Top News:
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Cubs put closer Morrow on DL — The Chicago Cubs will have to get by without closer Brandon Morrow for at least a little while. — The Cubs placed the righthander on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday because of lower back tightness, leaving a short-handed bullpen without its most important piece.
RELATED:
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Yankees mourn death of Billy Connors — NEW YORK — Billy Connors, a longtime Yankees executive and pitching coach, died on Saturday. He was 76. — Connors was a fixture around the Yankees for many years, first joining the club at the end of the 1988 season. The next year, he began three stints as Yankees pitching coach.
Christian Red / Baltimore Sun:
Brett Gardner held out of Yankees' win, Gleyber Torres nixes Home Run Derby — Brett Gardner was wearing a compression brace on his right knee in the clubhouse Wednesday prior to the Yankees' game against the Mariners. He said he felt “good” enough to play, but manager Aaron Boone still kept …
Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Gleyber Torres takes Derby decision out of MLB's hands
Gleyber Torres takes Derby decision out of MLB's hands
Discussion:
Sporting News and ABC News
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Former Cubs pitching coach Billy Connors dead at 76
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Yankees' pitching whisperer Billy Connors dead at 76
Yankees' pitching whisperer Billy Connors dead at 76
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Jose Altuve is a magician whose brilliance should be treasured — Jose Altuve is the reigning American League MVP, he leads the majors with a .343 batting average, the Houston Astros are having a terrific season ... and yet we've hardly talked about him and that seems a little weird.
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Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Giancarlo Stanton walk-off homer gives Yankees 23rd comeback win — NEW YORK — It took nearly half the season to do it, but Giancarlo Stanton finally had his first iconic moment at Yankee Stadium. — With two outs and a runner on in the bottom of a tied ninth inning Wednesday night …
USA Today:
Giancarlo Stanton walk-off home run caps Yankees' comeback victory — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees came back from a five-run deficit in the most Yankee way possible: by hitting home runs. — The team, which leads the league in homers by a large margin, hit two of them to walk off …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and The Comeback
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
There's no ducking the numbers: MLB has a bad baseball problem that's only getting worse — It's a shame Eddie Gaedel isn't with us anymore. This is his time to shine. — You remember, Gaedel? He was the 3-foot-7 slugger hired by St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck as a publicity stunt …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
RELATED:
Dan Arritt / UPI:
Jays' Aaron Sanchez returns home to take on Angels — Aaron Sanchez will likely have friends and family in the stands when the Toronto Blue Jays open a four-game series at the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night. — Sanchez will also have plenty of motivation to keep the Blue Jays rolling.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Angels
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Angels
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and AZ Snake Pit
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Cleveland Indians complete three-game sweep of Chicago White Sox with 12-0 win at Progressive Field — The Cleveland Indians completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 12-0 win at Progressive Field Wednesday. — CLEVELAND — Good things happen when the Cleveland Indians …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Cubs show Dodgers — and everyone else — they're team to beat in NL — CHICAGO — Teams don't establish themselves as “the team to beat” on the basis of a regular-season series in baseball, especially one that unfolds over two chilly weekdays in the middle of June.
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Mike DiGiovanna / Baltimore Sun:
Success of Shohei Ohtani is inspiring more players to seek two-way roles — Inland Empire first baseman Jared Walsh is all smiles after hitting a home run against the Lancaster JetHawks at the Hanger on May 8. (Shotgun Spratling / Los Angeles Times) — What Shohei Ohtani did for the Angels …
Shelly Anderson / UPI:
D-backs open 4-game series in Pittsburgh — The Arizona Diamondbacks open a four-game series Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and by the time they move on to Miami, their rotation could look different. As in, more intact. — Right-hander Zack Godley (7-5, 4.77 ERA) …
RELATED:
Toronto Sun:
Freeland faces Matz in Rockies-Mets finale — DENVER — Two left-handers who have been very successful lately will square off Thursday when Kyle Freeland starts for the Colorado Rockies against Steven Matz of the New York Mets. — The Rockies will be looking to win the four-game series …
RELATED:
Yahoo Sports / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Rockies spent over $100M to have the worst bullpen in MLB
Rockies spent over $100M to have the worst bullpen in MLB
Discussion:
Denver Post and Purple Row
Associated Press:
Back to back to back: 3 straight HRs propel Astros to win — It was a welcome display of power for a team which managed just five singles in a 2-1 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night that snapped Houston's 12-game winning streak. Wednesday night's win made the Astros the first team to reach 50 victories this season.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Brandon Morrow not fretting over people mocking his back injury — Cubs closer Brandon Morrow expects to be back in a week from back spasms that landed him on the disabled list (Mark Gonzales) — Chicago Tribune — Cubs closer Brandon Morrow deserves some credit for telling the truth about his back injury.
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Struggling Adam Morgan ignores boos, gets first career save — When Gabe Kapler is in the room, the elephant sitting next to him is almost always the Phillies' bullpen. It has become the beast that will not go away, the subject of almost every postgame interview with the manager.
Tess DeMeyer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Dustin Peterson searches for ‘rhythm’ he rode to the big leagues — Dustin Peterson's first major-league appearance lasted around 48 hours, but those two days with the Braves represent a fraction of the right fielder's aspirations. — “It was awesome,” he said before suiting …
Vincent DeBlasio / Philly.com:
Phillies minor league report: Walk-off homer sinks IronPigs after late rally — Lehigh Valley's last effort at the plate was dashed and Reading busted out with 12 runs on 13 hits, while single-A clubs Clearwater and Williamsport had contrasting nights. — Here's a rundown of the Phillies' farm system for Wednesday...
Associated Press:
PHILLIES 4, CARDINALS 3 — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Odubel Herrera hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning, Cesar Hernandez had a two-run shot and Philadelphia beat St. Louis. — Herrera ripped a 91 mph slider from Sam Tuivailala (1-3) off the scoreboard on the facing of the second deck …