Top News:
John Healy / New York Daily News:
Clint Frazier gets first MLB start in center field, hitting leadoff in Yankees' matinee vs. Mariners — Clint Frazier is on center stage. — The 23-year-old Yankees outfielder was batting leadoff and playing his first MLB game in center field in Thursday's matinee against the Mariners.
RELATED:
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
Giancarlo Stanton walk-off home run caps Yankees' comeback victory
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Pinstripe Alley and The Comeback
Christian Red / Baltimore Sun:
Brett Gardner held out of Yankees' win, Gleyber Torres nixes Home Run Derby
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:
Who will Cubs manager Joe Maddon turn to with a late-inning lead? — 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) — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs may not need a replacement closer …
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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.
Discussion:
DodgerBlue.com and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Vinnie Duber / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Eloy Jimenez and a bunch of White Sox prospects get promoted as the rebuild advances — White Sox fans focused on what's happening at the major league level, there's understandable frustration over the team's 25-games-below-.500 record. — But in the minor leagues, progress is happening …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Tom Musick / UPI:
A's face White Sox, aim for fifth straight win — The Oakland Athletics will go for their season-high fifth win in a row when they open a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. — Oakland (38-36) has achieved a four-game winning streak …
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Cleveland Indians complete three-game sweep of Chicago White Sox with 12-0 win at Progressive Field
Cleveland Indians complete three-game sweep of Chicago White Sox with 12-0 win at Progressive Field
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Let's Go Tribe
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 …
Discussion:
Purple Row and MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Loss of Noah Syndergaard felt in 10-8 loss as Seth Lugo and thin bullpen falter
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
UPI:
Twins look to complete sweep of Red Sox — After earning a victory for the first time in 12 starts in his last outing, Minnesota Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson will try to make it two in a row Thursday afternoon as the Twins look to finish off a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox at Target Field in Minneapolis.
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Jason Mastrodonato / Boston Herald:
Dombrowski: Red Sox ‘love’ Rafael Devers, ‘not looking for a third baseman’
Dombrowski: Red Sox ‘love’ Rafael Devers, ‘not looking for a third baseman’
Discussion:
Over the Monster, NBCSports.com and MLB Trade Rumors
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
The Mets starter the Yankees might actually be able to acquire
The Mets starter the Yankees might actually be able to acquire
Discussion:
Mets Merized Online
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies' Jake Arrieta has no problem with boos | Extra Innings — Yes, it's a bit early to say Odubel Herrera is the next Vladimir Guerrero. It's also a bit early to start looking at playoff standings. But it's not too early to say the Phillies are in a much better spot than they were last season.
RELATED:
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Struggling Adam Morgan ignores boos, gets first career save
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.
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
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
Bumgarner hopes for progress as Giants host Padres — SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner's comeback from a broken finger continues Thursday night when the San Francisco Giants open a four-game series against the San Diego Padres and a pitcher with whom they are quite familiar, Tyson Ross.
RELATED:
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.
Discussion:
Pueblo Chiefton
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies rookie Austin Davis becomes Roy Halladay's first pupil to reach the major leagues — Austin Davis was 1,000 miles from Citizens Bank Park — and perhaps even farther in his mind — when he walked into Roy Halladay's office last spring and dropped himself into the black recliner.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Albert Almora Jr. sits in opener of four-game series against Reds — Chicago Tribune — Albert Almora Jr., who has climbed to third in the National League batting race with a .324 average, gets the day off Thursday in the opener of a four-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati.
Toronto Sun:
Thumbs up for Braun as Brewers host Cardinals — MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun is expected to be back in Milwaukee and available Thursday night when the Brewers open a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. — Braun left the team Thursday morning for Los Angeles …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — CINCINNATI — The Detroit Tigers arrived in the Queen City just one game below the .500 mark, riding high on a five-game winning streak with their two best pitchers scheduled to start against an otherwise lowly Reds team. — They leave three games under, hurt by the long ball …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies pitching prospect Cole Irvin is a former major-league groundskeeper — ALLENTOWN — Cole Irvin can still hear the roar of the crowd from his major-league debut as he stepped in front of a full stadium for the first time. — He was nervous, the Phillies pitching prospect conceded …
Associated Press:
This Date In Baseball — 1925 — The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 24-6 with Kiki Cuyler and Pie Traynor each hitting a grand slam and Max Carey getting two hits in the first and eighth innings. — 1930 — Lou Gehrig hit three home runs to lead the New York Yankees …