Top News:
Joe Lyons / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals, Brewers begin key final-week series at Busch — It all comes down to this. — Holding the second National League wild-card spot, the Cardinals (87-69) begin their final homestand of the regular season 7:15 p.m. Monday against NL Central rival Milwaukee for the first of three at Busch Stadium.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Facing a division rival in the playoffs can be a blessing or a curse for the Cubs — Chicago Tribune — While the Cubs were playing the Pirates on Monday night at Wrigley Field, the Brewers and Cardinals faced off in St. Louis in what looks like a precursor to the Oct. 2 National League wild-card game.
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB playoffs: Four burning questions for the final week of regular season — In between champagne showers, so many questions. — As several major league clubs mop up from - or line the lockers in anticipation of - playoff or division-clinching wins, the postseason is bearing down quickly.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
San Francisco Chronicle:
Shoulder issue ends Astros' pitcher Charlie Morton's start
Shoulder issue ends Astros' pitcher Charlie Morton's start
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Series preview: Cardinals vs. Milwaukee
Benjamin Hochman / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
What to anticipate from Yelich and other Brewers hitters against Cards
What to anticipate from Yelich and other Brewers hitters against Cards
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
J. Martinez is on an upswing at the plate
Associated Press:
Trevor Story returns to Colorado Rockies' lineup — DENVER — Trevor Story is going over the top to get back on the field, altering his throwing motion to take some of the stress off his sore right elbow. — The Colorado Rockies All-Star shortstop returned to the lineup Monday night after missing a week with the ailment.
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Colorado Rockies resurgence reminiscent of magical 2007 postseason run — PHOENIX — The last boys of Rocktober - the most magical period in the Colorado Rockies' history - are working on a sequel. — Baseball's last remaining division race could be one for the ages, bringing back a whole lot of memories.
Discussion:
CBS Denver, MLB Baseball News … and Associated Press
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB power rankings: Nationals, A's stunned us with their collapse, uprising
Bill Shaikin / The Charlotte Observer:
Dodgers are weighing nuclear option regarding Clayton Kershaw
Dodgers are weighing nuclear option regarding Clayton Kershaw
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Arizona Republic:
Game Day: Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks open series vs. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Dodgers have one week to prove they're better than Rockies
Dodgers have one week to prove they're better than Rockies
Discussion:
CBS Dallas
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Hicks exits Yankees game with tight hamstring — The Yankees suffered yet another potential blow to their playoff hopes on Monday night as the second wind of the injury bug continues to hit them at the exact wrong time. — Aaron Hicks left the game against the Rays in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
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Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Yankees' Didi Gregorius confident he'll return before postseason — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Injured New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius confidently said Monday he believes he will be back in the starting lineup before the regular season ends. — “Yes,” Gregorius said at his Tropicana …
Daily Record:
New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays announce Monday night lineups — The New York Yankees visit the Tampa Bay Rays Monday night to start a four-game series. — The Yankees will have Jonathan Holder (1-3, 2.97) on the mound, opposed by the Rays' Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.25).
RELATED:
ESPN:
Giants GM Bobby Evans out amid another losing season — Bobby Evans is out as San Francisco Giants general manager “effective immediately” and will be reassigned, the team said Monday in a news release. — Executive vice president Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy are expected to be retained.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Terrance Gore could provide a late-inning kick to Cubs playoff roster — Chicago Tribune — With the Cubs in position to clinch a National League playoff berth as soon as Monday night, there's reason to start sculpting the 25-man postseason roster. — And given that every run …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Jason Heyward's winning ways help him stay calm for the Cubs during pennant races
Jason Heyward's winning ways help him stay calm for the Cubs during pennant races
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
3 things we learned from the Cubs-White Sox series
3 things we learned from the Cubs-White Sox series
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Columbus Telegram:
Kluber gets the start for Indians in series opener against White Sox — Cleveland Indians (87-68, first in AL Central) vs. Chicago White Sox (61-94, fourth in AL Central) — PROBABLE PITCHERS: Indians: Corey Kluber (19-7, 2.93 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 205 strikeouts) White Sox: Dylan Covey (5-13, 5.33 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 81 strikeouts)
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Elko Daily Free Press and Hanford Sentinel
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Jay Jaffe / ESPN:
Division, wild-card races at a glance — We're down to the final week of the regular season. The Red Sox, Indians and Braves have clinched their respective divisions, and the Yankees have clinched a wild-card spot. Everything else is up for grabs, though some teams have a firmer grip …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
What's still at stake the final week of the regular season — This is it, my friends. The final week of the regular season. We've come so far. Remember when the Mets were 11-1? Remember when Didi Gregorius led the majors with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs at the end of April and Johnny Cueto had a 0.84 ERA after the first month?
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks trying to balance resting starters while staying competitive — There's no tiptoeing around it. Things have changed for the Diamondbacks after being eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday. — Still, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo insists that …
Sarah Langs / ESPN:
Records that could fall in final week of MLB season — From the difference between teams at the top of the standings and those at the very bottom, to the number of balls in play (or not in play, to be specific), it has been a historic season in the majors. — EDITOR'S PICKS
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman: It's a new era for starting pitchers — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer — MIAMI - It's not a new concept that starting pitchers are more likely to give up runs the deeper they pitch into a game. But the numbers paint a stark reality.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks makes a strong case for an early playoff start — Chicago Tribune — The conventional wisdom is that veteran left-handers Jon Lester and Cole Hamels would start the first two games of the playoffs if the Cubs clinch the National League Central title.
Daily Record:
Lightning strikes Tropicana field to interrupt New York Yankees YES broadcast — Thunder and lightning didn't refer to the Yankees' lineup Monday night, as Tropicana Field was struck, causing problems for the YES Network broadcast. … Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay described it as a …