Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
3:45 PM ET, September 15, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
President of baseball operations Dick Williams is keeping quiet on specifics of the Cincinnati Reds managerial search  —  Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer  —  My wife was listening when I interviewed Dick Willams about the managerial search.  —  When I hung up, she allowed this: “Boy, that was a whole lot of nothing.”
RELATED:
ESPN:
Cubs return home to face Reds  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have a razor-thin margin for error as they attempt to hold onto first place in the National League Central down the stretch.  —  So if there was a time when a team that has already experienced its share of injuries this season …
Discussion: Red Reporter
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Cubs know they won't get any sympathy for a 30-day work stretch
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Learning the outfield could help Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel reach the Majors
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:   Cincinnati Reds reliever Lucas Sims possibly out for season with injury
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
A's riding D-list starting rotation right into October  —  If Edwin Jackson doesn't start the American League wild-card game for the Oakland Athletics, manager Bob Melvin might have another task in mind for him.  —  Shortly after Jackson exercised an opt-out clause with the Washington Nationals …
Discussion: Athletics Nation
RELATED:
Mark Didtler / Associated Press:
Khris Davis homers as A's edge Rays in 10 to win another one-run game  —  Tampa Bay Rays' C.J. Cron breaks his bat as he lines out during the 10th inning of Friday's loss to the A's.  —  Khris Davis helped Oakland win another close one.  —  Davis led off the 10th inning …
Gulf News:
Davis hits 42nd homer in Athletics' 2-1 win  —  Extend their lead in AL to three games  —  St. Petersburg, Florida: Khris Davis led off the 10th inning with his major league-leading 42nd homer, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Friday night.
ESPN:
Don Mattingly reunites with former Make-A-Wish recipient after 30 years  —  Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly reunited 30 years later with a former Make-A-Wish recipient who overcame his cancer diagnosis and named his daughter after the longtime New York Yankees first baseman.
RELATED:
Clark Spencer / miamiherald:
30 years later, cancer survivor re-unites with Don Mattingly
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Jim Salisbury / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Phillies 14, Marlins 2: First impressions after a big night by Aaron Altherr
Discussion: NBCSports.com and The Good Phight
ESPN:
Boston's Porcello looks to right himself vs. Mets  —  BOSTON — Rick Porcello will be counted on to be one of the Boston Red Sox starters in the coming postseason.  —  But the veteran right-hander, who won the Cy Young Award two years ago, will use the rest of September to straighten himself …
RELATED:
ESPN:
Mets' Noah Syndergaard on Boston rodent: New York rats way worse
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Betts: Red Sox must carry sense of urgency into postseason
Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Jay triples in 8th, D-backs top Astros 4-2, races tighten  —  Houston's Charlie Morton (14-3, 3.15 ERA) opposes Arizona's Zack Godley (14-9, 4.67) when the series continues Saturday night.  Morton has won two straight and tied his career high for wins.  —  HOUSTON — Pinch-hitter Jon Jay's …
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Jon Jay's bizarre triple lifts Diamondbacks to much-needed win over Astros
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:   Last Slide  —  HOUSTON - When Brad Ziegler took the mound …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks pitcher Clay Buchholz's season likely over due to flexor strain in elbow
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
George Henry / Star Tribune:
Acuna goes 4 for 5, Braves win 6th straight  —  ATLANTA — Ronald Acuna Jr. struck out twice and reached base once in his first six at-bats against Nationals ace Max Scherzer.  —  “I think it helps having some previous at-bats against him,” Acuna said through a translator.  “I just went in with the same approach.
Discussion: Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Bryce Harper expressed displeasure with umpire Laz Diaz's strike zone, sparking a confrontation
Associated Press:
Kansas City Royals beat Minnesota Twins 8-4 to lower Cleveland Indians' magic number to 1  —  Salvador Perez's walk-off grand slam provided the difference.  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Salvador Perez capped Kansas City's five-run ninth inning with a game-ending grand slam …
Discussion: WCCO | CBS Minnesota
Associated Press:
