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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Alex Butler / UPI:
Chicago Cubs' John Lackey, Willson Contreras go nuts on umpire for calling ball
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Viva El Birdos
USA Today:
Cubs' Willson Contreras suspended for two games after mask throw
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals lose ground as misplays, missed chances prove costly
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Viva El Birdos and Bleed Cubbie Blue
ESPN:
Shades of 2011? How the Cardinals again are sneaking up on everyone
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Royals Review
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' Ketel Marte focused on his defense … CONNECT — SAN FRANCISCO - On Thursday afternoon, shortstop Ketel Marte made a lunging, backhanded grab of a D.J. LeMahieu ball. He spun and popped to his feet in one motion, then fired the ball to first.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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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 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 …
Gideon Rubin / MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Ray wins 5th straight as Diamondbacks top Giants 3-2
Discussion:
Arizona Republic, McCovey Chronicles and AZ Snake Pit
Associated Press:
Cody Bellinger hits 38th homer to help Dodgers beat Nationals, 3-2 — WASHINGTON (AP) — Any shred of doubt the Los Angeles Dodgers absorbed from their 11-game losing streak has been emphatically erased. — After their fourth win in a row, 3-2 over the NL East-champion Washington Nationals 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
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.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Associated Press:
Romano pitches Reds to 2-1 victory over Nova, Pirates — CINCINNATI (AP) — Sal Romano had complete-game stuff. He settled for the best start of his rookie season. — Romano pitched a career-high eight shutout innings, Jesse Winker homered and the Cincinnati Reds beat the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Saturday.
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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.”
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Detroit Free Press:
Tigers can't recover from Myles Jaye's rough start, lose to White Sox, 10-4 — In just his second major-league start, Jaye allowed six runs - five earned - on five hits and two walks and couldn't get out of the second inning — Starter Myles Jaye dug the Detroit Tigers into a hole Saturday night at Comerica Park.
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Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox jump on Tigers for 8-4 lead — Photos from the White Sox-Tigers game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Detroit. — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox scored six runs off Tigers starting pitcher Myles Jaye in the first two innings and took 8-4 lead in the fifth inning Saturday night at Comerica Park.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers' walk-off win a quick-fix remedy to otherwise agonizing season
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, South Side Sox and ESPN
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
From first to worst: Rangers' ‘luck’ in one-run games flipped in 2017 — ANAHEIM — Much was made, a season ago, of the Texas Rangers' ridiculously good record in one-run games. — They were 36-11, the best mark since 1901. No other team won more than 28 one-run games in 2016.
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Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers reaction: Wild card slipping away as West officially lost
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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:
Talking Chop and Faith and Fear in Flushing
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Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Start of new streak? Cleveland Indians double up Kansas City Royals — CLEVELAND — Francisco Lindor had three hits and Edwin Encarnacion homered and had two RBIs as the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 8-4 on Saturday at Progressive Field. — Carlos Carrasco (16-6) pitched into the seventh inning to get the win.
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Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Cleveland Indians' record streak halted by Kansas City Royals
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Let's Go Tribe and Royals Review
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
With rotation change, Joe Girardi proves he plans on pitching Luis Severino in wild-card game — Joe Girardi offered different reasoning for juggling his starting rotation, but the move most significantly affects the Yankees' pitching order for various potential playoff scenarios involving ace Luis Severino.
Laura Armstrong / Toronto Star:
Josh Donaldson home runs lift Blue Jays over Twins — Third baseman hits homers No. 27 and 28 in 7-2 win in Minneapolis. — MINNEAPOLIS—Asked about nearing 40 home runs earlier this week, Justin Smoak marvelled at the number. — For your average big leaguer, 20 homers is big. Thirty?
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Bluebird Banter
ESPN:
Noah Syndergaard (lat) may not return from DL until next week — New York Mets manager Terry Collins said right-hander Noah Syndergaard, sidelined since April 30 with a torn lat muscle, might not return until next week. — The team had earlier hoped Syndergaard would be able to pitch …
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.
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MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Houston Astros move closer to AL West title with win over Seattle Mariners
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Lookout Landing and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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 …
