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, MLB Baseball News …, Deadspin and NewsCut
RELATED:
Nicole Yang / Boston Globe:
The Red Sox' division title banner has been returned — The Red Sox' 2018 division title banner that was recovered on McGrath Highway in Somerville Monday has been returned in exchange for nothing. — A team spokeswoman told The Boston Globe's Travis Anderson the banner was brought into Fenway Park Wednesday afternoon.
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 …
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Real or Not? New pen problems could hurt Cubs', Braves' chances
Real or Not? New pen problems could hurt Cubs', Braves' chances
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Pinstripe Alley, NESN.com and Over the Monster
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 …
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
5 National League teams can block Cubs from returning to World Series
Jorge Castillo / Los Angeles Times:
Chris Taylor walks it off for the Dodgers to beat the Rockies in extras and increase NL West lead
Chris Taylor walks it off for the Dodgers to beat the Rockies in extras and increase NL West lead
Discussion:
The Comeback
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Dave Roberts: Things ‘coming together at the right time’ for Dodgers
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.
RELATED:
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
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves avoid sweep at home against Cardinals
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon on the Cincinnati Reds: ‘Watch out next year’ — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — MILWAUKEE - There were no bigger fans of the Reds this week, during their three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, than the members of the Chicago Cubs.
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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.
RELATED:
Craig Calcaterra / NBCSports.com:
Yankees activate Aroldis Chapman
Yankees activate Aroldis Chapman
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers complete Mike Fiers' trade, get Logan Shore from Athletics — The Mike Fiers trade is complete. — On Wednesday afternoon, the Detroit Tigers received right-hander Logan Shore from the Athletics as the second player to be named later in their Aug. 6 trade.
RELATED:
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Tigers, Athletics Complete Mike Fiers Trade
Tigers, Athletics Complete Mike Fiers Trade
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and Athletics Nation
Daily Record:
Zack Wheeler's emergence gives Mets loaded top three heading into offseason — Zack Wheeler on being shut down Matt Ehalt, Staff Writer, @MattEhalt — NEW YORK —Even as he battled injuries the past few years, Zack Wheeler never wavered in his belief that he could be a front-of-the-rotation starter.
RELATED:
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
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:
Yankees top Red Sox 3-2, deny Boston a division clincher — NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Walker hit a three-run homer, Zach Britton started a game-ending double play on New York's third try in the ninth inning and the Yankees kept the Boston Red Sox from a bubbly celebration in the Bronx for at least another night with a 3-2 victory Tuesday.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and Over the Monster
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
It's all about October as Aaron Judge returns to the Yankees — NEW YORK — As he kicked the dirt in the Yankee Stadium batter's box, Aaron Judge looked down at his feet and paused. — An ovation still echoed around the park. The slugger, absent for nearly eight weeks due to a wrist injury …
Associated Press:
Gonzalez's homer helps Astros down Mariners 7-0 — Houston, which eliminated the Mariners from contention for the AL West title with the victory, entered the day four games ahead of Oakland atop the division standings. The Athletics played later against the Angels.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Associated Press
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Joe Maddon to wear kicker Jim Bakken's jersey on flight home from Arizona — Chicago Tribune — First baseman Anthony Rizzo promised he won' wear his uniform on the Cubs' charter flight home Wednesday night. — In fact, Rizzo said he had to shop for clothes after “underpacking” for this three-game road trip to Phoenix.
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Austin Meadows among final wave of callups — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rays will get their first look at OF Austin Meadows when he joins them Thursday in Toronto as part of the final wave of callups. — And based on what RHP Tyler Glasnow, a former Pirates and now Rays teammate, said, they're going to get an eyeful.
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.