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:
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
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 …
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
It's time to talk about Bryce Harper and the Cubs again — CHICAGO - Let the hype begin anew. — Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper will make his final appearance at Wrigley Field this weekend — barring a playoff matchup — before hitting free agency this winter.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Nationals top Braves 6-3, Gio Gonzalez ends personal skid
Nationals top Braves 6-3, Gio Gonzalez ends personal skid
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Chelsea Janes / Chicago Tribune:
League has not caught up to Nationals rookie Juan Soto, whose chief concern is next at-bat
League has not caught up to Nationals rookie Juan Soto, whose chief concern is next at-bat
Discussion:
Washington Post, Federal Baseball, Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Baseball News …
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Bryce Harper as a Cub is a $300 million fantasy the team cannot afford
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
5 things to watch for in the Cubs-Nationals series
Daily Record:
A's bolster deep bullpen by acquiring Twins closer Fernando Rodney — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics, who are a potential wild card opponent of the Yankees, have acquired closer Fernando Rodney from the Minnesota Twins. — The A's sent minor league right-hander Dakota Chalmers …
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
RELATED:
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's add Fernando Rodney to already packed bullpen
A's add Fernando Rodney to already packed bullpen
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
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:
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:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and MLB Baseball News …
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:
Bucs Dugout, MLB Baseball News … 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 …
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
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:
ESPN:
Wackiest stat of the season for every MLB team — Baseball's numbers may not necessarily lie, but they don't always make a lot of sense. — Consider that a pitcher traded at the deadline made a leap not seen in 104 years, a leadoff hitter has more than three times as many home runs as steals …
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 …
Discussion:
Philly.com and The Good Phight
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:
NBCSports.com, MLive.com, Bless You Boys, baseballmusings.com, MLB Baseball News … and USA Today
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, Bluebird Banter, MLB Baseball News … and DRaysBay
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox series preview, pitching matchups — CLEVELAND, Ohio — Here is the preview and pitching matchups for the Indians' series against the White Sox. — Where/when: Guaranteed Rate Field, Friday through Sunday. — TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM/1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the series.
Discussion:
South Side Sox