Top News:
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.
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports
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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.
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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.
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 …
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Elite Sports NY and Amazin' Avenue
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.
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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.
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 …
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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 …
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.
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Baltimore Sun, South Side Sox and DRaysBay
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Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels Notes: Andrew Heaney feeling good about progress, but time running short — ANAHEIM — Andrew Heaney played catch again on Thursday, as he tries to work back from a shoulder impingement to return to the Angels' rotation. — “I'm feeling better,” Heaney said. “More and more (optimistic) the more I throw.”
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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 …
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USA Today
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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.
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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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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)
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Chicago Tribune
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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 …
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MLB on Yahoo! Sports, CBSSports.com, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Trade Rumors and Camden Chat
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.
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 …
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NESN.com, The Week, ProFootballTalk and Deadspin