Top News:
Associated Press:
Ohtani sparkles for Angels; Romo starts again for Rays — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7 2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their five-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
RELATED:
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Kevin Cash keeps thinking outside the box with use of Sergio Romo — The most interesting news from the weekend was Sergio Romo's starting consecutive games for the Tampa Bay Rays. It was pretty unusual for two reasons: (1) Romo's previous 588 career appearances in the majors all came in relief …
ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani on Home Run Derby: 'I don't think I'm at that level yet'
Shohei Ohtani on Home Run Derby: 'I don't think I'm at that level yet'
Discussion:
Sporting News
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Romo not the reason, but Rays streak ends at 6 with 5-2 loss to Angels
Romo not the reason, but Rays streak ends at 6 with 5-2 loss to Angels
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago baseball saw four exciting starts this weekend, but Yu Darvish's meant the most — Chicago Tribune — Debate which weekend pitching performance meant the most for Chicago's baseball teams until Steve Stone runs out of wisdom, but everyone can agree that back-to-back starts …
RELATED:
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Steve Stone on White Sox prospects: Eloy Jimenez is ‘going to be special’ and Michael Kopech ‘has to become a pitcher’ — Photos of the White Sox outfielder and No. 4-ranked prosepct by Baseball America. — Chicago Tribune — Steve Stone got promoted to the big leagues in 1971 …
Ben Walker / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Rosario hits 2 HRs, leads Syndergaard, Mets over Arizona 4-1 — New York Mets' Asdrubal Cabrera (13) follows through on a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, May 20, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at New York Mets
Associated Press:
Martinez's 2 vastly different HRs lead Red Sox past O's 5-0 — BOSTON — J.D. Martinez took plenty of ribbing in the dugout after slicing a short home run inside the Pesky Pole at Fenway Park. — A few innings later, he showed his teammates some serious power.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Over the Monster
RELATED:
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts outbash Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton — Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton have about 13 inches and 125 pounds on Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, but they don't have anything on them in the power department, at least through May 20.
Discussion:
The Athletic, USA Today and Over the Monster
Mike Mazzeo / Kansas City Star:
Yankees' loaded roster may lead to some tough decisions for Bombers in near future — It's a testament to the Yankees' depth that they can put up 10 runs on 14 hits with Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius both on the bench and Aaron Judge putting up an 0-fer at the plate.
RELATED:
Dave Skretta / Associated Press:
Tyler Austin, Sonny Gray lead Yankees to 10-1 rout of Royals — The Yankees rightfully lamented a miserable week filled with rainouts, broken planes and a patchwork schedule that forced righthander Sonny Gray to pitch on eight days' rest. — Well, that last bit turned out to be a good thing.
Noah Trister / Associated Press:
Cleveland's bullpen blues keeping the AL Central in play — Two years ago, the Cleveland bullpen led the way when the Indians overcame significant injuries in their starting rotation and won the American League pennant. — Now, the fickle nature of relief pitching is holding the AL Central favorites back.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Tim Tebow timeline: Has he dispelled doubt on the diamond? — From the outset, Tim Tebow's pro baseball journey was going to follow its own unique path. Making the move to baseball as a 29-year-old in 2016 was a bold step. Tebow had not played the game competitively since his junior year of high school.
Vincent DeBlasio / Philly.com:
Phillies minor league report: Dylan Cozens leads IronPigs to sweep, JoJo Romero picks up first win for Reading — A handful of Phillies minor-league affliates were in play Sunday. Here's how they fared: — INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE (AAA) — Lehigh Valley 5, Syracuse 2 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Ed Barkowitz / Philly.com:
Nick Pivetta, Phillies set for key series against Braves
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies welcome ‘Baby Braves’ for showdown at Citizens Bank Park | Extra Innings — Eventually, Odubel Herrera was going to go an entire game without reaching base safely. And at some point, Aaron Nola would give up more than three earned runs in a start. Unfortunately for the Phillies, those oddities happened simultaneously.
RELATED:
Jim Salisbury / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Phillies ready for a 1st-place showdown with Braves
Phillies ready for a 1st-place showdown with Braves
Discussion:
Talking Chop and NBCSports.com
Steve Gardner / Arizona Republic:
Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks throws MLB's fastest pitch at 105 mph — St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks has matched Aroldis Chapman's mark for the fastest pitch in recorded baseball history. — The St. Louis Cardinals reliever — who before this season had never appeared …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, MLB Baseball News … and The Comeback
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Another no-hit bid for Francisco Liriano ends in another Detroit Tigers loss — SEATTLE — The Detroit Tigers have twice lost games this season in which left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano flirted with a no-hitter. — With one out in the seventh on Sunday at Safeco Field …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Liddi's homer leads NW Arkansas to 4-1 win over Springfield — SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Alex Liddi hit a three-run home run in the first inning, leading the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to a 4-1 win over the Springfield Cardinals in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday.