players around the league who reportedly could be on the move. — We've already seen marquee talent find new homes …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jake Arrieta: ‘We expect to remain in first place’
Jake Arrieta: ‘We expect to remain in first place’
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Contending teams thrive off MLB trade deadline deals — ST. LOUIS — The sound of the showers hitting the tile floor in the Colorado Rockies' visiting clubhouse at Busch Stadium was deafening. — The Rockies, one of baseball's most surprising teams with their kiddie corps rotation …
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Justin Wilson also drawing interest from New York Yankees — There are still nearly four full days until the trade deadline and even the Detroit Tigers would admit they don't yet know how the Justin Wilson sweepstakes are going to play out. — With any number …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and CBS Detroit
Christian Red / New York Daily News:
MLB commish explains the hurdle to protective netting in every major league ballpark — There is no fixed date when all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums will have protective netting installed for fans' safety against foul balls and errant bats, but commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday that there is …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Twins Reportedly Listening To Offers On Short-Term Assets — After dropping three straight games to the Dodgers and falling below .500 for the first time since April, the Twins are now fielding offers on their shorter-term assets, reports MLB.com's Mark Feinsand (on Twitter).
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and MLB Daily Dish
Kyle Soppe / ESPN:
Top MLB DFS building blocks for Thursday — Our experts are here to provide the best hitters and pitchers for you to build your daily fantasy baseball lineups around on Thursday. — Hitters to build around — Stacking left-handed hitters against Mike Pelfrey is a great strategy on any day …