Top News:
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Rick Renteria says his White Sox still have plenty to play for in the season's final week — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox need to win six of their final seven games just to match last year's record of 67-95. — They lost Sunday's City Series finale 6-1 to drop the home series to the Cubs 2-1.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Kyle Schwarber regaining his groove — Chicago Tribune — Kyle Schwarber is making up for lost time that he hopes can result in a memorable final week of the regular season. — Schwarber went 2-for-2, including a home run and two RBIs, to start the Cubs' game Sunday against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Carlos Rodon continues troubling trend in clunker against Cubs — Chicago Tribune — This much is clear, Sunday's game against the Cubs was not meaningless for the White Sox, not where Carlos Rodon is concerned. — The left-handed hurler was dominant in July and August …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' home finale loss sums up 2018 season: Just a hit short — 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 — The story of the Detroit Tigers' season …
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Associated Press:
Why Derek Jeter's Marlins aren't doing so hot right about now — MIAMI — The 25th anniversary of the Marlins franchise was seen by the fewest fans at home in team history. — The Marlins became the first major league team to draw fewer than 1 million fans at home since the 2004 Montreal Expos …
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds end their final road trip with another shutout loss to Miami Marlins — MIAMI - When Michael Lorenzen returned to the dugout following the fourth inning Sunday, he took off his glove and threw it toward the bench. Then he threw his hat. — In the final game of a 10-game road trip …
Tim Tucker / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
How Braves will balance rest vs. chasing home-field advantage for playoffs — Braves manager Brian Snitker plans to seek a balance this week between two playoff-related objectives: resting key players and chasing home-field advantage. — Not surprisingly, Snitker rested front-line players Sunday …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation and Talking Chop
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Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Scott Kingery will get a chance to finish strong for Phillies — ATLANTA — Now that the Phillies are finally through chasing the ghost of winning a division title, manager Gabe Kapler outlined a plan to restore playing time to the young players who were displaced by veterans acquired in the middle of the season.
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies swept in Atlanta; Aaron Nola eclipses 200-inning mark
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Talking Chop
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets' need for more effective lefty reliever magnified in 6-0 loss to Nats — WASHINGTON — A dependable lefty reliever would be a nice offseason addition. — Southpaw reliever Jerry Blevins' poor season continued Saturday when he allowed a game-sealing three-run homer in the sixth inning …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Amazin' Avenue, New York Daily News, Federal Baseball, New York Post and Associated Press
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Stefan Bondy / New York Daily News:
Yankees manager still mulling over his wild card pitching options as J.A. Happ lacks command as Bombers fall to Orioles — J.A. Happ, Luis Severino or Masahiro Tanaka? — Ten days before the wild card game, Aaron Boone said he hasn't picked one yet and is prioritizing home-field advantage …
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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 …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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Angela Hutti / FOX2now.com:
Cardinals sweep Giants with 9-2, stay on track for wild card — ST. LOUIS _ Miles Mikolas won his fourth straight start, Matt Carpenter hit his NL-leading 36th homer and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 9-2 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep and remain on track for the NL's second wild card.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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Bradford Doolittle / ESPN:
Why have the Red Sox won almost 20 games more than the Indians? — Going into the season, I thought the Cleveland Indians would be better than the Boston Red Sox. Not a lot better, a little better. But better. — EDITOR'S PICKS — My opinion on this matter was based on numbers …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Ian Harrison / Associated Press:
Blake Snell extends his MLB-best win total as Rays beat Blue Jays 5-2 — Blake Snell's 21 wins are a Rays' single-season record. — Blake Snell won his ninth straight start to increasing his major league-leading victories total to 21, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 on Sunday to stave off elimination.
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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 …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and Halos Heaven
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Will Graves / Star Tribune:
Brewers cruise past Pirates, move closer to playoff berth — PITTSBURGH — Christian Yelich hit his 32nd home run, Travis Shaw added his 31st and the Milwaukee Brewers blew past the mistake-prone Pittsburgh Pirates 13-6 on Sunday. — Yelich finished 2 for 3 to boost his batting average …
Discussion:
Bucs Dugout and Brew Crew Ball
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Pedro Strop believes he can return to Cubs this week — Chicago Tribune — Reliever Pedro Strop remains optimistic he could rejoin the Cubs before the end of the regular season. — “I feel a lot better,” Strop said before running to the field to play catch Sunday morning.
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:
True Blue LA and Gaslamp Ball
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