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7:40 AM ET, September 23, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Jesse Rogers / ESPN:
Cubs counting on Javier Baez to keep them covered at shortstop  —  CHICAGO — If there wasn't enough riding on the shoulders of Chicago Cubs MVP candidate Javier Baez before, then there is now, as he'll take over the full-time shortstop duties while teammate Addison Russell is on administrative leave …
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Javier Baez's versatility never has been more important for the Cubs  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The entertaining debate over whether Addison Russell or Javier Baez was the better shortstop subsided after Baez played Gold Glove-caliber defense at second base.  —  But never has Baez's versatility …
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs add infielder Mike Freeman to take Addison Russell's roster spot
Discussion: Chicago Tribune
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:
Brian Snitker's journey reaches latest apex: the playoffs  —  Brian Snitker devoted 42 years to the Braves.  On Saturday afternoon, the latest pinnacle of his commitment was realized.  —  The manager, who took over as interim in May 2016, hugged bench coach Walt Weiss after the final …
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:   Braves ready to surprise again - this time, in postseason
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:   Jake Arrieta throws a dud for Phillies, as Braves capture NL East crown
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.
RELATED:
Stefan Bondy / Baltimore Sun:
Yankees continue to bet on potential over production with slumping Gary Sanchez, who will unsurprisingly start wild card game  —  There was never a doubt given the way Gary Sanchez has been coddled and propped up by Brian Cashman.  —  But Aaron Boone made it official Saturday when asked …
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
Yankees look to complete World Series mission after clinching AL wild-card spot
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley and Daily Record
Stefan Bondy / New York Daily News:   Yankees continue to bet on potential over production with slumping Gary Sanchez
Associated Press:
Dodgers hit 3 home runs in 7-2 win over Padres  —  LOS ANGELES — Manny Machado caught his wife's first pitch before the game and hit a three-run homer to notch the first 100 RBI season of his career.  —  “It can't get any better than this,” Machado said.  —  Except maybe reaching the World Series and winning.
Discussion: Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
ESPN:
Dodgers cling to lead, rely on Ryu against Padres  —  Hyun-Jin Ryu has experienced more success against the San Diego Padres than any other major league team, and the Los Angeles Dodgers hope the left-hander continues that trend Sunday in the series finale at Dodger Stadium.
Bill Shaikin / Los Angeles Times:
Could Clayton Kershaw have pitched his final regular-season home game for the Dodgers?
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Steve Herrick / Associated Press:
Michael Brantley single in 11th lifts Cleveland Indians over Boston Red Sox 5-4  —  The win delayed Boston's bid for a club-record 106th victory and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.  —  CLEVELAND (AP) - Michael Brantley singled in the winning run in the 11th inning …
Discussion: Associated Press
RELATED:
Logan Mullen / NESN.com:
Red Sox Wrap: Boston Falls To Indians 5-4 In 11-Inning Thriller
ESPN:
Indians first team in history to have four pitchers strike out 200 in a season
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
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 …
RELATED:
Detroit Free Press:
Last Slide  —  The Detroit Tigers sent Victor Martinez out with a win.  —  It was Martinez's night at Comerica Park, the last game of his major league career, and he finished it with a hit: Martinez's infield single in the bottom of the first inning was hit No. 2,153 of his career.
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.
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 …
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Phil Rogers / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs win 8-3 over White Sox; magic number to win NL Central falls to 6 with Brewers loss
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   After extended rest, key bullpen arms deliver 4 scoreless innings in Cubs' victory
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
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.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide  —  Right-hander Zack Godley's highs have been especially high this year, but his lows have been just as low.  Reflecting on his uneven year, Godley said his goal in the offseason is to figure out what he needs to do to keep his bad starts from spiraling out of the control the way they did this year.
Associated Press:
Astros rally for 9 runs in 8th, beats Angels 10-5  —  Justin Verlander reached double digits in strikeouts for the third straight outing and has 12 such games this season.  —  HOUSTON — Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six dominant innings, Jose Altuve capped a nine-run eighth with a two-run homer …
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 …
Discussion: Federal Baseball
Detroit Free Press:
Last Slide  —  It was hot as hell the day Eddie Guardado's life changed, probably 90 degrees as he ran from foul pole to foul pole on a summer day in 1992, trying to sweat out the struggles that had the young right-hander questioning his baseball-playing future.
Logan Newman / Arizona Sports:
Saturday may have been Corbin's last Chase Field start as a Diamondback  —  Patrick Corbin's start on Saturday did not go according to plan.  In giving up four runs in three innings to the Colorado Rockies, the Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves even further away from the playoff picture than when they entered the game.
ESPN:
A's hone in on securing playoff spot against Twins  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics can clinch their first playoff spot since 2014 when they complete a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon.  —  The A's (94-61) have consecutive walk-off wins over the Twins …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Fowler, still owed almost $50 million, eager to be part of Cardinals' future  —  Dexter Fowler is congratulated by Cardinals teammates after he hit a walk-off homer in the 14th inning to beat the Chicago Cubs on May 6.  Post-Dispatch photo by Chris Lee  —  St. Louis Cardinals right fielder …
 
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 More News: 
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Craig Kimbrel has picked a good time to dominate
Discussion: Over the Monster
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
20 things about Mr. 20 Blake Snell, including, yes, blocking his mom on his phone
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Latest On Futures Of Andrew McCutchen, Brett Gardner
Discussion: Camden Chat
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays Tales: And the winners are ...
Dhiren Mahiban / Toronto:
Tellez hits two-run homer, lifts Jays to 5-2 win over Rays
 Earlier Picks: 
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Reaching 200 innings will be a meaningful achievement for Phillies ace Aaron Nola
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Mark Melancon gives up walk-off home run, Aramís García records four hits in loss
Jeffrey Kirshman / ESPN:
Put it on the board, Hawk Harrelson's career unlike any other
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Ohtani, ‘openers’ and Moneyball 2.0: My 10 favorite MLB stories of 2018
 

 
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TMZ.com:
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Jonathan Vigliotti / CBS News:
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GQ:
Inside Kevin Costner's $38 Million Horizon Gamble

 
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