Top News:
Associated Press:
Angels push back Shohei Ohtani's next outing as starting pitcher — TORONTO — The Los Angeles Angels are pushing back Shohei Ohtani's next outing as a starting pitcher to manage the workload of the two-way rookie. — Angels manager Mike Scioscia made the announcement Thursday.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Gabe Lacques / Arizona Republic:
Rays ‘bullpenning’ experiment continues: Relievers to start next three games vs. Orioles — The Tampa Bay Rays will spend the holiday weekend taking their pitching revolution to another level. — The Rays announced on Thursday that relief pitchers will start all three games of their series …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Miller / Baltimore Sun:
Angels come out on top of Blue Jays after dramatic ninth inning
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Pinstripe Alley, Halos Heaven and Bluebird Banter
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Ex-bat boy on working for 1948 White Sox: ‘I learned an awful lot as a 14-year-old’ — Ron Meadows, former White Sox bat boy, throws the first pitch before the Sox played the Orioles Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
White Sox catcher Welington Castillo suspended 80 games after positive drug test
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Welington Castillo suspended 80 games after testing positive for Erythropoietin
Matt Carlson / Associated Press:
Covey earns 1st win, White Sox hit 3 homers in rout of O's
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Camden Chat and South Side Sox
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Switch to relief pitching paves the way for the Cubs' Justin Hancock to reach the major leagues — Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses Jon Lester's outing and Javier Baez's bunt against the Indians on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Closer Roberto Osuna's absence really starting to be felt by Blue Jays — Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker let out sort of half laugh, half gasp on Thursday when asked how much his team misses closer Roberto Osuna. — “(Wednesday) night was certainly one time we really, truly recognized Osuna's absence,” said Walker.
RELATED:
Joel Colomby / Toronto Sun:
ON DECK: Blue Jays at Phillies — STARTING PITCHERS — Series kickoff features two hurlers with a combined four starts this season. How Gaviglio fares after a terrific, but heartbreaking, first start for the Jays last Saturday against the A's, will be important to the team's immediate pitching plans.
ESPN:
GIF: The evolution of Bartolo Colon — Happy birthday, Bart! — Texas Rangers pitcher Bartolo Colon, who turns 45 today, has come a long way since breaking into the big leagues with the Cleveland Indians in 1997. Since his MLB debut 21 years ago, he has won a Cy Young Award …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Suspected spider bite lands Astros OF Josh Reddick on the disabled list — Houston Astros outfielder Josh Reddick believes a spider bite is responsible for his trip to the disabled list. — Reddick was placed on the 10-day DL on Wednesday with a leg infection, which he believes is the result …
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers … PREGAME READING: — Friday's game — Diamondbacks at Athletics — Where: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland. — Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (4-1, 2.60) vs. Athletics LHP Sean Manaea (5-4, 2.71). — TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
Column: ESPN's Matt Vasgersian to call Cubs-Giants from bleachers, maybe ‘wearing a Hawk Harrelson T-shirt’ — Matt Vasgersian, left, Alex Rodriguez, center, and Jessica Mendoza will call the Cubs-Giants game on ESPN's “Sunday Night Baseball” from the bleachers this weekend. (Bob Levey/Getty) Chicago Tribune
Mark Bradley / The Charlotte Observer:
Memo to the Braves: The National League is there to be seized — The Braves moved into first place May 2. They've been there since. They were there when they left Philadelphia. Their lead has never been more than 1-1/2 games, but it remains a lead. — It's not as if the Braves sit atop a division of mediocrities.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Plutko, Miller pitch Indians past Cubs 1-0 — Adam Plutko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Andrew Miller provided stellar relief work, helping the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Wednesday night. — CHICAGO (AP) - Adam Plutko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, Let's Go Tribe and The Crawfish Boxes
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Will Trevor Bauer-Gerrit Cole beef ever die? ‘Not going to happen,’ says one — Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer won't bother to sugarcoat it: They can't stand one another. — These two celebrated pitchers, former collegiate teammates at UCLA, still don't talk to one another.
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Why the Phillies are so confident Rhys Hoskins' slump is nothing to worry about — It's one thing for Rhys Hoskins to stand tall, puff out his chest, and, in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary, insist there's nothing to see here. How else is a 25-year-old who has played fewer …
Chris Iseman / Daily Record:
Jacob deGrom has been stellar, but NY Mets haven't taken advantage — Chris Iseman, Staff Writer, @chrisiseman — NEW YORK — Jacob deGrom has delivered solid outing after solid outing this season, but the Mets haven't been able to take advantage. — Wednesday's start was the latest example.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Eugenio Suarez blasts grand slam, Luis Castillo solid in Cincinnati Reds win over Pittsburgh Pirates — Utility player Brandon Dixon was promoted from Triple-A Louisville to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. He discusses how he found out and what he expects his role will be in the big leagues.
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Gleyber Torres thriving with the Yankees while also rewarding his evaluators — NEW YORK - Didi Gregorius came up with a sore shoulder at the World Baseball Classic - a March 2017 injury that would keep him sidelined for the season's first month. — Meanwhile...
Des Moines Register:
Iowa baseball: A look at what could be next for the Hawkeyes' top stars — Rick Heller: 'We put ourselves in a position to control our own destiny, & we didn't get it done' Dargan Southard, msouthard@gannett.com — Thursday's 2- loss to Ohio State brought a disappointing end …
Baseball Prospectus:
Prospectus Feature: MLB Commission Confirms That The Baseball Has Changed — For extended interviews with Committee Chair Dr. Alan Nathan and Committee Member Dr. Dan Brooks, download or stream Episode 24 of The Stolen Signs Podcast. — On July 17, 2015, Mike Trout hit one of the first home runs after the All-Star break.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Bleacher Nation
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
What has motivated Cubs pitcher Duane Underwood Jr. in his first Triple-A season? He's not telling. — The secret to Duane Underwood Jr.'s success this season is just that: a secret. — The Iowa Cubs pitcher is keeping under wraps what has motivated him during his first season in Triple-A.
Discussion:
Booth, Justice …
Peter Baugh / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Minor league report: Mercado stays hot in Memphis win — Cardinals outfielder Oscar Mercado slides into second during the Cardinals' 6-4 loss to the Miami Marlins in their 2018 exhibition season opener Friday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter Fla. (David Santiago photo/Miami Herald via AP)
Discussion:
Associated Press
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies minor leagues: A worthwhile wait for Lehigh Valley's hot-hitting Joey Meneses — ALLENTOWN - Joey Meneses did not have a job until the last day of January. Even after signing with the Phillies as a minor-league free agent, he did not have any guarantees about moving up to the triple …
Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers MLB draft: Jarred Kelenic meets gold standard with USA — Before Jarred Kelenic graduated early from Waukesha (Wis.) West High School, he'd sometimes find himself gone five days a week, traveling around the country to hone his craft and play for talent evaluators.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
New study: ‘The MLB home run surge is not due to a juiced ball’ — Attendance was down. The games were taking too long. But the balls were flying. — That led to this suspicion: Major League Baseball had secretly put a little more punch into its balls. More home runs were hit last year than in any other year in MLB history.
