Top News:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Rain delays loom as Cincinnati Reds begin weekend series — With the Reds back from the All-Star break, there's a chance for rain throughout the weekend at Great American Ball Park. — The Reds dealt with two postponements because of rain earlier this season, including Opening Day.
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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:
Christian Red / New York Daily News:
Brian Cashman must make ‘Boss’ trade before deadline for Yankees to have best chance at World Series — Rookie Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday at the Stadium that he expects his club to “go out and be great” in the second half of the 2018 season, and that there is the potential for Aaron Judge …
Associated Press:
Texas heat: Hottest home game for Rangers in 25 seasons — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mother Nature is bringing the heat at the home ballpark of the Texas Rangers. — The temperature was 107 degrees for the first pitch just after 7 p.m. Friday, when the Rangers played the Cleveland Indians in their first game after the All-Star break.
RELATED:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Beyond the Box Score and ESPN
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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
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
J.D. Martinez returns to face Detroit Tigers, ‘my home team’
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.
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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 …
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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
Associated Press:
Boston's Holt injured at end of wild play in Detroit — DETROIT (AP) — Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt left Friday night's game at Detroit in the fourth inning with what appeared to be a right knee injury. — Holt stayed on the ground for a while at the end of a wild play.
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
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Greg Auman / UPI:
Marlins, Rays go back to work in Florida matchup
Marlins, Rays go back to work in Florida matchup
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Fish Stripes
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom's teammates have his back amid ace's demands to Mets front office: ‘He has every right to say that’ — Jacob deGrom's demands at the All-Star Game completely blindsided the Mets' front office, but in the clubhouse, it did not surprise anyone who had been paying attention.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Josh Hader faces long journey to redemption, forgiveness after apologizing to teammates — MILWAUKEE — We are supposed to forgive and forget, believing they were stupid, irresponsible mistakes made by Milwaukee Brewers All-Star reliever Josh Hader as a teenager. — But we can't. — Not yet.
Discussion:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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
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.
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 …
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.