Top News:
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 …
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs need an unlikely leader to emerge from their battered bullpen
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs know they won't get any sympathy for a 30-day work stretch
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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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
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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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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 …
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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
How big is Rays-A's this weekend? Well ...
How big is Rays-A's this weekend? Well ...
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 …
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
Ryan Gorcey / The San Francisco Examiner:
Chris Stratton throws first career complete game, shuts out Rockies as Giants break losing streak — AT&T PARK — Over the course of their 11-game losing streak — the longest since they came west in 1958 — the San Francisco Giants have hit a paltry .193 and averaged just 2.36 runs per game.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, McCovey Chronicles and Purple Row
ESPN:
Mets' Noah Syndergaard on Boston rodent: New York rats way worse — Noah Syndergaard's first start at historic Fenway Park was everything the right-hander could have asked for. — Seven shutout innings. Three hits allowed. An 8-0 New York Mets win. — The only thing not that impressive to Thor?
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.
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:
MLB Baseball News …, South Side Sox and Camden Chat
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 and MLB Baseball News …
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.
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 …