Top News:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs know they won't get any sympathy for a 30-day work stretch — Javy Baez discusses his game-winning bunt against the Nationals on Sept. 13, 2018, in Washington. (Paul Sullivan/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — The heaviest thing most baseball players lift during a game is a bat …
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David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs need an unlikely leader to emerge from their battered bullpen
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs closer Pedro Strop out for rest of regular season with moderate left hamstring strain
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
7 candidates to replace Pedro Strop as Cubs closer
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Can Javier Baez carry the Cubs to the NL Central title?
Steve Rosenbloom / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Time to join Cubs manager Joe Maddon for another episode of ‘Joverthinking It’
Column: Time to join Cubs manager Joe Maddon for another episode of ‘Joverthinking It’
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
3 things we learned from the Cubs' 4-3 win over the Nationals
3 things we learned from the Cubs' 4-3 win over the Nationals
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Learning the outfield could help Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel reach the Majors — Scott Schebler talks about Luis Castillo's start and the Reds' 3-1 victory over the Dodgers. The Reds have a 6-0 record vs. the Dodgers this year. Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — CONNECT
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds reliever Lucas Sims possibly out for season with injury — Scott Schebler talks about Luis Castillo's start and the Reds' 3-1 victory over the Dodgers. The Reds have a 6-0 record vs. the Dodgers this year. Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — CONNECT
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — HOUSTON - When Brad Ziegler took the mound in the seventh inning on Friday night at Minute Maid Park, it marked the 76th time he had appeared in a game this season, the most in the National League. — Ziegler is not alone among Diamondbacks relievers on that list.
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks pitcher Clay Buchholz's season likely over due to flexor strain in elbow — HOUSTON - Right-hander Clay Buchholz was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right arm, a similar injury to the one that bothered him off and on for years before eventually requiring surgery last year.
ESPN:
Gregory Polanco likely to miss 7-9 months after shoulder surgery — PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates say right fielder Gregory Polanco could be out until June after having surgery on his left shoulder. — Polanco dislocated his throwing shoulder on an awkward slide into second base on a double last Friday against Miami.
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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 …
ESPN:
Mets' David Wright could pinch hit before farewell game — New York Mets infielder David Wright could be used as a pinch hitter ahead of his final start on Sept. 29, manager Mickey Callaway said Friday. — Wright will be activated from the 60-day disabled list when the team returns home Sept. 25 …
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Larry McShane / New York Daily News:
David Wright finale turns meaningless Mets game into city's hottest ticket next week
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Jose Reyes hopes to be next to David Wright in his finale
Jose Reyes hopes to be next to David Wright in his finale
Discussion:
Sporting News and Amazin' Avenue
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Braves, Giants franchises molded by 1993, MLB's last great pennant race — SAN FRANCISCO — The last great pennant race left some with the most beautiful memories in their careers and others with the ugliest of scars. — It created the most radical change in baseball's playoff format …
David Wellham / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves to begin sales of single-game NLDS tickets next week — The Braves announced that single-game tickets for a potential National League Division Series will go on sale Wednesday. — The Braves lead the National League East Division by 7-1/2 games over the second-place Phillies entering play Friday.
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Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
How the Brewers' rotation defied low expectations — What would your expectations have been for the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rotation during the 2018 season if you had this information at the outset: — » Jimmy Nelson would not throw a pitch in a major-league game.
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USA Today:
Yankees activate Aaron Judge from DL, but will be limited — Check back for updates — The New York Yankees activated Aaron Judge before Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. — However, Judge will be limited to only defense and base running. He will not be able to hit yet.
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George A. King III / New York Post:
Hal Steinbrenner throws support behind Aaron Boone amid swoon
Hal Steinbrenner throws support behind Aaron Boone amid swoon
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Sporting News and MLB Trade Rumors
Peter Schmuck / Baltimore Sun:
Trey Mancini homers twice, but Orioles' pitching crisis continues in 8-6 loss to White Sox — Orioles manager Buck Showalter has spent the past week trying desperately to backfill his beleaguered starting rotation, but if it isn't one minor disaster it's another.
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Camden Chat
Chicago Tribune:
NL Central tracker: Cubs magic number down to 14, but Brewers keep pace — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs reduced their magic number for winning their third consecutive National League Central title to 14, edging the Reds 3-2 on Friday night at Wrigley Field.
Joe Lyons / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Flaherty-Buehler rematch highlights Cards vs. Dodgers — Two of baseball's top young righthanders — Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals and the Dodgers' Walker Buehler — will square off Friday in a 7:15 p.m. showdown at Busch Stadium. — Los Angeles won 9-7 in the opening game of the four-game series …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
RECAP: Cleveland Indians' ninth-inning rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Detroit Tigers — The Cleveland Indians' ninth-inning rally fall a run short, as they dropped a 5-4 decision to the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field Friday night. — 10:17 p.m.-INDIANS' NINTH-INNING RALLY FALLS SHORT AGAINST TIGERS
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Ramona Shelburne / ESPN:
Matt Kemp is finally home again in LA — There is no easy way to tell a player he's been traded. But generally whatever awkwardness or emotion an executive feels from those calls is offset by the excitement of the calls welcoming the players joining the club.
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
MLB playoff picture: Updated look at division, wild card races — With just more than two weeks remaining, the Boston Red Sox are the only team to officially punch their ticket to the postseason. — The Red Sox still have work to do to clinch the American League East, although that …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …