Top News:
Steve Rosenbloom / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs need to make a trade for a reliever, maybe two, maybe three, maybe . . . Chicago Tribune — Ladies and gentlemen, please return your tray table to its locked and upright position and buckle your seat belt as we experience a sentence as turbulent as your basic Cubs relief appearance:
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Adry Torres / Associated Press:
Dodgers hit 7 HRs, beat Mets 8-7 on Turner's shot in 11th — NEW YORK (AP) Watching from the visitor's dugout, Justin Turner saw his teammates spray Citi Field with a bunch of home runs and figured the Los Angeles Dodgers wouldn't need any from him. — His power proved to be the difference.
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs, Dodgers enter four-game series moving in opposite directions — LOS ANGELES — With their two best starting pitchers poised to throw, the Chicago Cubs limp into a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that beat them in the National League Championship Series last October.
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs' rough weekend in Cincinnati should be viewed as a blip, not a red flag
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cubs swept by last-place Reds in 4 games for first time since 1983
Cubs swept by last-place Reds in 4 games for first time since 1983
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Paul Sullivan / Baltimore Sun:
Hard to hide doom and gloom as Cubs collapse in Cincy, get swept in 4-game series
Hard to hide doom and gloom as Cubs collapse in Cincy, get swept in 4-game series
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Kris Bryant sidelined again with shoulder soreness
Mike DiGiovanna / Baltimore Sun:
Angels fight back but fall to Blue Jays in extras — The Angels reportedly whiffed in their attempt to pry away Kelvin Herrera from the Kansas City Royals, who dealt the relief ace to the Washington Nationals last week. — That shouldn't discourage general manager Billy Eppler …
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MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Justin Verlander faces Happ when Astros, Blue Jays tangle — HOUSTON — For a third consecutive start on Sunday, Houston Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole encountered a stretch where he wrestled with his control, a span of innings that called for his battery mate to help steer him through the rough patch and into smoother waters.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
Michael Kelly / Associated Press:
Rockies can't weather the storm at home … DENVER — Derek Dietrich was hoping for a chance at history but settled for a win in a torrid month for the Miami outfielder. — He homered for the third consecutive game, leading Miami over the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Sunday.
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Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers' most likely trade departure returned on Saturday afternoon and, overall, Francisco Liriano was fine. — Yes, he had a rough bottom of the first inning against the Indians, allowing three runs on four hits while throwing 40 pitches …
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BostonGlobe.com:
Hanley Ramirez not under federal investigation; friend dropped his name hoping to avoid arrest — A friend of former Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez dropped his name in an effort to avoid arrest while transporting fentanyl from New York to Massachusetts in April, then immediately admitted …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, 98.5 The Sports Hub, Deadspin, MLB Baseball News …, CBS Boston, Over the Monster and NESN.com
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Mark Didtler / Associated Press:
Bauers homers in 12th, Rays sweep Yankees with 7-6 win — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Rookie Jake Bauers and the Tampa Bay Rays made it a lost weekend for the New York Yankees. An injury to Gary Sanchez turned the trip into an even bigger loss. — Bauers led off the 12th inning …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and DRaysBay
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Todd ZolaFantasy / ESPN:
Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Monday
Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Monday
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Chris Sale shows he deserves to be part of AL Cy Young discussion — BOSTON — They used to say “Don't pitch a lefty in Fenway Park.” The Green Monster is so close and gives up so many cheap home runs to right-handed batters and so many cheap doubles off the wall that it will eventually get in your head if you're a southpaw.
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Mike Dowling / Forbes:
So How Good Are The Red Sox, Really? — Contributor I will share …
So How Good Are The Red Sox, Really? — Contributor I will share …
Discussion:
Over the Monster and NESN.com
Brian Hall / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Berrios strikes out 12 as Twins beat Rangers 2-0 — Jose Berrios struck out a career-best 12 in seven innings, and the — Texas Rangers 2-0 on Sunday. — Eddie Rosario had two hits for Minnesota, which snapped a three-game losing streak. — Bobby Wilson and Robbie Grossman each singled in a run.
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Twinkie Town and Lone Star Ball
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers' deadline dilemma: Find trade for Beltre or keep him for 2018, beyond
Rangers' deadline dilemma: Find trade for Beltre or keep him for 2018, beyond
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball and MLB Trade Rumors
ESPN:
Who's indispensable to his team's postseason chances? — As we head toward the second half and the trade deadline, the teams with the most incentive to make a splash are those living on the margins, with their playoff fates in doubt. Manny Machado is a no-doubt-about-it superstar …
Associated Press:
MLB: Sanchez likely going on DL — New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is likely headed to the disabled list after pulling up while running out a double-play grounder Sunday at Tampa Bay. — Manager Aaron Boone said Sanchez injured his right groin-hip abductor and “it's probably going to be a DL situation.”
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Bucky Dent / UPI:
Cardinals open tough homestand against Indians — After Yadier Molina's two homers led the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win at Milwaukee Saturday, manager Mike Matheny spoke hopefully of a bounce the win would create. — His instinct proved correct Sunday when St. Louis capped a rough road trip …
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Jeff Seidel / USA Today:
Meet Luke Leto, Michigan's best baseball prospect since Derek Jeter — Luke Leto is one of the best prospects in the country — and several coaches say he has the potential to be a first-round draft pick in the 2021 MLB draft. — Leto, 15, is ranked the No. 1 prospect in the country …
Carlos Monarrez / Detroit Free Press:
57 years later, Detroit Tigers signee will throw out first pitch — If Louis Patler hadn't hurt his right knee shortly after the Detroit Tigers signed him to a contract in 1961 out of Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, who knows what would have happened?
ESPN:
Power Rankings: Which AL power is No. 1 this week? — It's more of the same at the top of the rankings, with the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs hanging on to the top three spots. Houston picked up four first-place votes, with Boston picking up the other one.
Alden GonzalezESPN / ESPN:
Angels face unique challenge in trying to get Shohei Ohtani right — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani's situation isn't just complex, it's unprecedented. — One hundred years had passed since a major league player simultaneously handled pitching and hitting the way Ohtani did during his first 10 weeks with the Los Angeles Angels.