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6:20 PM ET, August 16, 2018

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 Top News: 
Paul Newberry / Associated Press:
Commentary: Jose Urena plunked Ronald Acuna Jr. He should be suspended for the rest of the season.  —  Ronald Acuna Jr. is good for baseball.  —  Jose Urena and his defenders are not.  —  Jose, take the rest of the season off.  —  And while you're at it, take Keith Hernandez with you.
RELATED:
Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times:
Ronald Acuna Jr. is hit by a pitch for being too good, and broadcaster Keith Hernandez is OK with that  —  Young Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. was hit by a pitch Wednesday night for being too good.  —  Acuna had led off with a home run in all three of the Braves' previous games against Miami this week.
Associated Press:
Braves, Marlins brawl after Acuna hit by Urena's first pitch  —  ATLANTA - Ronald Acuna's chance to extend his three-game streak of leadoff homers was put on hold when the Marlins' Jose Urena hit him with his first pitch on Wednesday night, triggering a melee that led to benches and bullpens for Atlanta and Miami emptying twice.
ESPN:
Ronald Acuna Jr. day-to-day as CT scan on elbow normal  —  A CT scan performed Wednesday night on Ronald Acuna Jr.'s left elbow came back normal and the rookie outfielder is considered day-to-day, the Atlanta Braves announced Thursday.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS  —  Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. …
Discussion: Talking Chop
Charles Odum / Toronto Sun:   Swanson fills void after Acuna's exit as Braves top Marlins
Dayn Perry / CBSSports.com:
Benches clear after Marlins drill Braves rookie Ronald Acuna to open series finale in Atlanta
Matt Snyder / CBSSports.com:
After hitting Braves' Ronald Acuna, Marlins pitcher faces backlash and says it was accidental
Toronto Sun:   Red-hot Acuna questionable as Braves await Rockies
Rob Tornoe / Philly.com:
Today's first Phillies-Mets game available only on Facebook  —  If you were hoping to watch Phillies take on the New York Mets on television this afternoon, good luck finding the game.  —  For the fourth time this season, fans hoping to watch the Phillies will have to log onto Facebook.
RELATED:
Matt Breen / Philly.com:   Why new Phillies catcher Wilson Ramos is called ‘The Buffalo’ | Extra Innings
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
New addition Wilson Ramos rallies Phillies past Red Sox in debut
Discussion: Beyond the Box Score
ESPN:
Ball hits Brandon Nimmo's finger; X-rays come back negative  —  New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo left Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies after a fastball hit his bat and his left hand in the third inning.  —  X-rays on Nimmo's left index finger came back negative.
RELATED:
NorthJersey.com:
Brandon Nimmo notches career night, Todd Frazier plates four runs as Mets blowout Orioles
Daily Record:
Examining the Mets' strong night against the Orioles
Discussion: NorthJersey.com
Scott Stinson / Toronto Sun:
Yankees and Red Sox's absurd spending habits will make it even tougher to rebuild the Blue Jays  —  Scott Stinson: Those two teams are already miles better — and they operate with a fearlessness that the Blue Jays' front office simply does not  —  The Toronto Blue Jays began their season …
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Aaron Boone may have been a fit as Cincinnati Reds manager if the timing was different  —  Former Red.  Check.  —  Well-versed in analytics.  Check.  —  Stayed connected to baseball after retiring.  Check.  —  Impeccable reputation around baseball.  Check.
WFAN Sports Radio 66AM 101.9FM:
Yankees GM Brian Cashman Provides Judge, Sanchez Updates
Discussion: NESN.com and NBCSports.com
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
If the Cubs win the NL Central, which team would they least like to face in the playoffs?  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon, Kyle Hendricks, Anthony Rizzo, Albert Almora Jr. and Jason Heyward discuss the Cubs' 8-4 win against the Brewers on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018.  (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune)
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   3 things we learned from the Cubs-Brewers series
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Low-maintenance bullpen may be the key to Cubs' stretch run
Steve Dilbeck / Associated Press:
Dozier ends Dodgers' skid with RBI in 12th against Giants  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) It was looking all too familiar to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Another lead lost, another reliever buckling in a big moment.  —  Only this time, after San Francisco Giants outfielder Andrew McCutchen hit …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Dozier ends Dodgers' skid with RBI in 12th against Giants
Discussion: True Blue LA
Associated Press:
Yankees load bases in ninth with no outs but come up empty in yet another lifeless loss to Rays  —  Where is bottom?  —  A listless Yankees lineup lost again to the Tampa, despite loading the bases with no-out in the ninth inning, losing 3-1 Thursday.  It was the Rays' first series win at Yankee Stadium since 2014.
RELATED:
Toronto Sun:   Yankees go for 13th straight home series win over Rays
Ben Pope / Philly.com:
Phillies prospect Andrew Brown adding improved curveball to stellar fastball in Lakewood  —  LAKEWOOD, N.J. — Andrew Brown already has a 95-mph fastball and a change-up that Lakewood manager Marty Malloy describes as “really good.”  —  He has worked all season on improving his curveball consistency …
RELATED:
Ben Pope / Philly.com:   Recovery from wrist injury made Phillies prospect Jake Scheiner better than ever
Aj MassEspn / ESPN:
Potential September prospect call-ups you should add today  —  We're about two weeks from the end of August.  Once the calendar page turns, MLB teams have the option to expand their rosters.  Now, few teams will increase their clubhouse numbers to the maximum 40 players, and most will add only a handful of new faces to the mix.
ESPN:
Who's indispensable for contenders down the stretch?  —  Which players in baseball are most important for their teams down the stretch?  This answer is trickier than simply picking the best players in baseball, because as we head toward the final quarter of the season, half of the league is practically …
Ryan Ford / Arizona Republic:
Tigers' Victor Martinez ‘pretty sure’ he will retire after this season  —  Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez seems ready to retire, once the 2018 season comes to an end.  —  “I'm pretty sure this is gonna be it,” Martinez told Fox Sports Detroit and a group of media …
Keith LawESPN Senior / ESPN:
Does addition of Shane Baz tip scales in Chris Archer trade?  —  The Rays' haul for Chris Archer at the deadline last month was a little underwhelming — two former prospects whose stock had declined after a year or more of non-development, even regression in the case of Tyler Glasnow.
 
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 More News: 
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Mike Montgomery says a 10-day break between starts should help: 'It's been a heavy workload year'
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Padres Release Phil Hughes
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Mets ace Jacob deGrom is 7-7. He could win the Cy Young award
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Royals Acquire International Bonus Pool Space From Rangers
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
John Rowe / Daily Record:
Curtis Granderson and New York Yankees together again?
Scott Ostler / San Francisco Chronicle:
Despite loss, A's deadly serious about winning
Steve Overbey / Naples Herald:
Ozuna homers, Cardinals beat Nationals for 8th straight win
 Earlier Picks: 
Eddie MatzESPN Senior / ESPN:
Did the Home Run Derby ‘fix’ Bryce Harper?
New York Daily News:
David Wright still looking for first hit after latest rehab game, but Mets captain seeing progress
Rotoworld.com:
Daily Dose: Ryu Returns
Associated Press:
Astros hit 5 homers to end skid with 12-1 win over Rockies
Star Tribune:
Granderson's grand slam leads Jays past Royals 6-5
Associated Press:
Brewers RHP Jimmy Nelson unlikely to return this season
 

 
From WeSmirch:

New York Times:
How to Be Real With Your Kids  —  Actor Penn Badgley reads the essay “Watching Them Watching Me” …

Daily Star:
Scene where Gogglebox's George Gilbey, 40, tragically died as police cordon area

Eileen Reslen / Page Six:
Christine Quinn alleges ‘abusive’ husband Christian Richard threw dog poop at her, peed on her floor in violent outburst

 
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