Top News:
Fox Sports:
LEADING OFF: Garcia joins Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, Votto run — A look at what's happening all around the majors Friday: — RIVALRY ROOKIE — Left-hander Jaime Garcia gets his first close-up look at the Yankees-Red Sox craziness when he takes on Boston in the Bronx.
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees get shutout 4-0 by Blue Jays, stumble into pivotal series vs. Red Sox — TORONTO — Maybe heading home to face the red-hot Red Sox will wake up these Yankees. — Because the Bombers looked pretty lifeless on Thursday night in a 4-0 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Pinstripe Alley and Bluebird Banter
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
AL Notes: Sale, Hardy, Orioles, Twins — It's possible the Red Sox will open contract extension talks with superstar left-hander Chris Sale during the upcoming offseason, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. Sale has two more option years remaining at a combined $26MM …
Discussion:
PressBox Online Baltimore and FanRag Sports
UPI:
Toronto Blue Jays: Taylor Cole placed on DL — TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Taylor Cole was put on the 10-day disabled list Thursday after suffering a broken right toe when he was hit by a comebacker during his major-league debut against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
Reds' Votto, Gennett have no problem with Padres lefty — Thursday in the seventh inning, the San Diego Padres changed pitchers in the middle of Joey Votto's plate appearance. For the Cincinnati Reds first baseman, it brought a flashback to an at-bat from rookie ball.
Discussion:
USA Today
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Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Bruce hit .384 in Cleveland as a Cincinnati Red — Jay Bruce, traded to the Indians on Wednesday by the New York Mets, is a .384 lifetime hitter with a 1.031 OPS in 96 plate appearances at Cleveland's Progressive Field. It's all damage Bruce did as a member of the Cincinnati Reds between 2008 and 2016 …
Discussion:
Sporting News, CBSSports.com and NESN.com
Dana Gauruder / UPI:
Pittsburgh Pirates: Josh Bell rises in win over Detroit Tigers — DETROIT — Josh Bell never showed much power in the minor leagues. So when Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle moved Bell to the cleanup spot this season, more than a few eyebrows were raised.
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George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Brad Ausmus: Detroit Tigers to use Joe Jimenez in ‘softer situations’ — The Detroit Tigers were trailing by three runs Thursday when manager Brad Ausmus opted to use 31-year-old journeyman Edward Mujica rather than prospect Joe Jimenez. — Mujica gave up a home run to Josh Bell …
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Drew VerHagen shelled in 2nd start as Detroit Tigers fall to Pirates
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
‘Fire’ Brad Ausmus? Detroit Tigers manager will think about it for jersey nickname
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and South Side Sox
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets To Promote Dominic Smith — The Mets will promote first base prospect Dominic Smith to the majors on Friday, general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters, including Marc Carig of Newsday (Twitter link). Smith will follow shortstop Amed Rosario as the second well-regarded prospect …
Discussion:
Elite Sports NY
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Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The pitchers Astros can still target to avoid an epic collapse
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Bless You Boys
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
Yankees thought they had Jay Bruce — then he was gone
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com
Jordan Bastian / Major League Bastian:
“We've had interest in Jay for years.”
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, MLB Trade Rumors and Baseball America
Bucky Dent / UPI:
rallykitty: St. Louis Cardinals credit stray cat as they claw past Royals 8-5 — ST. LOUIS — After the St. Louis Cardinals' latest win Wednesday, Mike Matheny said he's not a cat person. — “But I liked that one,” he said of the kitten that ran on the field just before Yadier Molina sank his claws into the Kansas City Royals.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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Pete Grathoff / Kansas City Star:
Cardinals' Jose Martinez, once in Royals' farm system, relishes chance to face old team — It's amazing how the fates of major-league baseball players sometimes are intertwined. — For example, the Royals brought up second baseman Whit Merrifield on May 18, 2016, and nearly 15 months later he's proved …
Fox Sports:
Girardi says ‘good possibility’ Montgomery starts Sunday — TORONTO (AP) Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Thursday there's “a really good possibility” that rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery will be recalled from Triple-A to start against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.
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Arizona Republic:
Thursday's game — Pitchers: Arizona Diamondbacks LHP Anthony Banda (1-1, 3.86) vs. Dodgers RHP Yu Darvish (7-9, 3.81). — TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1) — Rookie Anthony Banda will make his third career start for the D-Backs on Thursday.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, True Blue LA, Athletics Nation and Los Angeles Times
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom leaves Mets game after getting hit in arm with line drive — PHILADELPHIA — Jacob deGrom left the game in the seventh inning after taking a line drive off his pitching arm. The Mets right hander had thrown 6.2 scoreless innings when Nick Williams' 99-mile an hour line drive hit …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Look for Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr.'s role to expand for stretch drive — Chicago Tribune — After protecting Carl Edwards Jr. for more than four months, manager Joe Maddon is moving closer to unleashing his powerful right arm on a more frequent basis. — “That's coming,” Maddon said.
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Heyman's Latest: Yanks, Mets, Darvish, Astros, Twins, Bucs — The Yankees showed interest in Mets second baseman Neil Walker before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, according to FanRag's Jon Heyman. The crosstown rivals actually had a deal for Walker in place, tweets Mike Puma of Newsday …
Discussion:
FanRag Sports and Elite Sports NY
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
After two games, Royals' Alex Gordon returns to the lineup — Alex Gordon's season reset lasted a total of two days. — Gordon, who was benched on Tuesday in the midst of a prolonged slump, returned to the lineup on Thursday, starting in left field on the final night of a four-game home-and-home series with the St. Louis Cardinals.
