Top News:
Associated Press:
Morton stays unbeaten, leads Astros over Indians — CLEVELAND (AP) — Charlie Morton remained unbeaten this season with six solid innings, Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-2 on Thursday night.
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Will Trevor Bauer-Gerrit Cole beef ever die? ‘Not going to happen,’ says one
Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Astros, Indians reconvene to wrap up season series
Astros, Indians reconvene to wrap up season series
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Castillo suspended 80 games — Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Thursday following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. — The commissioner's office cited use of EPO.
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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 …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Kyle Schwarber showing improved defense in left field — Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses how starter Jon Lester has maintained his success and the play of Ian Happ on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — Left fielder Kyle Schwarber …
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers … OAKLAND - A year ago, right-hander Taijuan Walker was a steady presence in the rotation and infielder Ketel Marte was a late-season lifesaver from Triple-A Reno. Both came to the Diamondbacks in the same offseason trade with the Seattle Mariners …
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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).
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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.
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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:
MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Steven Matz continues Mets' pitching hot streak with six scoreless innings in 5-0 win — MILWAUKEE — One by one, the starters each put forth a strong effort. — This Mets' team is built to win on the strength of its starting pitching, and these past five games marked the best turn through the rotation this season.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
Mark Didtler / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Snell goes 6 scoreless innings, Rays beat Red Sox 6-3 — Blake Snell threw six scoreless innings, — Wilson Ramos drove in two runs, and the — Tampa Bay Rays avoided a three-game sweep by beating the — Boston Red Sox 6-3 on Thursday night. — Snell (6-3) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out eight.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Over the Monster
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Like his father, Cardinals' Pena knows future depends on work behind the plate — Kansas City Royals' Alcides Escobar is caught in a rundown between third base and home plate in the tenth inning during a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium on Wednesday …
Associated Press:
Noll's single leads Potomac to 10-7 win over Wilmington — WOODBRIDGE, Va. (AP) — Jake Noll hit a two-run single in the fifth inning, leading the Potomac Nationals to a 10-7 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Thursday. — The single by Noll came in the midst of an eight-run inning and gave the Nationals a 5-4 lead.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Reyes fans 13, allows one hit at Memphis — Alex Reyes emphatically answered Thursday night in Memphis any questions that somehow might have lingered after his first three starts on the Cardinals' medical rehabilitation program. — After making three outings covering 16 scoreless innings …
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
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Associated Press:
Latcham gets big strikeout, leads Palm Beach to 7-6 win over Clearwater — JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Will Latcham struck Mickey Moniak out with the bases loaded to end the game, leading the Palm Beach Cardinals to a 7-6 win over the Clearwater Threshers on Thursday.
Associated Press:
Margevicius, Ornelas lead Fort Wayne to 3-0 win over West Michigan — COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (AP) — Tirso Ornelas tripled and doubled twice, and Nick Margevicius allowed just five hits over seven innings as the Fort Wayne TinCaps defeated the West Michigan Whitecaps 3-0 on Thursday.
Associated Press:
Carpio's double leads St. Lucie to 4-2 win over Daytona — DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Luis Carpio hit a bases-clearing double in the third inning, leading the St. Lucie Mets to a 4-2 win over the Daytona Tortugas on Thursday. — Matt Pobereyko struck Mitch Nay out with runners …
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
Bill Baer / NBCSports.com:
Video: Ramon Torres hits little league home run in first at-bat of season — The Royals recalled infielder Ramon Torres from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. He didn't get into a game until starting Thursday night's game against the Rangers, batting ninth. — In the top of the second inning …
Discussion:
Royals Review
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
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...
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Greg Bird expected back to New York Yankees on Saturday, Aaron Boone says — NEW YORK - Greg Bird could be back in the Yankees' lineup as early as Saturday. — The plan is for the lefty-hitting first baseman to be activated from the disabled list for Saturday's game against the Angels at Yankee Stadium …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 …
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
Jon Heyman / FRS Baseball:
Royals are open for trade business — are said to be “quietly” letting other teams know they expect to have a “for sale” sign up soon. That is not to say trades are expected immediately, but Royals people appear realistic about where things stand. — They are currently vying …
Discussion:
Sporting News, Royals Review and MLB Trade Rumors