Top News:
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
M's jump on Verlander early in 8-6 win over Astros — HOUSTON (AP) - Justin Verlander got pushed around by the Seattle Mariners early Thursday night, and then umpire Nic Lentz sent him off for an early shower. — Certainly not what the former Cy Young and MVP Award winner had in mind for his first shot at career win No. 200.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
RELATED:
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Mariners jump on Verlander early in 8-6 win over Astros — Justin Verlander (11-7) was ejected for arguing a balk call after setting a season high for runs allowed. He failed hard in his bid for his 200th career victory. — HOUSTON - Mitch Haniger homered while Seattle jumped …
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
MLB's next big thing: Red Sox vs. 116 and more races to watch — Baseball is a story, one that never ends and one that never follows any pat formula. Each season is a chapter in the longest novel ever written. The chapters achieve closure; the novel does not. We just have to keep reading.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Cleveland Indians top Minnesota Twins 5-4 on Michael Brantley's single in 9th — The Tribe wins in walk-off fashion for the second straight game — CLEVELAND — Michael Brantley's ninth-inning single gave the Cleveland Indians a 5-4 win over Minnesota on Thursday, their second straight walk-off victory against the Twins.
RELATED:
WKYC-TV:
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 …
Discussion:
ESPN
Ben Axelrod / WKYC-TV:
Cleveland Indians place OF Leonys Martin on DL with non-baseball condition, recall Greg Allen
Cleveland Indians place OF Leonys Martin on DL with non-baseball condition, recall Greg Allen
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Let's Go Tribe
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Judge behind schedule — though Aaron Boone is optimistic — as Yankees in need of right-handed power — Thursday afternoon, Aaron Judge walked over to home plate at Yankee Stadium and pretended to hit before sprinting out of the box. It was just a running drill for Judge …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's add Fernando Rodney to already packed bullpen — If the A's are going to win this season, they'll do it with a monster bullpen — they are going all in on relievers. — The team picked up a big name Thursday evening, acquiring closer Fernando Rodney, 41, in a waiver-claim deal …
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
RELATED:
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Giants fall further back in NL West after blowout loss to Pirates — SAN FRANCISCO-As the Giants' highest-ranking executives looked back on the 2017 season last October, they termed it an “aberration” and felt convinced every break that could have gone in their favor instead went the other way.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
RELATED:
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Giants' elephant in the room: Must Madison Bumgarner go to spark rebuild?
Giants' elephant in the room: Must Madison Bumgarner go to spark rebuild?
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bucs Dugout and MLB Trade Rumors
Dieter Kurtenbach / Mercury News:
There's no good reason to object to Barry Bonds' number retirement
There's no good reason to object to Barry Bonds' number retirement
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
MLB: Nationals' Bryce Harper scratched with right knee soreness — The Washington Nationals scratched outfielder Bryce Harper from Thursday's lineup with right knee soreness. — Atlanta reliever Dan Winkler hit Harper just below the right knee in the seventh inning of the Braves' 8-3 victory on Wednesday.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
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.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Stunner: Mariners demote ace Felix Hernandez to bullpen — HOUSTON (AP) — Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez has lost his spot in the rotation in the wake of his latest terrible start in a season filled with struggles. — The right-hander, who threw a perfect game in 2012 …
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Next Slide — The questions for Corey Knebel were many. — The answers were few. — Addressing reporters in the wake of the Milwaukee Brewers' soul-crushing, 8-4 loss to the San Diego Padres at Miller Park on Thursday afternoon, the right-hander seemed as though he was still trying …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball and MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Pat Graham / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Taylor, Dozier homer in ninth as Dodgers beat Rockies 8-5 — Chris Taylor and Brian Dozier homered off closer — Wade Davis in the ninth inning and the — Los Angeles Dodgers exploited Colorado's shaky bullpen to beat the Rockies 8-5 on Thursday night.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Purple Row
ESPN:
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 …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Over the Monster
RELATED:
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles see another late lead vanish in 5-4 loss to Rays — The Orioles carried leads into the bottom of the seventh inning for three straight nights this week at Tropicana Field, but return home from their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays with just one win.
Discussion:
Camden Chat, DRaysBay and MLB Baseball News …
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Pat Neshek believes in the young Phillies because he lived through similar success with the Astros — SAN DIEGO — Pat Neshek is 37 years old. He's 10 years removed from elbow surgery, and his right arm has survived the last eight seasons. He has pitched for seven teams and made the playoffs five times …
Brandon Sneed / Bleacher Report:
How Kate Upton Saved Justin Verlander's Career … He arrives at the ballpark driving a gray muscle car. A replica, modeled after a famous car from a movie. There's some 700 horsepower under the hood, and it is one fun, badass ride. Her name is Eleanor. He just got her this past spring.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, MLive.com, baseballmusings.com, MLB Baseball News … and USA Today