Top News:
Travis Andersen / BostonGlobe.com:
Red Sox division title banner falls off truck; its return may cost them — The Red Sox know a thing or two about high-stakes negotiations — with marquee free agents, or sponsorship partners. — But now they have to contend with Louie Iacuzzi, a 44-year-old Malden resident who …
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, USA Today, The Comeback, MLB Baseball News …, Deadspin and NewsCut
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Associated Press:
Betts returns as Red Sox chase clinch at Yankee Stadium — NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Betts is back in Boston's lineup, hitting leadoff as the designated hitter while the Red Sox try to clinch the AL East at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. — Betts was pulled from a game Sunday with a left side injury.
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Trevor Bauer to return to Cleveland Indians' starting rotation Friday against Boston Red Sox
Nicole Yang / Boston Globe:
The Red Sox' division title banner has been returned
The Red Sox' division title banner has been returned
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Bradford Doolittle / ESPN:
Way-too-early Yankees-Red Sox playoff preview
Way-too-early Yankees-Red Sox playoff preview
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Daily Record:
Mets, Phillies lineups for Wednesday night in season series finale — For the final time in the 2018 season, the Mets and Phillies will square off. — Noah Syndergaard will start for the Mets, who own a 11-7 record against the Phillies this season, as both teams announced their lineups.
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com and Amazin' Avenue
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New York Daily / Associated Press:
Noah Syndergaard gets chased as Mets fall to Phillies — Noah Syndergaard went from dominating the best team in baseball to getting shelled by a division rival. — The Mets pitcher was chased after four innings during the 4-0 loss to the rival Phillies. — Syndergaard gave up two home runs, three total, while striking out six.
Associated Press:
Braves snap 4-game losing streak behind Freeman, Toussaint — ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman spent the previous four seasons playing for an Atlanta team that averaged 90 losses a year. — Now that the Braves are back challenging for a division title, the All-Star first baseman knows his club can't afford any long losing streaks.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals feel right at home in Atlanta as they gain another game in wild-card race
Cardinals feel right at home in Atlanta as they gain another game in wild-card race
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Talking Chop
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's send 2nd-round pick Logan Shore to Tigers to complete Fiers deal — Oakland's deal for Mike Fiers is complete, six weeks after the fact, with the A's sending a well-regarded pitching prospect, Logan Shore, to the Tigers. — The A's previously had sent minor-league reliever Nolan Blackwood to Detroit as part of the deal.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
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Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Tigers get ‘primo competitor’ Logan Shore to complete Mike Fiers trade
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers, Athletics Complete Mike Fiers Trade
Tigers, Athletics Complete Mike Fiers Trade
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs survive 30-day stretch just fine — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs' stretch of 30 consecutive days with a scheduled game wasn't so bad after all. — “There are worse things than showing up to the baseball field every single day,” Daniel Murphy said before the Cubs entered the final game …
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Daily Record:
Last Slide — NEW YORK - If the situation arises, Aroldis Chapman will be ready to save tonight's game against the Red Sox. — The flame-throwing, left-handed Yankees' closer has been activated from the 10-day disabled list, on the heels of slugging right fielder Aaron Judge's return to the lineup on Tuesday.
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Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Yankees activate Aroldis Chapman
Yankees activate Aroldis Chapman
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
Beth Harris / Associated Press:
Taylor HR in 10th, Dodgers top Rockies 3-2, pad NL West lead — LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chris Taylor hit a high-arching, solo home run to left field in the 10th inning, lifting the Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies that extended Los Angeles' NL West lead to 1 ½ games on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
True Blue LA and MLB Baseball News …
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Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Even by Atlanta standards, it would be hard for Braves to lose NL East — Math heavily favors the Braves winning the National League East. Of course, it also favored the Falcons up 28-3, and the Bulldogs up ... Anyway, the Braves carry a 5-1/2 game lead into play Wednesday.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Talking Chop
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Corey Seidman / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Phillies 4, Mets 0: After 2 straight series wins, bring on the Braves
Phillies 4, Mets 0: After 2 straight series wins, bring on the Braves
Discussion:
The Good Phight and NBCSports.com
Associated Press:
Indians' Trevor Bauer will pitch a few innings Friday in return from DL — CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer will start for the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Red Sox on Friday in his first appearance since breaking his right leg last month. — Indians manager Terry Francona says Bauer will pitch a …
Associated Press:
White Sox slugger Jose Abreu out of hospital after infection — CLEVELAND — Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu has been released from a Cleveland hospital after undergoing treatment for an infection in his right thigh. — Abreu was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday and released Wednesday.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had four of his everyday players on the bench in Wednesday night's series finale against the Chicago Cubs, saying that rather than waving the white flag or trying to get a look at younger players, he's actually doing what he thinks will put the team in the best position to win.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Are these guys threatening to turn AL wild card into a race? Just ask the Rays — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rays still have got a long way to go and a short time to get there if they're gonna do what they say can't be done. — If the Smokey and the Bandit paraphrase doesn't work for you, then let's try another theatrical reference.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Joe Maddon philosophical about prior use of Brandon Morrow — Chicago Tribune — Manager Joe Maddon was philosophical about his decision to use closer Brandon Morrow for the third consecutive game on June 2 - after which the discomfort in his right forearm first surfaced.
Gabe Lacques / Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Is this Bryce Harper's last hurrah with the Nationals? — WASHINGTON - On a recent evening at Nationals Park, the home team sought cover in the dugout as yet another weather delay disrupted a game. Most of the Washington Nationals scurried with dispatch to shelter, but Bryce Harper slowed to a walk.