Top News:
Todd Karpovich / UPI:
Baltimore Orioles right off Tampa Bay Rays behind rookie pitcher — BALTIMORE — Rookie Gabriel Ynoa allowed one run over a season-high eight innings, Manny Machado hit his 33rd homer, and the Baltimore Orioles took the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-1 victory Thursday night.
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Fox Sports:
Rays, Orioles cling to slim playoff hopes (Sep 22, 2017) — BALTIMORE — Both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles are mathematically alive in the American League wild-card race. — Their four-game series could keep one team on that path while knocking the other out of the running.
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Chris Tillman is not that uncertain about his uncertain future
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Josh Land / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles on deck: What to watch Thursday vs. Rays
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
David Ginsburg / Associated Press:
Chris Sale becomes 1st AL pitcher in 18 years to reach the 300 strikeout mark
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun, South Side Sox, MLB on Yahoo! Sports, DRaysBay and Surviving Grady
Helene Elliott / Los Angeles Times:
Column It's time now for major league teams to expand netting to protect fans as much as possible — The television is almost always on in baseball clubhouses, though players rarely do more than glance at the screen while they go about their pregame routines.
Discussion:
Washington Post, SI.com, Sporting News, Detroit Free Press and Deadspin
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UPI:
Cincinnati Reds to extend netting to end of dugouts — The Cincinnati Reds announced Thursday that the protective netting at Great American Ball Park will be extended to the end of both dugouts after the season. — The Reds' announcement mentioned that the additional netting …
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.
Fox Sports:
Mariners hope to stay alive against surging Indians (Sep 22, 2017) — SEATTLE — Just as the Seattle Mariners are looking for any break they can muster to remain in the postseason race, they get to welcome one of the hottest teams in baseball history — not the sort of break they needed.
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Joe Haakenson / UPI:
Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians belt Los Angeles Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif. — It does not seem to matter who they are playing, where they are playing or even who is in the lineup. The Cleveland Indians just keep winning. — Indians manager Terry Francona gave regular starters Jose Ramirez …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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 …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Fox Sports:
Royals visit White Sox with slim playoff hopes in tow (Sep 22, 2017) — CHICAGO — The Kansas City Royals will try to preserve their slim hopes for a wild-card playoff berth when they open a three-game road series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
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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.
Discussion:
South Side Sox and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Larry Millson / UPI:
Kansas City Royals' Jason Vargas silences Toronto Blue Jays for 17th win — TORONTO — Jason Vargas pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, Melky Cabrera had three hits and an RBI, and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 on Thursday night. — The Royals (75-77) …
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.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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Tom Dougherty / UPI:
Los Angeles Dodgers edge Philadelphia Phillies to close in on NL West crown
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Fox Sports:
Rangers visit A's with wild-card berth in sight (Sep 22, 2017) — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Texas Rangers hope to use a break in the schedule to creep closer in the American League wild-card picture when they open a three-game series against the last-place Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Jordan Zimmermann struggles in return, Detroit Tigers offense silent — The Tigers were blown out again Thursday night. — They lost to the Minnesota Twins, 12-1, at Comerica Park. It marked the seventh time this month the Tigers have allowed double-digit runs.
Rich Shook / UPI:
Joe Mauer powers Minnesota Twins in rout Detroit Tigers — DETROIT — Joe Mauer highlighted a group of four players with two RBIs apiece as the Minnesota Twins improved their lead in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot with a 12-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.
Fox Sports:
Cubs rally in 9th, beat Brewers 5-3 in 10th to extend lead (Sep 21, 2017) — MILWAUKEE (AP) The pressure was on and Javier Baez delivered for the Chicago Cubs. — Baez grounded a tying single with two outs in the ninth inning, Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer in the 10th and the Cubs widened …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ben Zobrist out of Cubs lineup vs. Brewers ace Zach Davies
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Fox Sports:
Nationals, Mets renew rivalry at Citi Field (Sep 22, 2017) — NEW YORK — The standings tell the story of the divergent paths taken this season by the Washington Nationals and New York Mets, the two teams that were expected to battle each other all season for the National League East crown.
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Guy Curtright / UPI:
R.A. Dickey, Atlanta Braves baffle Washington Nationals — ATLANTA — Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey got back on track after a rough three-start stretch and in the process snapped a five-game losing streak to the Washington Nationals dating to 2012. — Dickey allowed four hits and walked none …
Fox Sports:
Padres' Lyles looks to extend Rockies' skid (Sep 22, 2017) — SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres will turn to Jordan Lyles to stifle the Colorado Rockies on Friday. And that reminded San Diego manager Andy Green of a recent conversation he had with catcher Austin Hedges.
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USA Today:
San Diego Padres will extend netting at Petco Park for 2018 season — The San Diego Padres released a statement indicating they will proceed with a months-long plan to install additional netting to the end of each dugout at Petco Park. — The project will take place in the offseason …
Fox Sports:
Yankees still have regular-season goals while visiting Toronto (Sep 22, 2017) — TORONTO — The New York Yankees have virtually assured themselves a spot in the American League wild-card game, probably as hosts. — They could avoid that one-game playoff, however, by winning the American League East …
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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.
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George Diaz / The Charlotte Observer:
Braves, Disney split comes after two decades of spring training memories — Spoiler alert: The Atlanta Braves and ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney are breaking up after two decades. — Things happen. The Braves have found a new home on Florida's west coast in North Port …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers' two best relievers unavailable for finale vs. Mariners — SEATTLE — With their bullpen a problem all season, things weren't going to be any better Thursday night for the Texas Rangers. — Manager Jeff Banister declared before the game that left-handers Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman …
Fox Sports:
Cardinals continue climb with visit to Pirates (Sep 22, 2017) — PITTSBURGH — The St. Louis Cardinals have a short, steep climb if they are going to push their way into the playoffs. — Next up is a club, the Pittsburgh Pirates, that could be spoilers after they got a confidence shot in their last game.
