Top News:
Fox Sports:
Dodgers aim to wrap up NL West versus Giants (Sep 22, 2017) — LOS ANGELES — The wobbly Los Angeles Dodgers return home Friday with a chance to clinch a fifth consecutive National League West title, knowing the opportunity to rest some tired regulars is on the horizon.
RELATED:
UPI:
New York Mets manager Terry Collins to retire after season, report says — The New York Mets expect manager Terry Collins to retire after this season, the New York Daily News reported Thursday. — The Mets and Collins have not discussed an extension on his contract, which expires at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies put up fight but fall to Dodgers — The visiting clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park stayed dry of champagne on Thursday afternoon but that was merely a consolation for the Phillies as they fell to the Dodgers, 5-4, and failed to finish a four-game sweep of baseball's best team.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Philly.com:
Improving bullpen vital to Phillies' hope for the future — That streak will end when the Nationals begin a three-game series on Monday against the Phillies. — “I am excited to play in front of some friends and family in Philadelphia,” Doolittle said earlier this month in an interview before a Nationals game in Milwaukee.
Tom Dougherty / UPI:
Los Angeles Dodgers edge Philadelphia Phillies to close in on NL West crown — PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies were nine outs away from completing a four-game sweep of the best team in baseball when what has been a strength of late bent Thursday afternoon. — Andre Ethier hit a pinch-hit homer …
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
Chris Sale becomes 1st AL pitcher in 18 years to reach the 300 strikeout mark — Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale throws to the Orioles on Sept. 20, 2017. — Chris Sale was at his very best — right down to his momentous last pitch — in another meaningful victory for the Boston Red Sox.
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Josh Land / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles on deck: What to watch Thursday vs. Rays — Orioles manager Buck Showalter talks about Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale after he got his 300th career strikeout during the game. (Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun video) — The Orioles lose to the Red Sox, 9-0. The Red Sox sweep the series.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
New York Daily News:
Yankee Stadium incident has local politicians, MLB pushing Bombers to extend protective netting — The young girl struck in the face by a foul ball at Wednesday's Yankees game remained hospitalized one day later at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in Manhattan.
RELATED:
Zachary Ripple / New York Daily News:
Rob Manfred says MLB will ‘double our efforts’ to protect fans after young girl hit by foul ball at Yankee Stadium
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Jeff Passan / Yahoo Sports:
The shame of MLB's morally repugnant anti-netting excuses
Discussion:
Sporting News, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, NBCSports.com, Bless You Boys, Deadspin, New York Times, New York Daily News, UPI and USA Today
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Has DeShields raced his way into Rangers' 2018 lineup? — SEATTLE — Carlos Gomez, bad ankle and all, finally talked himself back into the Texas Rangers' lineup Thursday, though it helped that a left-hander was pitching for the Seattle Mariners. — Gomez, who hadn't started since Sept. 9 …
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves ‘not optimistic’ Foltynewicz makes next start — The Braves don't expect Mike Foltynewicz to make his next start Monday in New York. Foltynewicz left his Sept. 14 outing in Washington with a lacerated finger and missed his scheduled start Wednesday.
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Albies in Braves lineup Thursday despite bruised shin — Second baseman Ozzie Albies was hitting second in the Braves' lineup Thursday despite being hit in the left shin by a pitch and exiting in the eighth inning of Wednesday's loss to the Nationals. — Albies had been hit in the same spot recently …
Cincinnati.com:
BAR: Zack Cozart on fans hit: 'It's crazy to think it doesn't happen more often' — The Blog Above Replacement a daily look at the Reds, their minor leagues and whatever else is on the mind of Enquirer Reds beat writers, C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan.
RELATED:
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
Carson Fulmer removed in first inning of start vs. Astros with finger blister — Chicago Tribune — White Sox right-hander Carson Fulmer was removed from Thursday's game against the Astros after just 1/3 inning due to a blister on his right index finger. — Fulmer got George Springer to ground out for the first out of the game.
RELATED:
Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun Times:
Abreu reaching select company with historic production
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and South Side Sox
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ben Zobrist out of Cubs lineup vs. Brewers ace Zach Davies — Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses the upcoming returns of pitchers Jake Arrieta and Hector Rondon and looks ahead to the series at the Brewers on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Terry Collins, Mets considering their options for next season — Terry Collins and the Mets return to Citi Field Friday night to begin the final homestand of the 2017 season with an uncertain future. After seven seasons at the helm, the Mets manager's contract expires after this season …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Elite Sports NY and Amazin' Avenue
ESPN:
Raul Mondesi sentenced on corruption charges in Dominican Republic — A court in the Dominican Republic has sentenced former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Raul Mondesi to eight years in jail on corruption and mishandling of public funds while serving as mayor of his hometown of San Cristobal.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and NESN.com
RELATED:
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
Father of Royals' Raul Mondesi sentenced to prison for corruption in Dominican Republic
Discussion:
Royals Review and Baseball America
Pedro Moura / The Charlotte Observer:
Angels again fall short against red-hot Indians — ANAHEIM, CALIF. — The Los Angeles Angels have proved they can hang with the American League's best teams. What's still unclear is whether they have enough assembled talent to beat them. — They played another tight …
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees' rebuild ahead of schedule as Bombers remain in driver's seat for postseason berth — TORONTO — The Yankees are 14-5 in September and on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs, looking more like an eventual 90-plus-win contender than the 85-win team myself and many others predicted they would be before the season began.
Ken Belson / New York Times:
Aaron Hernandez Found to Have Severe C.T.E. — Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots tight end who committed suicide in April while serving a life sentence for murder, was found to have a severe form of C.T.E., the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma …
Discussion:
NESN.com, The Week, ProFootballTalk and Deadspin
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Orioles have no intention of shopping Manny Machado — The Baltimore Orioles have no intention to shop Manny Machado, though they haven't yet decided whether they will make a second big attempt to lock him up long-term. — Owner Peter Angelos has not yet made the commitment to extend an offer to Machado …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Trade Rumors and Camden Chat
Fox Sports:
Nats' Roark looks to continue strong finish vs. Braves (Sep 21, 2017) — ATLANTA — The final starts of the season carry significance for Tanner Roark of the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves' R.A. Dickey, pitchers on different trajectories who face each other Thursday night.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
RELATED:
George Henry / MLB on Yahoo! Sports:
Nationals rally for 6 runs in 8th to beat Braves
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Rafael Montero allows five runs as Mets are swept by Marlins — MIAMI — Rafael Montero struggled for the second straight start Wednesday when he allowed five runs in four innings in the 9-2 loss to the Marlins at Marlins Park. — Montero (5-11) allowed all five runs with two outs.
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
This is the Rafael Montero the Mets didn't want to resurface
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
