Top News:
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Fixing Matt Harvey: Reds and erstwhile Dark Knight still believe it can happen — SAN FRANCISCO - Matt Harvey's first two outings with the Reds have provided occasional glimpses of the pitcher who earned a starting nod in the 2013 All-Star Game, such as his stretch of striking out five …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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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
Astros wear orange but have a better blueprint than Dodgers
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays morning after: Tough challenge ahead in Anaheim
Rays morning after: Tough challenge ahead in Anaheim
Discussion:
DRaysBay and MLB Baseball News …
Drew Davison / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers scratch Cole Hamels from tonight's start with neck stiffness — CHICAGO — The Texas Rangers have scratched left-hander Cole Hamels from his scheduled Thursday start against the Chicago White Sox. — Doug Fister, who was slated to pitch Friday, will start in Hamels' place.
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South Side Sox and MLB Baseball News …
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Associated Press:
Rangers scratch lefty Cole Hamels with neck stiffness — CHICAGO (AP) — The Texas Rangers scratched left-hander Cole Hamels from Thursday's start against the Chicago White Sox due to neck stiffness. — Hamels said he woke up Wednesday with a stiff neck and it kept getting worse.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carson Kelly goes to DL; Cards will call up catcher Steven Baron — Another day, another Cardinal bound for the disabled list. Post-Dispatch baseball writer Derrick Goold reports that catcher Carson Kelly is headed there because of a hamstring strain. — Steven Baron, a 27-year-old catcher …
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MLB Daily Dish and MLB Baseball News …
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Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies rained out; Klentak offers optimistic, but realistic view of team's hot start — But he never pitched an inning for a Dodgers minor-league affiliate and was released by the organization in July 2016. — “They let me go because I wasn't pitching well,” Rosso said Monday through …
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Matt Breen / Philly.com:
J.P. Crawford takes next step toward return to Phillies — ST. LOUIS — J.P. Crawford tested his right forearm one last time Thursday afternoon before he shuffled out of Busch Stadium and headed to Florida to ramp up his rehab. — The shortstop flew to Florida on Thursday night and expects …
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Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies finally have tough decisions with starting rotation | Extra Innings
Phillies finally have tough decisions with starting rotation | Extra Innings
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and The Good Phight
ESPN:
Ex-teammate Mark Teixeira ‘not surprised’ by Robinson Cano suspension — Robinson Cano's positive test for a banned substance and subsequent 80-game suspension announced this week came as no surprise to one of his former New York Yankees teammates. — Mark Teixeira overlapped with Cano for five seasons in New York.
Associated Press:
Wiel's homer leads Chattanooga to 6-4 win over Biloxi — BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Zander Wiel hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give the Chattanooga Lookouts a 6-4 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Thursday. — The home run by Wiel capped a three-run inning for the Lookouts that started when LaMonte Wade hit a home run.
Associated Press:
Ornelas' single leads Fort Wayne to 7-3 win over West Michigan — FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Tirso Ornelas hit a two-run single in the fifth inning, leading the Fort Wayne TinCaps to a 7-3 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps on Thursday. — The single by Ornelas started the scoring …
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — SEATTLE — Everyone, even those who are injured and won't play in the four-game series against the Mariners, made the trip west for the Detroit Tigers. — Injured players like right-handed reliever Alex Wilson, who aren't going to return in the span of a road trip, may not travel with the club in the future.
ESPN:
Rockies' DJ LeMahieu has no ligament damage in left thumb — Follow-up tests on the left thumb of Colorado Rockies All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu revealed a small fracture and a sprain, the team said Thursday. — The news could have been worse. — There was some fear that LeMahieu …
Associated Press:
Zimmermann, Encarnacion lift Rome over Asheville 1-0 — ROME, Ga. (AP) — Jean Carlos Encarnacion homered and had three hits, and Bruce Zimmermann struck out nine hitters over seven innings as the Rome Braves defeated the Asheville Tourists 1-0 on Thursday. — Zimmermann (4-2) allowed two hits while walking one to pick up the win.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
MLB takes a step forward in solving large problem with inaugural class of diversity fellows — On the diversity scorecard, the numbers were poor again for Major League Baseball this season. None of the 30 teams had a minority chief executive, three had a minority in charge of baseball operations, four had a minority as manager.
John Perrotto / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Polanco, Pirates beat Padres 5-4 for 8th win in 9 games — Gregory Polanco led off the seventh inning with a double and scored the go-ahead run on an error, leading the — San Diego Padres 5-4 Thursday night for their eighth win in nine games. — Polanco took third on
Discussion:
CBS Pittsburgh and Bucs Dugout
ESPN:
Tommy John surgery recommended for Angels closer Keynan Middleton — The Los Angeles Angels says doctors have recommended that closer Keynan Middleton have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. — Middleton had a second opinion on the elbow after he went back on the 10-day disabled list Monday.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
How Jacob Hannemann became a minor league Gold Glove winner for the Iowa Cubs — Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982. Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Orioles star Adam Jones buys Cal Ripken Jr.'s former home, per report — The mansion and 25-acre estate where Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. once lived will soon become another Bird's house. — According to The Athletic, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones …
Discussion:
CBS Baltimore