Column: Pedro Strop is flashy, but he has a parental side that his Cubs teammates value  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The tilted cap, gold chains and vigorous fist pumps symbolize Pedro Strop's flashy demeanor.  —  But there's a parental side to the veteran Cubs reliever that he hopes Javier Baez will follow as the young star matures.

In Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, the Cleveland Indians have 2 MVP candidates  —  As the Cleveland Indians hit their late-season stride, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez have emerged as legitimate American League MVP candidates.  —  CLEVELAND — As the Cleveland Indians returned …

Red Sox move Drew Pomeranz to bullpen  —  Drew Pomeranz has been moved to the Boston Red Sox bullpen, manager Alex Cora said Thursday.  —  Brian Johnson will stay in the rotation and will start in Philadelphia, Cora added.  —  The move comes with the expected turn of Chris Sale this weekend …

League has not caught up to Nationals rookie Juan Soto, whose chief concern is next at-bat  —  The Washington Post  —  More often than not, the notion that a breakout baseball player isn't getting the attention he deserves can be just plain silly.  Those who argue people don't write enough …

Severino helps Yankees sweep White Sox with 7-3 win  —  CHICAGO (AP) Luis Severino has been working on his slider with New York Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild.  —  It's beginning to pay off, too.  —  Severino pitched seven effective innings in his first win in a month …

‘Funny like a clown?’  Mets broadcasters Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling do ‘GoodFellas’ scene  —  While New York Mets fans suffer through another tough season, at least Keith Hernandez and the broadcast crew continue to be entertaining.  —  In the latest installment of SportsNet New York's …

Delmon Young Trade Tree: How to flip a bust for 15 years of talent  —  When Stuart Sternberg bought the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the mid-2000s, he got a team name (which would soon be changed), a stadium lease (which strangled attendance and any hopes of relocating), and the best prospect in baseball.

Three HRs in first lift Brewers past Padres  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) Welcome to the big leagues, Brett Kennedy.  —  Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames hit consecutive first-inning homers to spoil Kennedy's San Diego debut and propel the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-4 victory over the Padres on Wednesday night.

There's no good reason to object to Barry Bonds' number retirement  —  Look out onto the wall beyond right-center field fence AT&T Park — a place only one man could ever seem to hit it — and you'll see his name.  —  Walk past the Giants' Wall of Fame and you'll see his name and his face.

Cubs' Yu Darvish throws ‘loose and free’ during sim game, nears rehab assignment  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It looks like Yu Darvish will stick around just long enough to see Alex Rodriguez one more time before starting a minor-league rehab assignment.  —  Darvish, who hasn't pitched since …

Last Slide  —  David Peralta is all smiles these days.  —  “This is becoming a regular thing for you,” a reporter told Peralta as a crowd of media members approached his locker.  —  “It's about time,” Peralta said.  —  Peralta went 4 for 5 and drove in a pair of runs as the Diamondbacks captured …