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8:30 PM ET, September 16, 2017

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 Top News: 
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cubs unplug Cardinals' offense, dim their playoff chances  —  Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras, left, scores on a single hit by Ian Happ off St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Wacha during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Chicago.  (AP Photo)
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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 …
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.
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
USA Today:
Cubs' Willson Contreras suspended for two games after mask throw  —  Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras was suspended for two games by Major League Baseball for “inappropriate actions” after he was ejected Friday for arguing balls and strikes with umpire Jodan Baker.
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
David Haugh / The Charlotte Observer:   Cubs survive immature outburst from John Lackey - again
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs activate Addison Russell from DL before game vs. Cardinals
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune:
Fielding mistake costs Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez — again
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks Game Day: J.D. Martinez back in the lineup … CONNECT  —  Follow along with our updates and analysis as the Diamondbacks take on Madison Bumgarner and the Giants on Saturday night.  —  Martinez back in lineup for D-Backs  —  Slugger J.D. Martinez, who was scratched …
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
San Francisco has (woeful) Giants problem  —  The San Francisco Giants don't have much to sell these days.  The garlic fries still tantalize, but that's about it.  On Tuesday, the Giants are trying $1 hot dogs.  —  The Giants could lose the most games in the history of the franchise, which opened for business in 1883.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks' magic number shrinks with win over Giants
David Driver / UPI:
Rich Hill, Los Angeles Dodgers shut down Washington Nationals  —  WASHINGTON — Rich Hill allowed just one hit and one run in five innings and combined with five relievers on a four-hitter and rookie Cody Bellinger was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Saturday.
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ESPN:
Dodgers' Cody Bellinger ties NL record with 38 home runs  —  Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger hit his 38th home run of the season Saturday to match a National League rookie record.  —  His second-inning homer off Washington Nationals starter A.J. Cole on Saturday tied Wally Berger …
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
Washington Times:   Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy and the product of lift
Associated Press:
Wood, Dodgers bats overpower Nationals 7-0
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.
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:   Rafael Montero keeps up troubling trend for Mets pitchers
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Amed Rosario, Travis d'Arnaud back in Mets lineup after injury scares
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Rafael Montero cools off as Mets drop fifth straight game with loss to Braves
Discussion: Talking Chop
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Houston Astros start fast, finish job vs. Seattle Mariners  —  HOUSTON — Dallas Keuchel worked six strong innings before Joe Musgrove put out a raging fire in the eighth as the Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-6 on Saturday at Minute Maid Park, reducing their magic number to win the American League West to one.
RELATED:
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Houston Astros move closer to AL West title with win over Seattle Mariners
Abbey Mastracco / New Jersey Online:
Are the Mets better off without this former prospect?  —  Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Gabriel Ynoa (49) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium.  (Brad Penner |  USA TODAY Sports)  —  NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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Larry Fleisher / UPI:
New York Yankees: Luis Severino baffles Baltimore Orioles
ESPN:   Mets fan gets a kick out of Yankees adopting his thumbs-down gesture
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yankees bats stay hot, Jordan Montgomery shines in 9-3 win over Orioles  —  The Yankees finally have reached their high-water mark for the season, and they look as if they plan to continue riding this burgeoning wave into the postseason.  —  The Bombers finally are 16 games over .500 …
Rob Biertempfel / Greensburg Tribune-Review:
Ivan Nova leaves with calf discomfort in Pirates loss  —  CINCINNATI — Ivan Nova got out of bed Saturday morning in a good mood.  —  “I woke up feeling like today was the day I could get back on track,” Nova said.  “I left the hotel room with a positive mind set.”
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.
Discussion: Halos Heaven
RELATED:
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers reaction: Wild card slipping away as West officially lost
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Josh Land / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles on deck: What to watch Saturday at Yankees  —  The Orioles fell to the Yankees Friday night, 8-2.  (Ulysses Muñoz / Baltimore Sun)  —  The Orioles lose to the Yankees, 13-5.  (Denise Sanders, Baltimore Sun video)  —  Orioles (72-76) vs. Yankees (81-66)  —  Where: Yankee Stadium
Discussion: Camden Chat
Rotoworld.com:
Week That Was: Going Streaking  —  It wasn't so long ago that things were looking a bit problematic for the Cleveland Indians.  Just three weeks back in this space we discussed the troubles they were facing, with key players like Andrew Miller, Jason Kipnis and Danny Salazar all going down and making …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' walk-off win a quick-fix remedy to otherwise agonizing season  —  Sanchez turns back the clock with 11 strikeouts over six innings, his first double-digit performance in 13 months  —  At this moment, they weren't rebuilding.  They weren't more than 20 games below .500 …
Discussion: ESPN
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Mahtook's walk-off single, Sanchez's pitching lift Tigers over White Sox
Discussion: South Side Sox
 
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 More News: 
John Harper / New York Daily News:
If Aaron Judge can push Yankees past Red Sox, MVP would be back in play
Todd ZolaFantasy / ESPN:
Daily fantasy baseball cheat sheet for Saturday
ESPN:
Last living Negro Leagues umpire Bob Motley dies at 94
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Next Slide  —  The Brewers aren't trying to re-invent the pitching wheel.
 Earlier Picks: 
ESPN:
The Indians' win streak is longer than their call-ups' careers
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Cleveland Indians' record streak halted by Kansas City Royals
Discussion: Royals Review
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Didi Gregorius might be the best acquisition Brian Cashman has made as Yankees GM
Dennis Lin / sandiegouniontribune.com:
Rockies celebrate 2007 team with reunion, win over Padres
 

 
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