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8:20 PM ET, July 20, 2018

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 Top News: 
Associated Press:
Heyward helps Cubs beat Cardinals 9-6 in return from break  —  CHICAGO — The All-Star break is over.  It's right about now when the Chicago Cubs usually take off.  —  Jason Heyward had three hits and two RBI, Ian Happ belted a two-run homer and the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-6 …
RELATED:
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Cardinals' Matt Carpenter has historic outing with five extra-base hits  —  CHICAGO — St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Carpenter tied a major league record with five extra-base hits before being pulled after his third home run of the day in the Cardinals' rout of the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Jeff Arnold / UPI:   Cardinals starting fresh against Cubs
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   Column: In spite of all their woes, the Cardinals don't believe in sell-offs
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
265 or bust!  Yankees eye home run history in second half  —  NEW YORK — Aaron Boone appeared annoyed by the question, one he'd fielded several times already during the opening half of his first season as a big league manager.  —  Can this team really thrive relying so heavily on home runs?
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
John Healy / New York Daily News:
Gary Sanchez aims to avoid prolonged slumps as Yankees slugger returns to lineup for Subway Series against Mets  —  The Yankees may have lost out on the Manny Machado sweepstakes, but they still added some pop to their lineup on Friday following the All-Start break.
SNY:
Subway Series pitching preview: Mets, Yankees square off again
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds hope to keep rolling after All-Star break  —  The Reds know they are considered to be sellers as the trade deadline approaches.  —  Despite the 21-10 run leading into the All-Start break, the Reds remain 10 games out of the National League Wild Card.
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Homer Bailey will return to Cincinnati Reds rotation Tuesday  —  Homer Bailey will return the rotation Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.  —  Bailey, the 32-year-old right-hander, has been rehabbing a right knee injury at Triple-A Louisville.  He went 2-2 with a 4.78 ERA over six starts and one relief appearance for the Bats.
Alan Robinson / UPI:
Surging Pirates meet improving Reds
Discussion: Red Reporter
Scott Miller / Bleacher Report:
Severino Finds Stardom Thanks to Yanks Enemy Turned Ace Whisperer Pedro Martinez  —  WASHINGTON — It started quietly two winters ago.  Then, slowly, word seeped out: Two Red Sox legends had decided to help a young Yankee.  —  Now, those whispers are about to lead to a lot of squirming and shouting.
Discussion: Boston Globe and NESN.com
RELATED:
Dana Gauruder / UPI:   Red Sox slugger Martinez pays visit to Tigers
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
J.D. Martinez returns to face Detroit Tigers, ‘my home team’
Discussion: Over the Monster
Mark Faller / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks in the MLB All-Star Game … The Diamondbacks and Rockies resume play after the All-Star break Friday at Chase Field, and I'll be there.  It's just one game out of 162 this season, but for me it means much more.  Friday is the 50th anniversary of the first major-league game I attended.
RELATED:
Jack Magruder / UPI:
Rockies, D-Backs meet in significant NL West series
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
Rotoworld.com:
Dose: A Helping Hand  —  Think the Indians are tired of hearing about the Red Sox, Astros and Yankees?  Funny how quickly we forget—no team in the American League won more games than Cleveland (102) a year ago.  And though the Tribe hasn't played its best ball yet this year …
RELATED:
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Gibbons pulling for Tulo's return this season  —  Don't include Blue Jays manager John Gibbons as a guy who doesn't care if 33-year-old shortstop TroyTulowitzki makes it back to the team this season.  —  Tulowitzki has missed the entire season because of bone spurs in his right heel …
RELATED:
Larry Millson / UPI:   Orioles move on after Machado deal to face Blue Jays
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Instead of fixing what's wrong with baseball, it's time to appreciate what's right  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Appearing before a Senate subcommittee on antitrust and monopoly on July 9, 1958, Yankees manager Casey Stengel gave a couple of long-winded and convoluted answers to the questions of Sen. Estes Kefauver.
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   MLB fighting an unwinnable battle with Mike Trout
Tampa Bay Times:
For starters: Rays open second half at home vs. Marlins  —  Greetings from Tropicana Field, where the Rays come out of the All-Star break with a three-game series against the Marlins.  Here's the lineup for Tampa Bay, which dropped two of three to the Marlins
RELATED:
Greg Auman / UPI:
Marlins, Rays go back to work in Florida matchup
Discussion: Fish Stripes and DRaysBay
Todd Rosiak / USA Today:
Milwaukee Brewers players shocked by Josh Hader's tweets, but willing to hear him out  —  What would normally have been a low-key, voluntary workout for the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on Thursday took on a decidedly different tone in the wake of the Josh Hader controversy.
Discussion: New York Post and Brew Crew Ball
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Josh Hader to rejoin Brewers for first time since insensitive tweets surfaced
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
The most common trade deadline mistake and MLB's next big thing  —  Do not fight the regression monster.  That, my friends, is the rule to live by when thinking about the upcoming trade deadline.  —  You hate to begin a baseball column with a statistical precept like that, even when it's a simple concept such as regression.
Justin Tasch / New York Daily News:
Jay Bruce doesn't know when he will start hitting again as back woes complicate recovery from hip strain  —  Jay Bruce is hoping to hit again soon after being shut down from batting about 10 days ago when he felt sore, but he doesn't know exactly when he'll start swinging again.
Alden GonzalezESPN / ESPN:
Eight starters?  For Dodgers, too much pitching is a good problem  —  LOS ANGELES — It is a good problem, Dave Roberts will admit, but it torments him nonetheless.  His Los Angeles Dodgers will begin the season's second half with what appears to be an excess of quality starting pitchers …
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Ranking each division race entering the second half  —  After several days of Manny Machado-related intrigue, spirited dialogue about Mike Trout's role as a baseball brand ambassador and debate over whether Bryce Harper's Home Run Derby victory is a sign that he is or isn't “back,” …
Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Nationals hope Strasburg's return a difference vs. Braves  —  WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals starting rotation gets a much-needed boost Friday night with the return of Stephen Strasburg.  —  The right-hander, out since exiting his start on June 8 with right shoulder inflammation …
Discussion: Federal Baseball
Chris McCosky / Detroit News:
From bad to worse: Fulmer goes on the DL with an oblique strain  —  Detroit — The question was asked of manager Ron Gardenhire in his office before the game Friday: Did everybody make it back from the All-Star break healthy and ready to go?  —  His answer was yes.  —  Well, not quite.
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
 
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 More News: 
Associated Press:
Rangers put Nomar Mazara on DL, call up Willie Calhoun
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Ed Rendell / Philly.com:
Salute to Utley, one of the last true ‘baseball players’
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mariners Extend Scott Servais
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Steve Habel / UPI:
Indians want to pick up pace, starting with Rangers
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers midseason grades: Mostly bad, some good, in first half
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Willson Contreras and Javier Baez back in Cubs lineup as Jon Lester takes on Cardinals
 Earlier Picks: 
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Rhys Hoskins' intense focus sets him apart
Alan Eskew / UPI:
Royals' Duffy hopes to improve at home vs. Twins
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
Giants hope for healthier Posey vs. A's
Tim Bannon / Associated Press:
8 things to know about new Cubs pitcher Jesse Chavez
Discussion: Orlando Sentinel
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs closer Brandon Morrow on MRI results: 'Nothing that can't clear up with rest'
 

 
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