Top News:
Jorge L. Ortiz / Citizen Times:
In baseball, numbers are everything. Why 10 matters most to MLB veterans. — SAN FRANCISCO - Throughout this summer, small but lively pregame celebrations will take place in several clubhouses across the baseball landscape. — The Tampa Bay Rays will likely fete Sergio Romo on Monday …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
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Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB power rankings: Are the Mariners for real? We're about to find out — Perhaps the time has come to take the Seattle Mariners seriously. — Oh, it's possible their .631 winning percentage and first place standing in the AL West is as much about schedule - they've played 26 games against the Rays …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB's great free agent class of 2018 limping toward finish line — This was going to be the mother of all free-agent classes, the one leaving baseball executives salivating, knowing that a checkbook alone could instantly turn around the fate of their franchise.
Paul Sporer / ESPN:
Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Tuesday — A throng of fourth and fifth starters toe the bump Tuesday, with a couple teams likely running a bullpen game, too. This offers plenty of streaming hitter opportunities and should also make for an interesting DFS day …
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Walter Villa / UPI:
San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins ready to open series
San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins ready to open series
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Gabe Lacques / Detroit Free Press:
Giants' Brandon Crawford handed Nationals' Max Scherzer his first loss in over 2 months
Giants' Brandon Crawford handed Nationals' Max Scherzer his first loss in over 2 months
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Federal Baseball
Jordan Heck / Sporting News:
Shohei Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery, could be out until 2020, per report — Shohei Ohtani's rookie season is likely over, and he may not be able to return to MLB until 2020. — ESPN's Pedro Gomez reported on SportsCenter early Monday morning that the Angels pitcher will need Tommy John surgery …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Week and baseballmusings.com
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Chris Archer has setback in recovery from abdominal strain — Amid progress by injured SS Adeiny Hechavarria and CF Kevin Kiermaier, there was bad injury news for the Rays with top starter RHP Chris Archer having a setback in his recovery from a left abdominal strain.
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Associated Press:
Rays recall shortstop prospect Willy Adames from Triple-A Durham — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have recalled 22-year-old shortstop prospect Willy Adames from Triple-A Durham after placing infielder Daniel Robertson on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.
John Healy / New York Daily News:
Seth Lugo, Todd Frazier lead Mets to 2-0 win over Yankees in Subway Series finale to snap eight-game skid — Perhaps the loud “Let's go Yankees” chants reverberating throughout Citi Field early Sunday night convinced the Mets they were no longer playing at home.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
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George Stoia / Detroit Free Press:
WATCH: Detroit Tigers' Kody Clemens a HR machine in super regionals — Perhaps the Detroit Tigers made a good third round pick in Kody Clemens. — The son of former star pitcher Roger Clemens has been outstanding for Texas this postseason. Clemens — the No. 79 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft …
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Associated Press:
Balk gives Astros 8-7 win, first 4-game sweep of Rangers — Texas closer Keone Kela had already thrown a pitch to Evan Gattis with two outs when Astros manager A.J. Hinch came out of the dugout apparently to question whether Kela had balked. After a brief conversation among the four umpires …
Discussion:
ABC News
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Albert Almora Jr. in, Ben Zobrist out of Cubs lineup against Brewers — Cubs manager Joe Maddon explains why he pulled Kyle Hendricks after 5 innings. (Teddy Greenstein/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — Albert Almora Jr. will bat leadoff Monday night as the Cubs try to seize …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
More challenges await Cubs' Brian Duensing
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
After another rocky outing, is Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo's roster spot in jeopardy? — The Orioles opened spring training with four Rule 5 draft selections in camp. Now, there's only one — right-handed reliever Pedro Araujo — and his time on the active roster might be running out.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
As losses pile up, Orioles still haven't done much to shift focus to future
As losses pile up, Orioles still haven't done much to shift focus to future
Discussion:
Camden Chat
Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times:
Former Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is released by the New York Mets — First baseman Adrian Gonzalez was cut by the New York Mets on Sunday night following their 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees. — The five-time All-Star struck out in all three of his at-bats during that game …
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Sarah Brookbank / Cincinnati.com:
Reds fan wins Toyota Tundra after close Jesse Winker home run — No one has ever hit the promotional Toyota sign in Great American Ball Park, but a Reds fan still will be driving a shiny new Tundra this weekend. — During the Reds game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday …
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ESPN:
Bullpen Power Rankings: Who's best at locking down their leads? — If you asked fans of 30 teams how they feel about their team's bullpen, you'd probably get 25 or so responses indicating how much better their teams would be without those bums in the pen. People instinctively remember …
ESPN:
Power Rankings: Rivals stake their claims for Astros' throne — The voting is in, and what figures to be a season-long three-way wrestling match for top honors in our Power Rankings has a new champ. After reclaiming the highest perch for just two weeks, the Astros, defending world champs …
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Ross Stripling, Max Muncy, Matt Kemp give Dodgers unexpected lift — The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Sunday and these three all contributed to the win: — • Ross Stripling allowed two runs over 6 innings, striking out six with no walks, improving to 5-1 with a 1.65 ERA.
Discussion:
Dodgers Nation
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees examining minor-league pitching options as injuries will test their depth — Mel Stottlemyre is the gold standard as far as Yankees' mid-season starting pitching call-ups are concerned. In 1964, Stottlemyre went 9-3 after being promoted from Triple-A Richmond …
Kellan Olson / Arizona Sports:
A.J. Pollock lone D-back in first return of All-Star votes — The Arizona Diamondbacks do not have much representation in the first return on All-Star balloting. — Outfielder A.J. Pollock was ranked 13th among National League outfielders with 110,055 votes.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Dee Gordon solidifying second base job, Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto says — As the Seattle Mariners keep winning games, their 41-24 record and view from the top of the American League West has forced them to contemplate their plans for Robinson Cano once the eight-time All-Star returns from the suspended list in August.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
Here's why there's more Cubans on the Corpus Christi Hooks team than ever before — THE HOOKS ROSTER HAS SIX CUBAN PLAYERS AND ALL ARE MAKING AN IMPACT AND FINDING A COMFORT LEVEL PLAYING IN CORPUS CHRISTI. — One day prior to a game at Whataburger Field pitcher Carlos Sierra said a young fan came up to him to ask for an autograph.