Top News:
Demetrius Bell / Baseball Prospectus:
What You Need to Know — Engel in the Outfield — The Thursday Takeaway — There were 38,675 fans in attendance at Wrigley Field for the final game of a four-game series between the Reds and Cubs, and I'd imagine that two or three times that many people would've claimed …
Discussion:
Chicago Sun Times, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Purple Row and Camden Chat
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Ervin, Votto lead Reds past Cubs despite Chicago's 6 homers
Ervin, Votto lead Reds past Cubs despite Chicago's 6 homers
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Jack McCarthy / UPI:
Cincinnati outslug Chicago Cubs behind Phillip Ervin
Zach Buchanan / Cincinnati.com:
After roller-coaster win over Cubs, Reds exhale
Associated Press:
Zimmerman's homer lifts Nationals to 2-1 win vs Padres — SAN DIEGO (AP) — With 33-year-old Edwin Jackson mostly frustrating the San Diego Padres for seven innings, Ryan Zimmerman and the rest of the Washington Nationals figured out a way to win on just four hits.
RELATED:
Dennis Lin / The Charlotte Observer:
Ryan Zimmerman's homer, missed opportunities sink Padres in series opener — Jhoulys Chacin brought the majors' second-lowest home ERA into his start Thursday against the Washington Nationals. On the surface, what ensued did little to affect his reputation as a force in downtown San Diego.
Jorge Castillo / Washington Post:
Ryan Zimmerman's eighth-inning home run lifts Nats past Padres, 2-1
Ryan Zimmerman's eighth-inning home run lifts Nats past Padres, 2-1
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Gaslamp Ball
Michael Silverman / Boston Herald:
John Henry says Red Sox will lead effort to change name of Yawkey Way — The Red Sox have had enough. — At a moment when racial tensions have escalated rapidly and the removal of Confederate statues acts as a flashpoint for violent and racially divisive protests, the Red Sox are ready …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Red Sox owner John Henry wants to rename Yawkey Way for David Ortiz — Retired Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is honored with the renaming of a portion of Yawkey Way to David Ortiz Drive outside Fenway Park in Boston on June 22. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press)
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Justin Tasch / New York Daily News:
Yankees series in Boston is one of last chances to catch Red Sox in standings — The Yankees vanquished their cross-town foes this week, and now they have their second chance in as many weekends to strike a blow against their hated division rivals. — After finishing off a four-game Subway Series sweep …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
Jose Abreu steps in after White Sox rookie Reynaldo Lopez tries to pitch through soreness — White Sox manager Rick Renteria on removing Reynaldo Lopez from Thursday's game against the Rangers with right side soreness on Aug. 17, 2017. (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Twins avoid sweep, split doubleheader with Game 2 win — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Slegers calmly took the mound for Minnesota in his major league debut and helped the Twins beat Cleveland at home for the first time all season. — Then the emotion came, when he left the field to a standing ovation in the seventh inning.
RELATED:
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez ‘not going to sit there and complain’ about playing time — With the Los Angeles Dodgers in the midst of a historic season, it's easy to forget that the team's opening day first baseman has barely played this year. — Adrian Gonzalez hasn't played since June 11 due …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times
RELATED:
Larry Millson / UPI:
Toronto Blue Jays escape Tampa Bay Rays — TORONTO — Justin Smoak hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning, Josh Donaldson hit two solo homers and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Thursday. — Smoak hit his 33rd homer of the season with one out against Tommy Hunter (2-4) after Donaldson walked.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Ian Harrison / MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Smoak hits tiebreaking homer in 8th, Jays beat Rays 5-3
Smoak hits tiebreaking homer in 8th, Jays beat Rays 5-3
Discussion:
Associated Press, DRaysBay and baseballmusings.com
Justin Tasch / New York Daily News:
Steven Matz knocked out early, Luis Severino dominates as Yankees win 7-5 to sweep Mets — The Yankees finished off a Subway sweep of the Mets on Thursday night in this four-game, two-borough series thanks to the Kraken. — Gary Sanchez powered the Bronx Bombers to the club's second-ever …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, New York Post and New York Times
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Steven Matz's current slump has Mets lowering their expectations of him
Steven Matz's current slump has Mets lowering their expectations of him
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Arizona Diamondbacks ride Patrick Corbin for split with Houston Astros — HOUSTON — Patrick Corbin came within an out of his first complete game in nearly four years, scattering four hits in 8 2/3 innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks earned a split of their four-game, home-and-home interleague series …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Zachary Orr / The Players' Tribune:
Always a Raven — The word explode is what got my attention. — It's just not a word you ever expect to hear from a doctor. — I'm sitting there, kind of dozing off. You know how a doctor's office can put you to sleep? Everything's white, it's quiet, kind of cold.
Discussion:
ProFootballTalk, FanRag Sports and CBS Baltimore
CSN Philly:
Tonight's lineup: Odubel Herrera sits again; struggling Tommy Joseph slides — The Phillies will be without their best hitter for a third straight game. — Because of a nagging left hamstring, Odubel Herrera is not in the lineup Thursday night when the Phillies kick off a four-game series against the Giants at AT&T Park.
Discussion:
The Good Phight and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com:
Cardinals lose closer to injury and it could impact the NL Central playoff race — Trevor Rosenthal hits the disabled list with posterior elbow irritation — We already discussed the wild Wednesday that transpired when it came to the tight NL Central and there's more to unpack there.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Beantown meltdown: Cardinals furious after Fenway fiasco
Beantown meltdown: Cardinals furious after Fenway fiasco
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Paul Gackle / The Charlotte Observer:
Giants bats cool off baseball's hottest pitcher — No one is going to mistake the San Francisco Giants for the 1927 New York Yankees these days. Well, no one other than baseball's hottest pitcher, that is. — Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola should be excused if he left …
miamiherald:
New Marlins owners to replace Samson, source says — David Samson, the loquacious and occasionally polarizing president of the Marlins for the past 15 years, will be looking for a new job when new owners take over the franchise. — A source said prospective owners Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, NBCSports.com, Forbes and FanRag Sports