Top News:
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
SEE IT: Aaron Judge breaks Mark McGwire's rookie home run record with 50th blast … What second-half slump? Court is officially back in session, everyone. — Sizzling-again slugger Aaron Judge ripped two home runs for the second consecutive day to tie and eclipse Mark McGwire's single-season MLB record …
RELATED:
USA Today:
MLB power rankings: Indians still hot, Dodgers remain steady — The Cleveland Indians continue to win down the stretch. — They have won 29 of their last 31 games and nine straight series to claim the No. 1 spot in USA TODAY Sports' baseball power rankings for the third consecutive week.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
USA Today:
Aaron Judge will pass Mark McGwire, and other MLB records due to fall — After Major League Baseball set a record last week for home runs in a season, the league is primed to hit several more long ball plateaus in this final week. — Most notably, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge …
USA Today:
Yankees' Aaron Judge ties Mark McGwire's rookie home run record — Aaron Judge has caught Big Mac. — The New York Yankees right fielder tied Mark McGwire's rookie home run record Monday, hitting his 49th home run this season. — The towering drive to right field in the bottom …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Fox Sports:
Cubs, on verge of clinching division, visit St. Louis (Sep 25, 2017) — It took a little while for the Chicago Cubs to get going this season after ending 108 years of frustration by winning the World Series last fall. — Now, the Cubs are on the verge of completing the first step toward defending …
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
LEADING OFF: Harper back for Nats? Red Sox, Cubs close in — A look at what's happening all around the majors Monday: — READY OR NOT — Nationals slugger Bryce Harper could come off the disabled list and return to the lineup in Philadelphia. “We're still trying to make up our minds,” manager Dusty Baker said Sunday.
USA Today:
MLB playoff picture: Diamondbacks clinch; Cubs closing in on NL Central title — The latest on all of Major League Baseball's remaining pennant races, as we sail toward the regular-season finales on Oct. 1: — Sunday's big winner: The Arizona Diamondbacks celebrated their National League wild card berth …
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports and Viva El Birdos
ESPN:
What's at stake in MLB season's final week? NL wild-card race, award battles and playoff strategy
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Chicago Cubs inch closer to NL Central Division title with win over Milwaukee Brewers
Discussion:
Purple Row
Fox Sports:
Marlins' Stanton aims to boost homer total at Colorado (Sep 25, 2017) — DENVER — Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton will continue his quest to hit at least 60 home runs Monday when Miami faces the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, where he has a robust history.
Discussion:
Purple Row
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Dodgers hope for good outing from Darvish vs. Padres (Sep 25, 2017) — LOS ANGELES — As the Los Angeles Dodgers dust themselves off and prepare for another playoff run, things are beginning to fall into place. — The National League West champions have won three of four after a prolonged 5-20 stretch …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Fox Sports:
Kershaw wins 18th, Grandal powers Dodgers past Giants 3-1 (Sep 24, 2017) — LOS ANGELES (AP) In a couple of months, Clayton Kershaw might need to make some room at home for a fourth NL Cy Young Award. — Kershaw became the first 18-game winner in the majors, pitching eight stingy innings …
Discussion:
Associated Press
Dan Arritt / UPI:
Clayton Kershaw, Yasmani Grandal lead Los Angeles Dodgers past San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Rays All-Star Chris Archer says Bruce Maxwell ‘the right person’ to break MLB protest barrier — BALTIMORE — Chris Archer says he agrees with Bruce Maxwell's message of equality, lauding the Oakland Athletics catcher's well-conceived protest and explanation.
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports, Deadspin, SI.com and FanRag Sports
RELATED:
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
About that whole Mets-Nationals rivalry thing, my bad — MORE FROM: … All at once now: Yeesh. — (I guess it could've gone even worse. At least I didn't give the “slight edge” to the Mets.) — This formerly electric Acela Express competition wrapped up its 2017 version Sunday afternoon …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
George A. King III / New York Post:
Yankees fall apart as playoff fate becomes inevitable … TORONTO — Mathematically, the Yankees still are alive in the AL East race. Realistically, they are ready to move on to preparing for the AL wild-card game next Tuesday. — Not even the thunder in Aaron Judge's bat …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report, Pinstripe Alley, Twinkie Town and NorthJersey.com
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
With AL East hopes in doubt, Yankees need to start preparing for wild-card matchup vs. Twins
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Jeff Wallner / UPI:
Mookie Betts' three-run double rallies Boston Red Sox past Cincinnati Reds
Discussion:
Over the Monster, Camden Chat and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Q&A with Touki Toussaint: Braves are ‘fun environment’ for prospects — In Touki Toussaint, the Braves truly bought a lottery ticket. — The Braves acquired pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Toussaint from Arizona on June 20, 2015. Toussaint was the 16th overall pick in the 2014 draft.
Rustin Dodd / Kansas City Star:
Royals' Ned Yost won't stop Alcides Escobar from playing all 162 games — NEW YORK — Royals manager Ned Yost said Monday that he may rest some of his regulars this week as the club finishes its season with a six-game homestand against the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Yankees stay mum on netting in first home game since young girl was hit in face by Todd Frazier line drive — There was no new netting — and no new comments from the Yankees on the topic — on Monday at the Stadium. — The team returned home to face the Royals for the first time since …
James Pilcher / Cincinnati.com:
Umpire Hernandez: MLB discrimination lawsuit should stay in Ohio — The federal racial discrimination lawsuit filed by an umpire against Major League Baseball and officials with the league should stay in Ohio and not be dismissed, the umpire claims in new documents filed in the case.
