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.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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
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.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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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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St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Baseball notebook: Mets place Cespedes on the disabled list — Yoenis Cespedes spent about a week trying to play through his latest lower body injury. Now, he and the New York Mets are opting to play it safe. — The team placed Cespedes, an outfielder, on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Jake Seiner / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Happ reaches 3 times, allows 2 runners as Jays thump Mets
Happ reaches 3 times, allows 2 runners as Jays thump Mets
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Bluebird Banter and Associated Press
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
Pivetta strikes out 11, Phillies beat Orioles 4-1
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and The Good Phight
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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Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball
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
Acuna gets big hit as Braves score 3 in 8th, beat Cubs 4-1
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, Talking Chop and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
Houston Astros outfield prospect Myles Straw showing base stealing prowess with Hooks — Back in spring training, Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch told Myles Straw they were thinking about pulling him up for the 2017 playoffs to run bases. — The move did not happen but it was an eye opener and motivator for Straw.
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 …
Keith LawESPN Senior / ESPN:
Keith Law's 2018 Mock Draft 2.0 — Just as he did during my first mock draft, Auburn's Casey Mize appears at the No. 1 spot in our current edition. But as we near the two-week mark from draft day, buzz around how the rest of the first round will play out is starting to pick up. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Discussion:
Talking Chop and Lone Star Ball
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays morning after: Tough challenge ahead in Anaheim — Having swept one of the lesser American League teams in the Royals, the Rays tonight open a four-game series against one of the better in the Angels. — “It'll be challenging,” manager Kevin Cash said.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Wade leads Lake County over South Bend 5-2 — EASTLAKE, Ohio (AP) — Austen Wade had two hits and scored two runs as the Lake County Captains defeated the South Bend Cubs 5-2 in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. — South Bend started the scoring in the first inning.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Associated Press:
Derek Jeter staying positive despite frustrations with Marlins' record, attendance — MIAMI — Derek Jeter was chatting with a cluster of fans during Miami Marlins batting practice Wednesday when a preschooler wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers cap asked him to sign a baseball.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB Baseball News … and True Blue LA
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 …