MLB: Cubs' Strop is out for season  —  It looks like the back end of the Chicago Cubs' bullpen will be a big question mark down the stretch.  —  Pedro Strop will miss the rest of the regular season with a left hamstring strain, leaving the NL Central leaders with a closer-by-committee approach …
Discussion: Naples Herald
RELATED:
ESPN:
Gregory Polanco likely to miss 7-9 months after shoulder surgery
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Clay Buchholz's resurgent season with D-backs ends early  —  Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Clay Buchholz won't pitch again this season, manager Torey Lovullo said Friday night.  —  Buchholz was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday because of tightness in his right elbow …
ESPN:
Dodgers paying back Cardinals  —  ST. LOUIS — The Los Angeles Dodgers' goal of turning the tables on the St. Louis Cardinals is well within reach heading into the third game of a four-game series on Saturday at Busch Stadium.  —  Three weeks after the Cardinals rolled to a three-game sweep in Los Angeles …
RELATED:
Joe Lyons / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Flaherty-Buehler rematch highlights Cards vs. Dodgers
Discussion: True Blue LA
ESPN:
White Sox look to take season series from Orioles  —  BALTIMORE — On Saturday, the Chicago White Sox will have the chance to accomplish something they haven't done in 10 years — win a season series against the Baltimore Orioles  —  A victory for the White Sox would give Chicago a 4-2 lead …
RELATED:
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Trey Mancini homers twice, but Orioles' pitching crisis continues in 8-6 loss to White Sox
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
A first for Texas Rangers pitching that gave significance to Friday's win over the Padres  —  SAN DIEGO — Maybe someday, if the Rangers do indeed change the way they approach pitching, Friday night will go down as an asterisk to history.  —  It was the first time the team used an “opener” and won a game.
RELATED:
Bernie Wilson / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Profar, Mendez lead Rangers to 4-0 win over Padres
Discussion: Gaslamp Ball
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
WATCH: Josh Donaldson hits first home run as member of Cleveland Indians  —  Third baseman Josh Donaldson hit his first home run as a member of the Cleveland Indians in the sixth inning of Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians …
Discussion: Plain Dealer
RELATED:
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
RECAP: Cleveland Indians' ninth-inning rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Detroit Tigers
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Tales: Why every day is Sunday fun day  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The stories typically start coming out around this time, how (most of) the teams headed to the playoffs all have such good chemistry, though the reality is that 90-something W's can mask a lot of issues and create plenty of positive vibes.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Brewers veteran Curtis Granderson thriving in the shadows of another pennant race  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Brewers have made several significant moves this season to compete with the Cubs in the National League Central, including the signings of Lorenzo Cain and Jhoulys Chacin …
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Alec Brzezinski / Sporting News:
Yankees activate Aaron Judge from disabled list  —  Aaron Judge is returning for the New York Yankees after battling a wrist injury.  —  Getty Images  —  The New York Yankees activated outfielder Aaron Judge from the 10-day disabled list, the team announced.
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 3:45 PM ET, September 15, 2018.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Travis Sawchik / FiveThirtyEight:
Tommy John Surgeries Are Down In MLB. Will It Last?
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Bader works overtime on swing
Ryan Gorcey / The San Francisco Examiner:
Chris Stratton throws first career complete game, shuts out Rockies as Giants break losing streak
Chicago Tribune:
NL Central tracker: Cubs magic number down to 14, but Brewers keep pace
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
 Earlier Picks: 
ESPN:
Mets' David Wright could pinch hit before farewell game
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
How the Brewers' rotation defied low expectations
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Braves, Giants franchises molded by 1993, MLB's last great pennant race
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Russ Weakland / Daily Mail:
Travis Kelce's favorite songs on Taylor Swift's new album REVEALED - as NFL champ plans something ‘special’ to celebrate the release of Tortured Poets Department

David Browne / Rolling Stone:
Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band Singer-Guitarist, Dead at 80

Suzy Exposito / Elle:
Dua Lipa: 'If It's Not Fun, I Don't Want It'

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page