Top News:
Associated Press:
Braves clinch 1st NL East crown since 2013, top Phillies 5-3 — ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves capped a most surprising season by clinching their first NL East crown since 2013, with Mike Foltynewicz taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Saturday in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves on cusp of division title, and they sure have earned it
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight and Talking Chop
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
J.A. Happ could be AL wild card starter, but Yankees say they're still weighing options — Pete Caldera, Staff Writer, @pcaldera — NEW YORK — J.A. Happ just might be the Yankees' choice to start the AL wild card game, though it's hard for the veteran lefty to publicly campaign for that assignment.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
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Yahoo Sports / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Yankees book their trip to October baseball
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Daily Record
Chicago Tribune:
NL Central tracker: Can Cubs hold off Brewers in quest for 3rd straight division title? — Chicago Tribune — It's going to be an interesting — and stressful — final week of the regular season in the National League Central. — The Cubs enter Game 2 of the City Series against the White Sox …
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Ryan Ford / Detroit Free Press:
What were Victor Martinez's best games and seasons? — Victor Martinez, the 39-year-old designated hitter, is retiring after the 2018 season. Free Press sports writer Ryan Ford takes a look at his career. Wochit — CONNECT — Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez is set …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bless You Boys, Royals Review and WKYC-TV
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Dave Hogg / Associated Press:
Royals beat Tigers, stop five-game slide — WSYM - DETROIT (AP) — Ian Kennedy pitched three-run ball into the eighth inning, and the Kansas City Royals stopped a five-game slide by holding off the Detroit Tigers for a 4-3 win on Friday night. — Alex Gordon had three hits for the Royals, who led 4-0 after four innings.
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Michael Lorenzen will be limited to 60-70 pitches in his 2nd start — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — MIAMI - As Michael Lorenzen prepares to make his second start of the season Sunday against the Miami Marlins, he will throw again with another pitch count.
RELATED:
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds coaches Billy Hatcher, Pat Kelly interested in interviewing for managerial jobs — MIAMI - During most home games this season, Reds interim bench coach Pat Kelly sat in the manager's office during Jim Riggleman's postgame press conferences with reporters.
ESPN:
Indians first team in history to have four pitchers strike out 200 in a season — The Cleveland Indians have become the first team in Major League Baseball history to have four pitchers reach 200 strikeouts in a season. — Mike Clevinger hit that mark with his fourth strikeout …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Dhiren Mahiban / Toronto:
Tellez hits two-run homer, lifts Jays to 5-2 win over Rays — TORONTO — Rowdy Tellez's two-run home run in the fourth inning helped the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. — Tellez added an RBI double in the eighth, finishing 3 for 4 with three RBI as the Blue Jays …
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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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.
New York Daily News:
Mets one-hit by Nats in meaningless loss between preseason NL-East favorites — The two teams originally favored to compete for an NL East title played meaningless baseball Saturday. — But the Nats got revenge on the Mets for playing a role in Washington's elimination from postseason contention …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs add infielder Mike Freeman to take Addison Russell's roster spot — Chicago Tribune — In a perfect setting, infielder Mike Freeman will be able to celebrate a National League Central title with the Cubs before returning to Greenville, S.C., for the birth of his first child.
RELATED:
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs know what they don't know concerning Addison Russell the person
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
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:
Naples Herald, The Crawfish Boxes 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.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — Reliever Yoshihisa Hirano has exceeded the expectations of just about everyone this season, including those of the scout who signed him. — “I thought he was going to help us, but not to this extent,” said Mack Hayashi, the club's director of Pacific Rim operations.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
20 things about Mr. 20 Blake Snell, including, yes, blocking his mom on his phone — TORONTO — Twenty things about Blake Snell as he takes the mound Sunday for the first time as a 20-game winner. — Snell ... • Is the first 20-game winner in the majors since 2016.
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Tales: And the winners are ... This season won't end up among the most successful in the Rays' 21-year franchise history, but I'd make the case it might be the most interesting. — From the winter/spring purge of the veterans, dire predictions for 100-plus losses, frigid 1-8/4-13 start …
