Top News:
Alex Butler / UPI:
Chicago Cubs' John Lackey, Willson Contreras go nuts on umpire for calling ball — Pitcher John Lackey was fuming Friday when the he ran at the umpire after giving up a go-ahead run in the Chicago Cubs' 8-2 win against the St. Louis Cardinals. — The exchange began in the top of the fifth inning with the game tied at 1-1.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
David Haugh / The Charlotte Observer:
Cubs survive immature outburst from John Lackey - again — CHICAGO — Remorse never crossed John Lackey's mind Friday as he reflected on whether he contributed to his ejection in the fifth inning of an 8-2 victory over the Cardinals. — But then how do you acknowledge something you don't understand?
ESPN:
Shades of 2011? How the Cardinals again are sneaking up on everyone — The St. Louis Cardinals missed the playoffs last season and haven't missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2007 and '08, so falling short again would qualify as tough times in Cardinals Nation.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Royals Review
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals lose ground as misplays, missed chances prove costly — Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina off Ian Happ's single during the Cubs' seven-run sixth inning Friday. (AP Photo) — Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey, right …
Associated Press:
Jim Leyland: Indians' streak ‘great for baseball’ — DETROIT — The record-setting Cleveland Indians have earned the admiration of an old rival — former Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland. — “Not at the Tigers' expense, obviously, but I'm enjoying that Cleveland run,” Leyland said.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, FanRag Sports and ESPN
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' walk-off win a quick-fix remedy to otherwise agonizing season
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Mahtook's walk-off single, Sanchez's pitching lift Tigers over White Sox
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers acquire Angels prospect to complete Justin Upton deal
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
No discipline for Detroit Tigers in umpire hit-by-pitch, MLB concludes
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and SI.com
Gideon Rubin / MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Ray wins 5th straight as Diamondbacks top Giants 3-2 … Robbie Ray won his fifth straight start and A.J. Pollack hit a two-run double as the — San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Friday night. — Ray (14-5) struck out 10 and gave up two runs (one earned), six hits and no walks as the Diamondbacks won …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
How much could Diamondbacks' J.D. Martinez land in free agency?
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Associated Press:
Rookie Sean Newcomb's 8 strikeouts help Braves edge Mets 3-2 … ATLANTA — Sean Newcomb kept striking out Mets batters even when he couldn't rely on his big curveball. — For Braves manager Brian Snitker, that was an encouraging sign about the rookie left-hander's future.
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Rafael Montero cools off as Mets drop fifth straight game with loss to Braves — ATLANTA — On this already rough road trip, even the Mets hottest starter over the last few weeks couldn't get out of the fifth inning. Rafael Montero was chased with two outs in the fifth as the Mets fell to the Braves 3-2 at SunTrust Park.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
ESPN:
Mets fan gets a kick out of Yankees adopting his thumbs-down gesture — NEW YORK — Mets fan Gary Dunaier never imagined that his thumbs-down response to a Todd Frazier home run would become a salute for the crosstown rival Yankees. — Yet here they are, using Dunaier's inverted digit as a rallying cry during their postseason push.
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Associated Press:
Wood, Dodgers bats overpower Nationals 7-0 — WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Wood threw six shutout innings, Corey Seager hit a three-run homer during a five-run second and the Los Angeles Dodgers' rebound continued with a 7-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees have right to be upset at MLB over letting Red Sox off far too easy in iGate — Major League Baseball went way too easy on the Red Sox. — The Red Sox admitted to iGate after the Yankees presented evidence to the league that showed the Boston Cheat Party had used an Apple Watch …
Discussion:
Surviving Grady and Over the Monster
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Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
MLB Announces Fines For Red Sox & Yankees
Discussion:
Over the Monster, MLB on Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Scott LauberESPN / ESPN:
Red Sox Hanley Ramirez misses Friday's game with biceps soreness
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Didi Gregorius might be the best acquisition Brian Cashman has made as Yankees GM — The three-team deal in December 2014 that landed Didi Gregorius in the Bronx may turn out to be one of the best trades Brian Cashman has ever made as GM of the Yankees. — On a night when Paul O'Neill …
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Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers reaction: Wild card slipping away as West officially lost — ANAHEIM — This isn't going to end well, is it? The Rangers lost their fourth consecutive game Friday night and wasted a huge opportunity to gain some ground in the wild card race. — The Angels held on for a 7-6 win …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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Pedro Moura / The Charlotte Observer:
Angels survive Ranger danger — ANAHEIM, Calif.-The baseball landed in between the men left standing in Angel Stadium's home bullpen, an appropriate resting spot for the most important hit in a game defined by relievers. C.J. Cron had anticipated the two-strike slider hurtling his way, and he timed it just right.
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Houston Astros move closer to AL West title with win over Seattle Mariners — HOUSTON — Carlos Correa and Evan Gattis recorded multi-hit games, Charlie Morton delivered a quality start, and the Houston Astros inched closer to an American League West pennant with a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Todd ZolaFantasy / ESPN:
Daily fantasy baseball cheat sheet for Saturday — Wow, what an ugly pitching slate. There are some viable arms up top, but there's very little in the middle and lower ranges. Making matters worse is with eight early starts, the main slate consists of just seven games …
