Top News:
Steve Herrick / Associated Press:
Cleveland Indians' Trevor Bauer returns, but Boston Red Sox tie team record with 105th win — Bauer allowed two hits, walked one and struck out J.D. Martinez in 1 1/3 innings. — CLEVELAND (AP) - Sam Travis and Tzu-Wei Lin hit their first major league home runs and the Boston Red Sox tied …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Surviving Grady
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Chris Thomas / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez: Saturday will be final game of career
Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez: Saturday will be final game of career
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Lone Star Ball, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Trade Rumors
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Brian Cashman talks Yankees' process for selecting a AL Wild Card game starter
Andrew Mahoney / Boston Globe:
What you need to know about the other AL playoff teams
What you need to know about the other AL playoff teams
Discussion:
The Athletic and Over the Monster
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
What factors have positioned Braves for NL East crown? — The Braves are on the verge of winning their first National League East title since 2013. — Here are a few reasons why: — One run games: The Braves are 22-12 in one-run contests. That's the best record in the NL, and third best overall.
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Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves on cusp of division title, and they sure have earned it — The day is coming. It may be Saturday or Sunday - that would be the easiest finish - but it's at worst two wins away. — After a half-decade of retooling, the Braves will win the National League East.
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies' bullpen implodes, Pat Neshek rails against umpire as Braves move to the brink of NL East title
Phillies' bullpen implodes, Pat Neshek rails against umpire as Braves move to the brink of NL East title
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Chris Vivlamore / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
For Markakis, this is what Braves' rebuild has been all about
For Markakis, this is what Braves' rebuild has been all about
Discussion:
Talking Chop
USA Today:
Astros clinch playoff berth with win over Angels — HOUSTON - Yuli Gurriel hit a grand slam and a two-run homer on his way to a career-high seven RBIs, and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth by routing the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Friday night.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Kristie Rieken / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Gurriel homers twice as Astros punch playoff ticket
Gurriel homers twice as Astros punch playoff ticket
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Halos Heaven and ESPN
Associated Press:
Cubs' Russell placed on leave after domestic violence claims — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell was placed on administrative leave Friday following fresh allegations of domestic violence from his ex-wife. — Last year, Melisa Reidy posted a photo on her Instagram account …
Discussion:
ESPN
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David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs know what they don't know concerning Addison Russell the person
Column: Cubs know what they don't know concerning Addison Russell the person
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
MLB Insider: Roster expansion debate persists — When Tony La Russa managed the Cardinals, he took advantage of the September rules for roster expansion as much as anybody else. — In 2011, his last season, as the Cardinals tried to complete a charge for a wild-card berth …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright impresses Giants' Bochy — Count San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy as among the many intrigued to see how Adam Wainwright's start goes Saturday in the wake of the brilliant six-inning, nine-strikeout, two-hit, no-run performance turned in by the 37-year-old Cardinals righthander Sunday against Los Angeles.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter returns to lineup vs. Giants; Cardinals set for sprint to the finish
Carpenter returns to lineup vs. Giants; Cardinals set for sprint to the finish
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, Over the Monster and MLB Baseball News …
Jeffrey Kirshman / ESPN:
Put it on the board, Hawk Harrelson's career unlike any other — On an overcast Sunday earlier this season, Ken Harrelson sat behind the wheel of his white Hyundai Genesis and began the 90-minute commute from his home in Granger, Indiana, to the ballpark on Chicago's South Side.
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Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
MLB Network to simulcast Hawk Harrelson's White Sox finale to rest of the country
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox slugger Jose Abreu wants to play if doctors clear him
White Sox slugger Jose Abreu wants to play if doctors clear him
Discussion:
South Side Sox
ESPN:
Wakamatsu-led Rangers look to beat Mariners again — The Texas Rangers won their first game with interim manager Don Wakamatsu at the helm, and did so emphatically, trouncing the Seattle Mariners 8-3 on Friday in the opening game of Rangers' final three-game home series.
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David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Ohtani, ‘openers’ and Moneyball 2.0: My 10 favorite MLB stories of 2018 — It feels like we're trudging a bit to the end of the regular season. The American League playoff teams are essentially set, with the only real question whether the Yankees or A's will host the wild-card game.
Beth Harris / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Last-place Padres beat NL West-leading Dodgers 5-3 — Freddy Galvis added a solo shot and the last-place — Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Friday night. — The Dodgers' NL West lead was trimmed to 1 1/2 games over Colorado, which won 6-2 at Arizona. — San Diego had dropped five in a row against Los Angeles.
Discussion:
Associated Press, True Blue LA and Gaslamp Ball
ESPN:
Urena, DeSclafani face off in Marlins-Reds series — MIAMI — Jose Urena and Anthony DeSclafani, who were both part of the Miami Marlins' organization in 2014, will face each other on Saturday night. — Urena (7-12, 4.21 ERA) signed with the Marlins as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2009 …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Adams beats the odds with winning hit off lefty — ‘Big City’ fisted a two-run double past third baseman Evan Longoria to drive in Harrison Bader and Yairo Munoz as the Cardinals remained on the right path to the wild
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Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Could Clayton Kershaw have pitched his final regular-season home game for the Dodgers? — There is no finality in Clayton Kershaw's future. There is uncertainty, which is why he took the mound at Dodger Stadium last Tuesday with thoughts beyond that night's game.
ESPN:
Nationals look to take down deGrom, Mets — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals will be in a position few expected them to be in when they host the New York Mets Saturday in their third game of their series. — Cy Young Award contender Jacob deGrom and the Mets downed the Nationals 4-2 Friday night …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — The Diamondbacks' 6-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies had barely ended before reliever Brad Ziegler had taken to Twitter to voice his displeasure at what he saw as a game-altering mistake by the replay umpires in New York on Friday night. — Ziegler couldn't understand how anyone …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Arizona Sports
Marcus White / NBCSports.com:
A's slugger Khris Davis sets career-high in homers with walk-off blast — A's slugger Khris Davis entered Friday as the MLB leader in home runs. He added to that lead with a milestone, and then a walk-off. — In the bottom of the first against the Twins, Davis crushed a two-run …
Discussion:
NBC Bay Area and MLB Baseball News …