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.
RELATED:
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
Daily Record:
Voit keeps rivalry fires burning, McCutchen shows patience, power, and what about Gardner? — Pete Caldera, Staff Writer, @pcaldera — NEW YORK — “The Luke Voit Show” is still in full flourish, complete with leaping high-fives and bold statements that follow his powerful swings.
RELATED:
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 …, Deadspin and USA Today
RELATED:
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
Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
‘The Hawk Harrelson Show,’ a long-running drama, draws to a close — Photos of the White Sox broadcaster and former general manager (1986) Ken “Hawk” Harrelson. — Chicago Tribune — “The Hawk Harrelson Show” concludes its Chicago run after 33 seasons with three White Sox-Cubs telecasts this weekend.
RELATED:
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
Steve Herrick / Associated Press:
Indians turn back Sox on walk-off grand slam
Indians turn back Sox on walk-off grand slam
Discussion:
Associated Press, South Side Sox and Let's Go Tribe
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
As a starter, could Michael Lorenzen be the National League version of Shohei Ohtani? — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — MIAMI - When Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman spoke to reporters Thursday, Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was at the plate on a nearby TV screen.
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Scott Schebler focused on a strong finish to season after injury — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — MIAMI - After returning from the disabled list in the middle of August, Scott Schebler said one of his goals was to finish the season strong.
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.
Associated Press:
Mets IF Wilmer Flores to miss rest of season with knee soreness — WASHINGTON — New York Mets infielder Wilmer Flores will miss the rest of the season because of soreness in both knees. — Manager Mickey Callaway said Flores has early-onset arthritis in both knees and will receive injections to alleviate the pain.
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:
The Sports Daily, MLB Trade Rumors and Houston Chronicle
RELATED:
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
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.
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:
Danny Abriano / SNY:
Mets can end Max Scherzer's Cy Young bid Thursday night — Scherzer is likely on the outside looking in, with Jacob deGrom the favorite — With his league-leading 1.78 ERA and in the midst of an otherworldly season, Mets ace Jacob deGrom is the favorite to win the Cy Young award.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
RELATED:
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 Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
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