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11:40 AM ET, September 18, 2018

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 Top News: 
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs show off playoff formula in beating Diamondbacks  —  PHOENIX — The playoff formula finally came together for the Chicago Cubs.  Even if it was for just one game, during the busiest stretch of any team in baseball this season, the Cubs reminded the National League what they're capable of.
RELATED:
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide  —  After an arduous road trip in which the Diamondbacks lost valuable ground in their quest for a postseason spot, the club probably wanted nothing more than to play for its own fans.  —  But as the Diamondbacks opened a six-game homestand with a game against the Chicago Cubs …
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue and AZ Snake Pit
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kris Bryant and Kyle Hendricks are finding their grooves for the Cubs  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs' offense gained attention Monday night for their breakout that included the first home run by Kris Bryant since July 21, three days before he went on the 10-day disabled list …
Chicago Tribune:   NL Central tracker: Cubs' magic number at 10 after road victory over Diamondbacks
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs bullpen still unsung despite ranking as the best in the National League
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Marly Rivera / ESPN:
Boston's ‘Cora Four’ has the stuff dynasties are made of  —  BOSTON — The 1912 Red Sox won 105 regular-season games, more than any other team in Boston's history, but they did not accomplish it with the flair that the 2018 team has done it this season while also playing a youthful brand of Beantown baseball.
RELATED:
Daily Record:
New York Yankees, Red Sox game may be rained out Tuesday: 3 things to know  —  The Yankees are set to host the Boston Red Sox for the last time of the regular season this week, but the series opener looks to be in jeopardy to start on time.  —  Nearly every major weather outlet …
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Games of the Day  —  The Red Sox can clinch the AL East …
Discussion: USA Today and Amazin' Avenue
Associated Press:
MLB: Christian Yelich completes second cycle of season — both against Reds … Christian Yelich has hit for the cycle for the second time this season, setting a major league record by doing it twice against one team.  —  The Milwaukee Brewers' slugger completed his cycle Monday night with a sixth-inning triple against the Reds.
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:   Eagle Eye: Bo Thompson grew up watching the Cincinnati Reds, now leads replay challenges
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
How players like Cincinnati Reds shortstop Blake Trahan benefit from September call-ups
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Christian Yelich makes history with another cycle as Cincinnati Reds' slump continues
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Schuyler Dixon / Associated Press:
Tyler Glasnow hurls gem to earn first win as Rays blank Rangers 3-0  —  Tyler Glasnow limited the Rangers to just two infield singles in six innings of work as part of his first major league victory.  —  Tyler Glasnow finally has a win to go with the label of the pitcher Tampa Bay got in the trade for former ace Chris Archer.
RELATED:
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Glasnow limits Rangers to 2 infield singles in Rays' 3-0 win
Discussion: Lone Star Ball and DRaysBay
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:   Blake Snell goes for a Rays' rarity, his 20th win Tuesday
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
Round Rock makes it official: Franchise ends its ties to the Texas Rangers
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dodgers' recent success has been built on sacrifice  —  LOS ANGELES — Joc Pederson, who accumulated 10 total bases in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 8-2 surge over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, has started only 51 percent of the time since the beginning of August.
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Dodgers, Rockies competing to (likely) face Braves in NLDS
Bill Shaikin / The Charlotte Observer:   Ryu, Pederson lead way as Dodgers cruise past Rockies for division lead
ESPN:
Cardinals' Kolten Wong bothered by brother's lack of call-up from Rays  —  St. Louis Cardinals infielder Kolten Wong isn't too happy that his younger brother wasn't called up by the Tampa Bay Rays this season.  —  Kean Wong is batting .282 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in 116 games …
RELATED:
Chris Smith / FOX2now.com:
Wong begins Cardinals' homer parade in 11-6 win over Braves
Discussion: Talking Chop
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals keep Braves at bay with four homers, regain slim lead in wild-card race
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Yankees' Judge, Chapman clear hurdles  —  Yankees slugger Aaron Judge had 11 at-bats in a simulated game and New York closer Aroldis Chapman threw 22 pitches, perhaps the last steps before both are cleared to return to full action.  —  The team said Judge faced righthanders …
RELATED:
Rotoworld.com:
Daily Dose: Recycling  —  Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @RyanPBoyer on Twitter.  —  The Reds are probably sick of seeing Christian Yelich at this point.  —  Yelich hit for the cycle against Cincinnati on Monday in Milwaukee, accomplishing the feat in just six innings before being lifted in the Brewers' 8-0 blowout win.
Associated Press:
Crawford, Longoria homer to carry Giants over Padres 4-2  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants' rookies got the better of the San Diego Padres' youngsters in a matchup of NL West teams playing out the season.  —  While veterans Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria homered off Bryan Mitchell …
RELATED:
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants' kids, led by Chris Shaw, outshine Padres in victory
Discussion: McCovey Chronicles
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
A conversation with Ben Zobrist  —  He's vying for his first batting title and a third World Series championship in four years — and he's doing it when most guys are winding down their careers.  In a lengthy conversation with Chicago Cubs infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
After Triple-A title game, more Memphis players could be called up by Cards  —  ATLANTA  • In a rematch of last year's Triple-A championship, the Cardinals' Class AAA affiliate Memphis will turn to Kevin Herget, a righthander, to start Tuesday night against Durham at Columbus, Ohio (6:05 p.m., NBC Sports Network).
Discussion: Minor League Ball
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Once Norris' finger heals, Cardinals will use veteran on lefties
Chelsea Janes / Houston Chronicle:
Nationals' young relievers get tough on-the-job training in loss to Marlins  —  MIAMI — The trick most veteran relievers know that less experienced ones do not is how to slow an inning when it begins to gain speed.  —  For younger relievers falling behind tends to escalate more quickly …
Discussion: Federal Baseball and Fish Stripes
RELATED:
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Dave Martinez seems secure to return as Nationals manager. At least for now.
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Asdrubal Cabrera injured in Phils' loss to Mets |  Extra Innings  —  For the second straight day, the Phillies had a chance to make up ground on the first-place Atlanta Braves, and if they had won, they could have made a legitimate case that they still had a slim chance to win the National League East.
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Mets top Phillies, but need to improve defense and lineup versatility in 2019
Tim Keown / ESPN:
The Oakland A's are streaking towards October  —  BY THE TIME he neared second base, Oakland shortstop Marcus Semien sensed something was off.  The vibe in Minute Maid Park was weirdly uncomfortable.  It's not like he expected an ovation in Houston, but this was like jogging through a crypt.
Associated Press:
Vogelbach's slam in 8th powers Seattle over Houston 4-1  —  The loss cut Houston's lead in the AL West to four games over Oakland, which was off Monday night.  —  HOUSTON (AP) - Rookie pinch-hitter Daniel Vogelbach's first career grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning lifted …
 
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 More News: 
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees Select Justus Sheffield, Move Clint Frazier To 60-Day DL
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Trevor Story Set For Testing After Exiting Contest With Elbow Injury
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
ESPN:
Athletics have plenty to play for against Angels
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Jeff Francoeur is a dad again
Gary Phillips / Forbes:
Wild Card Starter No Easy Choice For Yankees As Decision Looms
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
 Earlier Picks: 
Mike Axisa / CBSSports.com:
How to fix baseball? Two ways MLB can improve its product without changing the game on the field
Discussion: Halos Heaven
John Perrotto / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Rookie Stallings caps Pirates' 7-6 comeback win over Royals
Discussion: Bucs Dugout and Royals Review
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs management has Willson Contreras' back after his gaffe against the Reds
Associated Press:
Tigers' Michael Fulmer seeks second opinion for meniscus issue
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

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

 
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