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12:15 PM ET, September 13, 2017

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 Top News: 
Matt Carlson / UPI:
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant breaks out in win over New York Mets  —  CHICAGO — Kris Bryant picked the right time to rediscover his long-ball swing.  —  With Chicago's first-place lead in the National League Central dwindling, the Cubs couldn't afford to wait much longer.
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Joe Totoraitis / Associated Press:
Brewers beat Cole, Pirates 5-2  —  MILWAUKEE  —  Big hits and solid pitching can keep the Milwaukee Brewers in the playoff hunt.  Manager Craig Counsell got both of them against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.  —  Eric Thames hit his 29th home run, Domingo Santana went 3 for 4 …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs welcome comparisons, contrasts from 2015  —  Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant discusses the team's win against the Mets on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  The Cubs find themselves in a situation somewhat similar to 2015, when they had to battle for the final National League wild-card berth.
Discussion: Beyond the Box Score
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Robert Gsellman struggles in loss to Cubs that guarantees Mets won't finish over .500  —  CHICAGO — Robert Gsellman struggled to just get through four innings, the Mets offense was too little too late and they lost to the Cubs 8-3 at Wrigley Field.  —  It was the Mets second straight loss and their 81st loss of the season.
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Jeff Passan / Yahoo Sports:
Shohei Otani will leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table to play in MLB next season … It isn't about the money.  Athletes reflexively say this, and sports fans roll their eyes, because of course it's about the money.  It's always about the money.  Then along comes
RELATED:
ESPN:
Shohei Otani and why being Babe Ruth isn't all it's cracked up to be  —  Editor's Note: The story was originally published on June 15.  —  Ninety-seven years ago, the Yankees made a decision that would help draw the line separating the olden days from the modern era: They let the greatest hitter …
Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Column Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani shows his stuff to major league scouts
Discussion: Halos Heaven and The Ringer - All
ESPN:   Reports: Japanese MVP Shohei Otani expects to be in MLB in 2018
Bucky Dent / UPI:
St. Louis Cardinals pound Cincinnati Reds, 13-4  —  ST. LOUIS — Between Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis, Paul DeJong has belted 35 homers this year.  —  “Time to set a new goal,” he said.  “I could say 37, but 40 sounds better than 37.”  —  Given the rate at which he's hitting them …
RELATED:
Joe Lyons / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Molina's 2-run double puts Cards on top 2-1 after an inning  —  After falling behind, the Cardinals responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead over the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium.  —  After Matt Carpenter walked and Tommy Pham reached on an error …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Fowler better but not ready to play; Sierra returns
ESPN:
What is wrong with the Dodgers?  —  Flash back to the final week of August.  The Los Angeles Dodgers were 50-plus games over .500 and had already piled up 90 victories, and the conversations were about record-breaking win totals and October parade routes through Los Angeles.  Then everything changed.
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Andy McCullough / The Charlotte Observer:
Kershaw starts it and Jansen finishes it as Dodgers end dubious streak  —  SAN FRANCISCO - The desperation of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team in possession of baseball's best record yet stuck in the sport's longest losing streak in 2017, streamed across the face of Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday night.
Discussion: Baseball Prospectus
Jeff Faraudo / Mercury News:
Clayton Kershaw stifles Giants as Dodgers end skid, clinch playoff bid
Stephen Hawkins / The Charlotte Observer:
Big shots by Gamel, Seager push Mariners past Rangers 10-3  —  Kyle Seager put himself in some elite Seattle Mariners company with another big blast against Texas.  —  Seager and Ben Gamel both hit three-run homers to help power the Mariners to a 10-3 victory Tuesday night in a matchup of wild card hopefuls.
Discussion: Lookout Landing
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:   Rangers Reaction: Whatever is going on with Napoli is a bit peculiar
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:   Here's why the Rangers called up Calhoun and what will keep him in the majors
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:   ‘Go get ‘em kid’: Rangers’ 10-3 stumble made Willie Calhoun's debut look even better
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Indians' recent surge just another reason Yankees should keep fighting for division title  —  Suddenly, it feels like hope is fading for the Yankees in the AL East as fast as you can cross off games on the September calendar, especially on nights like this, when they waste outstanding pitching from Sonny Gray.
