Top News:
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Can Joe Maddon manage with Cubs' depleted bullpen? — PHOENIX — The road to a World Series title has gotten a little tougher for the Chicago Cubs, as they'll have to navigate October without closer Brandon Morrow due to a nagging bone bruise in his right forearm — assuming they make the playoffs, of course.
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Chicago Cubs survive 30-day odyssey, on verge of NL Central title — PHOENIX — It's two minutes until midnight - Chicago time - when Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward come out of the visiting clubhouse Wednesday night, and slowly trudge down the Chase Field corridor. — They are the last two Cubs to leave.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' key relievers should be rested and ready to go for final 10 games — Chicago Tribune — Suffering a 9-0 loss Wednesday night to the Diamondbacks left the Cubs in a reflective mood as they completed a stretch of 30 consecutive days with a scheduled game with an 18-11 record.
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Yasiel Puig hits sixth HR in past 18 at-bats: 'We're going to win the West' — LOS ANGELES — Yasiel Puig couldn't decide which celebration fit best, so he basically used all of them. He rubbed his fingers and flexed his biceps, clapped his hands and raised them to the sky …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, USA Today and Deadspin
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Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Rookie Walker Buehler, now the Dodgers' co-ace, isn't stopping — LOS ANGELES — Walker Buehler surpassed 140 innings between the minors and majors on Wednesday, while giving up only a couple of unearned runs in a sweep-clinching victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Beth Harris / Star Tribune:
Puig's pinch-hit homer helps Dodgers sweep Rockies, 5-2
Puig's pinch-hit homer helps Dodgers sweep Rockies, 5-2
Discussion:
Over the Monster and True Blue LA
Daily Record:
New York Yankees lineup vs. Red Sox with a sweep on the line — Can the Yankees return the favor and complete a sweep against the Red Sox? They will have to in order to once again deny the Red Sox of clinching the AL East. — The Yankees announced their Thursday lineup with no real surprises.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs battle White Sox on the South Side as Ken ‘Hawk’ Harrelson calls it a career — Photos of the White Sox broadcaster and former general manager (1986) Ken “Hawk” Harrelson. — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs find themselves in the catbird seat this weekend as they travel …
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants' Madison Bumgarner wants to stay, but knows decision isn't all his — SAN DIEGO — As the Giants end another disappointing season and dive into what promises to be a turbulent winter, they finally need to address one of their most critical questions in perhaps decades, which has no easy answer:
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, The Sports Daily and Houston Chronicle
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Zachary D. Rymer / Bleacher Report:
How the San Francisco Giants Became a $205M MLB Flop
How the San Francisco Giants Became a $205M MLB Flop
Discussion:
The Sports Daily
Henry Schulman / San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants fail to sweep Padres; Belt ‘likely’ done for '18
Giants fail to sweep Padres; Belt ‘likely’ done for '18
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Gaslamp Ball, NBCSports.com and MLB Baseball News …
Bob Nightengale / Des Moines Register:
Hall of Famer John Smoltz says MLB needs an overhaul and proposes drastic changes — Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz watches baseball every day, talks about it virtually every day, sits in a broadcast booth and TV studio every week, and can't stand what he's seeing.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Shildt gives Carpenter a little extra rest — ATLANTA • After Matt Carpenter salvaged a three-strikeout game Tuesday by taking a walk and scoring a run, manager Mike Shildt asked him to step aside for a conversation. — Shildt suggested to Carpenter a day off Wednesday …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
RELATED:
ESPN:
Red Sox manager Alex Cora laments post-Maria stadium demolition in Puerto Rico: ‘I grew up there’ — CAGUAS, Puerto Rico — When José Manuel Cora covered the Caguas Criollos ballclub as a newspaper correspondent, his youngest son had free rein of Yldefonso Solá Morales Stadium.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — To further explain his decision to bench his top four everyday players on Wednesday night - while continuing to say he wasn't giving up on the season - Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo drew a parenting analogy. He recalled the look he's seen on his kids' faces after they studied hard for a test but didn't do well.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had four …
Last Slide — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had four …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Dayn Perry / CBSSports.com:
This could be Bryce Harper's last homestand with the Nationals; here's what he had to say about it — The Nationals' star outfielder is a pending free agent — Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is going to be a free agent this coming offseason. Thanks to his youth relative to almost any other free agent …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, USA Today and Washington Post
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies' playoff hopes may have improved had they added a Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ at the trade deadline — The moment of truth was supposed to arrive Thursday for the Phillies. For months, we looked at the schedule and saw the last 11 games - seven of them against the Atlanta Braves …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Alec Mills had same injury as Brandon Morrow: ‘It stinks’ — Chicago Tribune — Alec Mills has experienced what Cubs closer Brandon Morrow will endure the next two months, and Morrow's patience will be tested as much as his healing powers. — “I had to do two months of absolutely nothing …
MLB Trade Rumors:
Michael Fulmer Undergoes Knee Surgery — As had largely been expected by this point, the Tigers announced today that righty Michael Fulmer has undergone surgery on his right knee. (Via MLB.com's Jason Beck, on Twitter.) The repair work to his meniscus is not expected to prevent Fulmer …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Charles F. Gardner / Associated Press:
Gio Gonzalez, Jesus Aguilar lead Brewers to win over Reds — Gio Gonzalez pitched six smooth innings on his 33rd birthday and Jesus Aguilar hit a three-run homer in the Brewers' 7-0 victory over the Reds on Wednesday night. — Manny Pina also had a three-run shot and Aguilar finished with four RBIs.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Sources: Rangers consider parting ways with Banister. Here's why this might happen — The rebuilding plan the Texas Rangers are undertaking has reached the manager's office. — Multiple sources confirmed that the Rangers are contemplating replacing Jeff Banister after the season even though he is under contract for 2019.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors