Top News:
Pat Graham / Toronto Sun:
McMahon HR replacing ailing Arenado, Rockies top Dodgers 5-4 — DENVER (AP) As he rounded first base, Ryan McMahon turned back toward his teammates in the dugout, hollered and emphatically clapped twice. — It was just the emotion shining through. — McMahon hit a two-run homer …
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John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants beat Pirates in a wild one, 13-10 — The Giants were playing some of their worst ball of the year when manager Bruce Bochy decided to rely more heavily on his veteran hitters. — So on July 29, he stacked four of them at the top of his lineup, batting Andrew McCutchen first …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout, McCovey Chronicles, MLB Baseball News … and San Francisco Chronicle
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Posey, McCutchen lead Giants past Pirates 13-10 — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants finally got their offense going, and they needed it to survive another shaky performance from their bullpen. — Buster Posey got four hits, Andrew McCutchen homered against his former team …
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Giants' decision-makers hold key meeting to evaluate team's future
Giants' decision-makers hold key meeting to evaluate team's future
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and McCovey Chronicles
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Explaining their decisions to the public should be second nature for umpires — Chicago Tribune — After greeting a pool reporter knocking on the door of the umpires room Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, Bill Miller explained his call ruling Willson Contreras out for interference …
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Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Willson Contreras, Anthony Rizzo perfectly execute ‘do-or-die’ pickoff play to help escape 8th inning jam — Photos from the Cubs-Nationals game at Wrigley Field on Aug. 10, 2018. — Chicago Tribune — The details don't matter, except to Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Nationals' 3-2 loss to Cubs has a haunting familiarity
Nationals' 3-2 loss to Cubs has a haunting familiarity
Discussion:
San Francisco Chronicle and Federal Baseball
David Ginsburg / Toronto Sun:
Red Sox hit 3 HRs, erase 5-run deficit and top Orioles 19-12 — BALTIMORE (AP) Down five runs in the third inning? Hardly a challenge for the Boston Red Sox, who quickly wiped out the deficit with a display of patience and power. — Xander Bogaerts and Andrew Benintendi each hit three-run homers …
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Jon Meoli / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles rewind: Looking back at Friday's 19-12 loss to the Red Sox — Long before Cedric Mullins became the Orioles' center fielder of the future — let alone the first in what they hope is a wave of blossoming young talent to join a team that desperately needs it — there was an exchange …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Associated Press:
Cruz's double in 8th helps Mariners beat Astros 5-2 — Nelson Cruz hit a tiebreaking two-run double in a three-run eighth inning to lift the Seattle Mariners a 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night. — HOUSTON (AP) - Nelson Cruz hit a tiebreaking two-run double …
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Next Slide — ATLANTA - After a crushing loss Thursday afternoon to end a disappointing home series, this was not the way the Milwaukee Brewers hoped to open a long, important road trip. — The Atlanta Braves hit starter Freddy Peralta harder than any opponent in his rookie season and cruised …
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Brew Crew Ball and MLB Baseball News …
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Keegan Matheson / Tampa Bay Times:
Blake Snell superb in Rays rout of Blue Jays — TORONTO — Blake Snell took the idea of quality over quantity to the next level on Friday night in Toronto, throwing five perfect innings on just 47 pitches. — That puts Snell in rare company, as he becomes just the fourth pitcher in the live-ball era …
Discussion:
Sporting News
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Ian Harrison / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Snell perfect thru 5 and then pulled, Rays top Blue Jays 7-0
Snell perfect thru 5 and then pulled, Rays top Blue Jays 7-0
Discussion:
South Side Sox and DRaysBay
Kris Keehl / miamiherald:
Nix pitches six strong innings in major league debut — SAN DIEGO — Jacob Nix pitched six strong innings in his major league debut and the San Diego Padres beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 on Friday night. — Nix (1-0) got off to a rocky start. He stranded three runners after a pair …
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Associated Press:
Daniel Palka leads off 9th with homer, Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland Indians 1-0 — The loss spoiled another great outing by Tribe rookie Shane Bieber, who allowed just three hits in 6.2 innings, while striking out eight. — CHICAGO (AP) - Daniel Palka led off the ninth inning with a home run …
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — Ron Gardenhire had a question for Nicholas Castellanos. — It was in the middle of the eighth inning, after Castellanos made perhaps the best defensive play of his young right field career, leaping into the corner to make an outstanding catch to end the inning.
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Justin Verlander apologizes to Tigers for saying he was misdiagnosed
Justin Verlander apologizes to Tigers for saying he was misdiagnosed
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and NBCSports.com
Jeff Miller / Baltimore Sun:
Angels place Mike Trout on the 10-day disabled list — Before swinging a bat Thursday, Mike Trout attempted to exude confidence in regards to his inflamed right wrist. — “I was trying to convince myself it was getting better,” he said Friday. “But it was still pretty painful.”
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
What Matz's imminent return could mean for the Mets' rotation — MIAMI — The Mets' rotation could become a six-pack within the next week. — With rookie Corey Oswalt pitching at a respectable level and Steven Matz potentially on the verge of coming off the disabled list …
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aroldis Chapman's dip in velocity a red flag, but Aaron Boone doesn't believe it's an injury concern — Austin Romine knew it didn't feel right. The Yankees catcher looked up at the video board and saw that Aroldis Chapman's fastball was coming in at 95 miles an hour and went into “emergency mode.”
David Murphy / Philly.com:
What the Justin Bour trade means for the Phillies in 2018 and beyond | David Murphy — You've heard the Phillies talk a lot about hunting value at the margins, and Friday's trade for lefty slugger Justin Bour is a perfect example of it. — Two years ago, the Phillies traded Darin Ruf …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Mark Polishuk / MLB Trade Rumors:
Phillies Acquire Justin Bour
Phillies Acquire Justin Bour
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Beyond the Box Score, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Baseball News …, Fish Stripes and FanGraphs Baseball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Sorry, Jayson Werth, but ‘super nerds’ are here to stay in baseball — Chicago Tribune — Jayson Werth was a slightly above-average outfielder who made more than $136 million during his 15-year career despite never driving in 100 runs and making only one All-Star appearance.
Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers rookie enjoys historic, magical night with his dad watching for the first time — NEW YORK — Manuel Guzman had never seen his son Ronald play a professional baseball game, let alone a major league game. — He's not thrilled about flying so traveling from the Dominican Republic was an issue.
Discussion:
Dallas Morning News
Associated Press:
Former All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza pleads guilty to drug charges — MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox — SAN DIEGO — Former All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza, who earned more than $43 million over 14 seasons, pleaded guilty Friday to federal drug charges in California.