RELATED:
Jerry Beach / UPI:   Adeiny Hechavarria lifts Tampa Bay Rays to close win over New York Yankees
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Rays plan to go home to Tampa on Wednesday, host Red Sox on Friday
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Sonny Gray gets no run support, gives up late home run as Yankees lose to Rays, 2-1
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
ESPN:
Astros skipping Lance McCullers Jr. start over arm fatigue  —  The Houston Astros scratched Lance McCullers Jr. from his scheduled start Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels after the injury-plagued right-hander reported arm fatigue and soreness while playing catch.
Discussion: FanRag Sports
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Justin Verlander gives up 1 hit in Astros' 1-0 win vs. Angels  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched eight innings of one-hit ball in a stellar second start for Houston, and the Astros snapped their four-game skid with a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
Discussion: The Crawfish Boxes
Pedro Moura / The Charlotte Observer:   Verlander, Astros blank Angels
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
How soon before Tigers can be contenders again?  Use Indians as template  —  CLEVELAND - There is a blueprint here, on the banks of Lake Erie, where the Indians are bulldozing their way to a second consecutive American League Central Division championship — and the history books.
Discussion: Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:   Indians win again — that's 20 in a row, one off Cubs' 1935 mark
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers show fight but can't get win; Indians win 20th straight
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
ABC News:
Gonzalez homers twice, Rockies beat Diamondbacks again, 4-2  —  Carlos Gonzalez has finally found his swing, and that's very good news for the Colorado Rockies.  —  The veteran slugger homered twice and the Rockies won their sixth game in a row, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 …
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Arizona Republic:
Wednesday's game
ESPN:
Option vests for Nationals' Gio Gonzalez, securing $12M payday  —  WASHINGTON — Gio Gonzalez will wear a Nationals uniform next season.  —  On Tuesday night, Gonzalez struck out Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte to reach 180 innings on the season.  Because of that, his $12 million option …
Discussion: Federal Baseball and FanRag Sports
RELATED:
Stephen Whyno / The Charlotte Observer:
After helping Nats clinch, Braves rout NL East champs 8-0
Rotoworld.com:
Daily Dose: Windians  —  Follow @drewsilv and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.  —  Make it 20 wins in a row for the Cleveland Indians.  —  Corey Kluber worked nine shutout innings and Francisco Lindor launched his 30th home run of the season as the hottest team in baseball — the hottest team of the decade …
RELATED:
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Red Sox hopeful Eduardo Nunez returns from knee injury by season's end
Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox keep hitting, but comeback falls short in 4-3 loss to Royals  —  White Sox starter Dylan Covey discusses his outing and the team's loss to Royals on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017.  (Chris Kuc/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Jose Abreu stepped to the plate in the ninth inning …
RELATED:
Alan Eskew / UPI:
Kansas City Royals: Brandon Moss slams Chicago White Sox
Discussion: South Side Sox
Matt Gelb / The Charlotte Observer:
Hoskins' blasts lead Phillies over Marlins in 15 innings  —  PHILADELPHIA-Dee Gordon kicked the mess around first base into a pile.  The Philadelphia Phillies had mobbed Hyun Soo Kim, ripped his jersey from his body and showered him with water and gum and whatever else they snatched from the dugout.
Discussion: The Good Phight
 
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 More News: 
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees manager Joe Girardi hopes Greg Bird can return to lineup Friday against Orioles
San Francisco Chronicle:
A's want to build new ballpark next to Laney College in Oakland
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Dan Warthen, Mets pitchers continue to try and adapt to power-hitting league
Fox News:
Twins set Target Field record, mash 7 homers to rout Padres
UPI:
Baseball notebook: Opening day in 2018 will mark a first in MLB history
 Earlier Picks: 
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon highly doubtful Jake Arrieta can return against Cardinals
Ian Harrison / Associated Press:
Blue Jays rally in ninth to beat slumping Orioles 3-2
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets ‘concerned’ over Erik Goeddel's possible vertigo issues
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers activate Beltre from DL, but hold your excitement
 

 
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People:
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Jeff Conway / Forbes:
Olivia Colman Reflects On Her Beloved Career: ‘I Have Been Very Lucky’

 
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