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4:45 PM ET, September 15, 2017

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 Top News: 
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs' Theo Epstein says bullpen improvement key down the stretch  —  CHICAGO - Exactly one year ago Saturday, Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein, along with other members of the front office, watched the team play the Milwaukee Brewers from the left field bleachers at Wrigley Field.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Reliever Hector Rondon sidelined with elbow inflammation  —  Cubs' Theo Epstein before series vs. Cardinals: “We have to do a lot of things to get to where we want to go.”  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  The Chicago Cubs could benefit Friday from a lengthy performance from starter John Lackey …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright, Arrieta set to pitch Saturday — just not in a game  —  CHICAGO  • The mirror images these two rivals been this season extends beyond how they've underachieved or where they find themselves in the standings this weekend.  —  It exists in the training room, too.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Contreras, Zobrist return to Cubs lineup; Cards still waiting on Fowler  —  CHICAGO  • When last the Cardinals came to Wrigley Field, they did not have a rookie batting third, did not have someone slugging from the cleanup spot, and Tommy Pham was still getting his groove.  —  A changed lineup.
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
Jen-Ho Tseng, Taylor Davis feel nerves in first Cubs starts  —  Cubs catcher Taylor Davis discusses starting alongside pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng against the Mets on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017.  (Paul Skrbina/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Triple-A battery lasted three innings.
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Series preview: Cardinals at Cubs
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs pull away, top Mets 14-6 to complete sweep
Scott Gleeson / USA Today:
Indians fever increasing - Friday game sold out, TV ratings soar as win streak hits 22  —  As the Cleveland Indians look to improve their American League-record win streak to 23  —  games on Friday night against the Kansas City Royals, they'll have a sellout crowd to root them on.
RELATED:
Rotoworld.com:   Dose: Lord Byron Walks Off
Jim Ingraham / UPI:   Cleveland Indians: Late-inning heroics push winning streak to 22
MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Bruce hits walk-off single as Indians top Royals for 22nd consecutive win
Discussion: Let's Go Tribe, Royals Review and ESPN
Alex Butler / UPI:
Aaron Judge: New York Yankees star hits two homers in win vs. Baltimore Orioles … It appears that Aaron Judge has returned to his extraterrestrial status, after smacking two home runs Thursday for the New York Yankees.  —  Judge, 25, went 15 games without a home run at the end of August.
RELATED:
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Despite defeat, Orioles' Chance Sisco comes up with memorable first hits at Yankee Stadium
Discussion: Camden Chat
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez hit back-to-back milestone home runs in Yankees' win
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Aaron Judge powers New York Yankees past Baltimore Orioles
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Astros trim magic number to 3 with 5-2 win over Angels  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — After righting a road trip that nearly went terribly wrong, the Astros are cruising back home with plenty of chances to clinch a playoff berth while bringing a long-overdue division title to Houston.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Astros OF Jake Marisnick out 6-8 weeks after breaking thumb  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick could be out for the season after breaking his right thumb while sliding headfirst into second base.  —  Marisnick will need surgery and will be out six to eight weeks, the Astros announced Thursday.
Pedro Moura / The Charlotte Observer:   Angels fall to the Astros, 5-2
ESPN:
MLB reviewing pitch by Tigers' Buck Farmer that hit umpire  —  Major League Baseball is reviewing how an umpire got hit this week by a pitch that a catcher missed in a game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
ESPN:
This is going to be the wildest October in history  —  To exactly one of the Angels, Mariners, Orioles, Rangers, Rays, Royals and Twins: Congratulations!  It's really happening!  —  For weeks, we've watched the seven of you fight for the American League's second wild-card spot.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers Reaction: After that homestand, 'It doesn't look good'  —  ARLINGTON  —  The homestand was setting up nicely for the Texas Rangers, who had two wild-card contenders coming to town and a chance to assert themselves in the playoff standings.  —  Or they could lay an egg and start the slow journey to the off-season.
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:   Rangers pitching falters in 10-4 loss to Mariners
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' single-game playoff tickets on sale next week  —  Yasiel Puig celebrates a home run by Dodgers teammate Justin Turner against the Rockies on Sept. 8.  (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)  —  The Dodgers will put single-game postseason tickets on sale next week.
Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds' Hunter Greene's future is on the mound, not shortstop, he says  —  BILLINGS, Mont. — Hunter Greene says he's a pitcher.  —  Before the Reds drafted him No. 2 overall in June, there was talk about him being a two-way player, someone who could be either a big-league shortstop or a pitcher.
Discussion: FanRag Sports
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
Recovered from fractured jaw, Willy Garcia rejoins White Sox  —  White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada and right fielder Avisail Garcia discuss the team's 17-7 victory over the Tigers on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017.  (Colleen Kane/Chicago Tribune)  —  The White Sox reinstated outfielder Willy Garcia …
Emma Span / SI.com:
Reasons to Root for Each Team in Crowded AL Wild-Card Race  —  Walk-Off Win Pushes Indians' Historic Win Streak to 22 Games  — With a handful of teams encroaching on playoff position despite average records (some losing ones, too!), it's difficult to sort through the AL Wild Card race.
Corey Seidman / CSN Philly:
Phillies-Athletics thoughts: No longer the worst team in baseball  —  Another night, another homer and two more walks from Rhys Hoskins.  This has to stop at some point, right?  —  Hoskins is 34 games into his major-league career and is hitting .314/.442/.805 with 18 homers and 39 RBIs.
Discussion: Athletics Nation and Fish Stripes
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers fan club paints opposing-team parks certain hue of blue  —  The day dawned bright, hot and loud at Union Station.  Trains, buses and cars came and went.  On the corner facing Alameda Street, demonstrators sang and danced and drummed and shook maracas in protest of President Trump's decision …
 
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 More News: 
Meg Rowley / Baseball Prospectus:
An Informed State of Joy
Discussion: Lookout Landing
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
‘It will be soon:’ Cubs starter Jake Arrieta sees return in sight
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs' overlooked MVP
ESPN:
Daily fantasy baseball cheat sheet for Friday
Associated Press:
Yanks' Dellin Betances shocked he was pulled for Aroldis Chapman
Discussion: FanRag Sports
Paul Dehner Jr. / Cincinnati.com:
As A.J. Green fumes, could changes be coming on offense?
Discussion: ProFootballTalk and FanRag Sports
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Breaking down 2018 Mets staff: 2 studs and a ton of questions
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Luis Severino innings limit? Yankees are playing coy
 Earlier Picks: 
ESPN:
Victor Robles gives Nationals a glimpse into the future
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Nerves get best of Cubs starter Jen-Ho Tseng in major-league debut
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
Brian Hall / MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Buxton's 10th-inning blast gives Twins 3-2 win over Jays
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs closer Wade Davis could go more than one inning to preserve setup men
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Amed Rosario, Travis d'Arnaud both leave Mets game due to injury
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Rob Manfred says MLB willing to wait 2 years for Shohei Otani
ESPN:
Turning frowns upside down, Yankees' Todd Frazier has fun with gesture
Discussion: DRaysBay
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
50 Cent Is ‘Going for Sole Custody’ of His Son With Daphne Joy After She Was Named in Diddy Lawsuit (Exclusive)

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

Heidi Parker / Daily Mail:
Jennifer Aniston, 55, and Sandra Bullock, 59, are seen leaving a plastic surgery office in Connecticut that is known for facelifts and rhinoplasty

 
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