Top News:
Associated Press:
Verlander throws 5-hit shutout, Astros blank Angels 2-0 — Houston took two of three in the series and holds a two-game lead in the AL West over the Angels. — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Justin Verlander pitched a five-hitter for his first shutout in three years and Evan Gattis hit a two-run homer …
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Astros wear orange but have a better blueprint than Dodgers — Three weeks after the Houston Astros won the World Series, Carlos Correa was back in a training facility less than 20 miles from his team's home stadium. — “The World Series didn't make us comfortable,” Correa said.
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Real or not? J.D. Martinez giving Red Sox power bat they needed — J.D. Martinez waited and waited and waited. The Boston Red Sox waited and waited and waited. Finally, in what always felt like a preordained outcome, the two sides agreed to a contract in late February.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Messages received: Carpenter, Fowler stir to send Cards to win vs. Twins — MINNEAPOLIS • It's become customary for Cardinals manager Mike Matheny to let his position players know who is in the lineup and where before the game, often with a message he sends to their phones the night before.
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Brian Hall / Associated Press:
Fowler, Carpenter get going in Cardinals' 7-5 win over Twins — St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Miles Mikolas takes a moment following a mound visit after Minnesota Twins' Max Kepler drove in a run in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies finally have tough decisions with starting rotation | Extra Innings — What will Gabe Kapler do today? Kapler has certainly kept it interesting so far, and Wednesday's 4-1 win over Baltimore was no different. He called on Hector Neris to record just the final out of the ninth inning …
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Todd Karpovich / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Pivetta strikes out 11, Phillies beat Orioles 4-1
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and The Good Phight
Ken Powtak / Associated Press:
Red Sox avoid sweep with 6-4 win over A's — Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts, right, is congratulated by J.D. Martinez as he crosses home plate after his three-run home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Ryan Dull during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, May 16, 2018.
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Associated Press:
Red Sox manager Alex Cora surprised by Carson Smith's injury comment — BOSTON — Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he was surprised to hear that reliever Carson Smith feels that fatigue could have contributed to his dislocated pitching shoulder. — Smith was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
ESPN:
Giants' Brandon Belt says plate umpire cheated him to ‘get the game over with’ — A series-ending loss to the National League-worst Reds wasn't the only thing that left Giants slugger Brandon Belt raw on Wednesday. — It was how that 6-3 defeat ended that rubbed the left fielder the wrong way.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
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Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers … CONNECT — You'd think after becoming the first Diamondbacks pitcher in franchise history to face three different Cy Young Award winners in a row that nothing could faze right-hander Matt Koch. Especially after the way things worked out for him.
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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
MLB roundup: Acuna lifts Braves over Cubs — Ronald Acuna Jr. drove in Ozzie Albies with the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning to send the Atlanta Braves past the visiting Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Wednesday night. — Carl Edwards Jr. allowed five straight baserunners in Atlanta's three-run eighth …
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Charles Odum / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Acuna gets big hit as Braves score 3 in 8th, beat Cubs 4-1
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jake Seiner / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Happ reaches 3 times, allows 2 runners as Jays thump Mets — Grounds crew members work on the infield during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Bluebird Banter and Associated Press
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Ex-Hernando High standout Christian Arroyo gets called up — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Rays' decision to be cautious with RF Carlos Gomez's groin tightness got Hernando High product Christian Arroyo a late-night phone call, an early morning flight from Durham, N.C. …
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David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Could speedy Cardinals of '80s compete in today's game? — If you're of a certain age and we're talking baseball, when I say “1987,” your brain probably automatically goes to “rabbit ball year.” Before the bombardment of home runs last season, there was 1987, the original Year of the Home Run.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matheny would welcome rule against defensive shifts — MINNEAPOLIS • Only the rival Chicago Cubs have shifted their defense less this season than the Cardinals, and still manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday he'd be fine if they didn't shift at all. He would welcome a rule …
Jeff Sanders / The Charlotte Observer:
With mom by his side, Franmil Reyes looking to stick with Padres — SAN DIEGO — A mother emerged from the tunnel leading out to the field at Petco Park and searched for her boy. At 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, Franmil Reyes is one of the most imposing figures to ever pull a Padres jersey …
