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8:15 PM ET, September 20, 2018

Ballbug

 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
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Column: From Theo Epstein to Addison Russell, plenty at stake for these 8 Cubs down the stretch
Steve Rosenbloom / Chicago Tribune:   Column: Jose Quintana? Jon Lester? C'mon, kids, let's play ‘Cubs Playoff Rotation Roulette’
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 …
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.
Associated Press:
Jaime Jarrin, Spanish-speaking voice of Dodgers, gets extension  —  LOS ANGELES — Jaime Jarrin, the Hall of Fame broadcaster who is the Spanish-speaking voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has agreed to a multi-year contract extension.  —  The team said Thursday that Jarrin will return in 2019 and 2020 …
Beth Harris / Star Tribune:
Puig's pinch-hit homer helps Dodgers sweep Rockies, 5-2
Discussion: Over the Monster and True Blue LA
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:
ESPN:   Knee injury sidelines Red Sox's Eduardo Nunez at least 5 days
Daily Record:   New York Yankees lineup vs. Red Sox with a sweep on the line
Daily Record:
Last Slide  —  NEW YORK - Justus Sheffield's big-league debut occurred …
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
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.
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
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
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.
Discussion: NESN.com and USA Today
Kent Somers / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide  —  Torey Lovullo's news conferences sometimes feel like counseling sessions, minus the $150 charge, cushy chairs and soft lighting.  —  He talks about the need to push frustration aside, live in the moment and enjoy today.  —  But he admits that's not so easy when you manage …
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide  —  To further explain his decision to bench …
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
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:
RELATED:
Zachary D. Rymer / Bleacher Report:
How the San Francisco Giants Became a $205M MLB Flop
Discussion: The Sports Daily
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.
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.
Associated Press:
MLB: Indians' Trevor Bauer to return Friday  —  The Cleveland Indians want Trevor Bauer in their postseason rotation.  The next step will come Friday against the Boston Red Sox in his first appearance since breaking his right leg last month.  —  Indians manager Terry Francona said Bauer will pitch a …
RELATED:
ESPN:   Indians, White Sox to start pitchers with 21 combined losses
Steve Herrick / Associated Press:
Indians turn back Sox on walk-off grand slam
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:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals promote reliever Gallegos from Memphis
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Cardinals lose to Braves, but Flaherty says he feels strong
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:
Daily Record:   Mets, Nationals lineups for Thursday night
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 …
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.
 
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 More News: 
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Alec Mills had same injury as Brandon Morrow: ‘It stinks’
MLB Trade Rumors:
Michael Fulmer Undergoes Knee Surgery
Discussion: Bless You Boys
Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers broadcaster Jaime Jarrin signs extension through 2020
Discussion: True Blue LA
Chad Kuhl / ESPN:
Chad Kuhl has Tommy John surgery, Pirates say
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Kyle Tucker / Baseball America:
PCL Top 20 Prospects
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Remember when? How things have changed since Braves' last playoff game
 Earlier Picks: 
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
David Peterson finishes strong in first full season in NY Mets system
Brendan Gawlowski / Baseball Prospectus:
Soft Toss: A New(ish) Day
Discussion: Minor League Ball and Fish Stripes
Keith Law / ESPN:
Harrison Bader, Matt Chapman among players I was wrong about
Charles F. Gardner / Associated Press:
Gio Gonzalez, Jesus Aguilar lead Brewers to win over Reds
Susan Slusser / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's send 2nd-round pick Logan Shore to Tigers to complete Fiers deal
 

 
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People:
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