Top News:
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Springer, Astros beat Angels 4-2 in Ohtani's pitching return — Houston starter Gerrit Cole (13-5) allowed six hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings for his third straight win after losing three in a row. — HOUSTON — George Springer hit a two-run homer and finished a triple shy of the cycle …
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Dylan Hernandez / Los Angeles Times:
Shohei Ohtani fades fast in return in Angels' 4-2 loss to Astros … Never mind the two-run home run by George Springer. This start was never about the results. More disconcerting was the abrupt and extraordinary drop in velocity. — Almost three months removed from his most recent start …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Toronto Sun:
Astros begin series against struggling Twins — HOUSTON — Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel will open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Monday at Minute Maid Park. — Keuchel (10-10, 3.58 ERA) is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
3 things we learned from Cubs-Phillies series — Chicago Tribune — Here are three things we learned from the Cubs' three-game series against the Phillies. — The quality starting pitching has arrived — From newcomer Cole Hamels to fellow left-hander Jose Quintana, the performances have been stellar.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jon Lester continues Cubs trend of excellent starting pitching performances — Chicago Tribune — While Jacob deGrom, Aaron Nola and Max Scherzer and others compete for the National League Cy Young Award, the Cubs rotation has been coming on strong recently, showing the quality pitching …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs on a roll entering showdown with Brewers at Miller Park
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Reeling Phillies quickly run out of electricity in loss to Cubs, losing steam in playoff race
Marc Narducci / Philly.com:
Phillies lose to Cubs on rare hiccup by Aaron Nola
Discussion:
The Good Phight and MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — LOS ANGELES - It did not seem to matter what decision Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo made here over the weekend. Whether he stuck with his starter, whether he played things conservatively, whether he managed aggressively - whatever his move, it seemed, it was bound to fail.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and Deadspin
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Arizona Republic:
Up next — San Diego Padres — Padres update: Though they're in last place and on pace for nearly 100 losses, the Padres have had a chance to impact the National League West race with their head-to-head play. They dropped three of four to the Diamondbacks in mid-August, then lost series to the Rockies and Dodgers.
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Sizing up the National League West race between Rockies, Dodgers and Diamondbacks
Discussion:
Purple Row
Steve Herrick / Associated Press:
Rays ride 3 RBI from rookie Brandon Lowe to topple Indians 6-4 — Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash is excited about how his team is playing. The only thing missing for the Rays: a clear path to the playoffs. — Rookie Brandon Lowe homered and drove in three runs, and the Rays hung …
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays beat Indians again, move to 10 over .500 at 73-63
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Sarah Langs / ESPN:
The 100s tracker: Projecting when Red Sox, others reach century mark — The Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals are still on pace for 100-plus losses. The San Diego Padres, who were on pace for triple digits last week, are back below that mark. — EDITOR'S PICKS
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Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Touki Toussaint returns, set to make second start vs. Red Sox
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Talking Chop
Michael Wagaman / Daily Record:
Noah Syndergaard throws 2-hitter in his first complete game as NY Mets top Giants, 4-1 — SAN FRANCISCO — Noah Syndergaard pitched a two-hitter for his first career complete game, striking out 11 as the New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Sunday.
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Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Yankees, A's look to set tone in likely wild-card preview — OAKLAND, Calif. — Now that the calendar has turned to the final month of the regular season, brace yourself: The postseason push is about to get more intense, more serious and, most of all, more fun.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
Vito Chirco / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers numbers: Niko Goodrum's rookie home run mark — The Detroit Tigers (55-82) take on the Chicago White Sox (55-82) in a three-game series, starting Monday, in Chicago. — Five numbers about the Tigers you need to know: — The Tigers' 11-7 win against the N.Y. Yankees …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Addison Russell returns to the Cubs lineup, Javier Baez starts at 3B vs. the Brewers — Chicago Tribune — Shortstop Addison Russell returns to the Cubs lineup Monday as they try to expand their NL Central lead in a showdown against the Brewers at Miller Park.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Cole Ragans won't pitch in 2018. Why that doesn't mean he is no longer a top prospect — An effective argument can be made that the Texas Rangers' rebuild started in the off-season of 2017 and not after the first few months of this season. — The Rangers were so thin on prospects …
Jesse Dougherty / San Francisco Chronicle:
Rodriguez struggles as Nationals fall, 9-4, to Brewers — WASHINGTON - If there is to be a last-ditch run at the playoffs, or even the faintest hint of one, the Washington Nationals had a chance to start this weekend, with three games against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Chicago Tribune:
NL Central tracker: Cubs keep rolling, Brewers overtake Cardinals for 2nd — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs head for their series-opening matinee in Milwaukee on Monday with a five-game lead in the National League Central, their biggest of the season. — They defeated the host Phillies 8-1 …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs manager Joe Maddon might give Ben Zobrist more rest during final weeks of season — Chicago Tribune — Ben Zobrist might get two consecutive games off as manager Joe Maddon attempts to preserve the energy of his versatile veteran for the final four weeks.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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