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6:35 PM ET, September 15, 2017

Ballbug

 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:   Contreras, Zobrist return to Cubs lineup; Cards still waiting on Fowler
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Wainwright, Arrieta set to pitch Saturday — just not in a game
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
Jen-Ho Tseng, Taylor Davis feel nerves in first Cubs starts
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Series preview: Cardinals at Cubs
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.
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
No discipline for Detroit Tigers in umpire hit-by-pitch, MLB concludes  —  The incident popped back into the news cycle this morning, when the Associated Press reported Major League Baseball was investigating home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott being hit by a pitch in Wednesday's game …
Associated Press:
MLB rules Tigers pitch that hit plate umpire was unintentional  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has ruled that the Detroit Tigers did not intend to throw a pitch that struck a plate umpire in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground.  —  MLB said Friday that Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre reviewed …
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
Pedro Moura / The Charlotte Observer:   Angels fall to the Astros, 5-2
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:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs pull away, top Mets 14-6 to complete sweep
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:
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez hit back-to-back milestone home runs in Yankees' win
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Amed Rosario, Travis d'Arnaud out of Mets lineup vs. Braves  —  ATLANTA — Amed Rosario and Travis d'Arnaud were not in the lineup on Friday after both left the game the night before with injuries.  —  The Mets are calling it a tight right hip flexor for Rosario, who said it happened …
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Amed Rosario, Travis d'Arnaud both leave Mets game due to injury
Discussion: Amazin' Avenue
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Announces Fines For Red Sox & Yankees  —  Major League Baseball has announced punishment arising out of its investigation of mutual accusations of improper gamesmanship between the Red Sox and Yankees.  Both clubs will receive undisclosed fines, with the latter said to be tagged with a lesser amount.
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.
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
John Lackey, Willson Contreras ejected after berating plate umpire  —  CHICAGO — Cubs starter John Lackey and catcher Willson Contreras were both kicked out of Friday's game against the Cardinals after arguing with plate umpire Jordan Baker following an apparent missed strike three call on St. Louis pitcher Carlos Martinez.
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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.
Chicago Tribune:
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
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
‘It will be soon:’ Cubs starter Jake Arrieta sees return in sight  —  Cubs starter Jake Arrieta discusses his Grade 1 hamstring strain on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Jake Arrieta left his expected return to the Cubs rotation up to reporters who were exploring the scenarios.
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 …
 
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 More News: 
Meg Rowley / Baseball Prospectus:
An Informed State of Joy
Discussion: Lookout Landing
Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds' Hunter Greene's future is on the mound, not shortstop, he says
Discussion: FanRag Sports
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
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers fan club paints opposing-team parks certain hue of blue
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Despite defeat, Orioles' Chance Sisco comes up with memorable first hits at Yankee Stadium
Discussion: Camden Chat
 Earlier Picks: 
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
ESPN:
Victor Robles gives Nationals a glimpse into the future
Emma Span / SI.com:
Reasons to Root for Each Team in Crowded AL Wild-Card Race
Rotoworld.com:
Dose: Lord Byron Walks Off
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
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Rob Manfred says MLB willing to wait 2 years for Shohei Otani
 

 
From WeSmirch:

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

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

New York Times:
How to Be Real With Your Kids  —  Actor Penn Badgley reads the essay “Watching Them Watching Me” …

 
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