Top News:
ESPN:
Your Thursday ALCS guide: David Price takes aim at World Series — After a positively heart-stopping Game 4, the Red Sox have a chance to close out the American League Championship Series and send the defending World Series champs home for the winter. — MLB Postseason on ESPN Radio
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Associated Press:
Fan interference wipes out possible homer for Altuve in ALCS — Crew chief Joe West, working the right-field line Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, signaled fan interference after the Boston Red Sox outfielder was unable to make the grab and the ball ricocheted back onto the field.
Associated Press:
MLB says Astros didn't cheat, considers ‘the matter closed’ — CLEVELAND — The Houston Astros didn't cheat. They didn't want to get cheated. — That's their story, and Major League Baseball agrees. — Following an investigation into two incidents this postseason …
Associated Press:
Sale not ready to pitch for Red Sox in Game 5 of ALCS — Cora said before Game 4 on Wednesday that the lanky left-hander lost weight because of the stomach illness that led to him spending a night in a hospital after starting the ALCS opener. — HOUSTON (AP) - Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora …
Maria Torres / Los Angeles Times:
José Altuve's two-run homer for Houston is called an out due to fan interference; Red Sox defeat Astros 8-6 — Controversy threatened the fourth game of the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox long before Andrew Benintendi made a game-saving dive …
KHOU-TV:
MLB closes investigation into cheating claims against Astros — Reports from unnamed sources allege the Astros have been stealing signs. According to the Associated Press, this came up during Game 3 of the ALDS. — HOUSTON - Major League Baseball has closed an investigation based on claims …
Buster Olney / ESPN:
MLB must end spy games for good — It has been a brutal postseason for catchers, with passed balls and wild pitches and pitches missed altogether because of misinterpreted signs and crossed-up signals. “You know why that is, right?” an evaluator asked. “It's all about the cheating.”
Toronto Sun:
Astros' hopes rest with Verlander in Game 5 — HOUSTON — The dire moments are casually familiar for Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, who many seasons ago assumed the responsibility bestowed upon a staff ace. — Verlander (2-, 3.18 ERA this postseason) will make his second start …
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
David Price is starting Game 5. What else is there to say?
Discussion:
NESN.com
Stephanie Metzger / WKYC-TV:
MLB says no violations found after Cleveland Indians, other teams accuse Houston Astros of cheating
ESPN:
Chris Sale won't start Game 5 for Red Sox after dealing with illness
Discussion:
Associated Press
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB clears Astros of cheating, Houston GM Jeff Luhnow says team was ‘playing defense’
Discussion:
NESN.com and Arizona Republic
Ted Berg / KHOU-TV:
Astros' Dallas Keuchel, down 2-1 in ALCS, after loss: 'It's a coin flip from here on out'
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter and USA Today
ESPN:
Wednesday's LCS guide: Clayton Kershaw in spotlight; Astros turn to Charlie Morton
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Over the Monster and The Crawfish Boxes
Bob Nightengale / KHOU-TV:
Report: Astros under scrutiny for reportedly stealing signs
Discussion:
South Side Sox, MLB Baseball News … and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Associated Press:
Dodgers step closer to World Series, top Brewers in NLDS Game 5 behind dominant Clayton Kershaw — Clayton Kershaw bounced back from one of his worst postseason starts with one of his best, pitching the Dodgers past the Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to move one win from a return trip to the World Series.
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Baltimore Sun:
Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado fined $10,000 for altercation with Brewers' Jesus Aguilar — Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Manny Machado talks about his NLCS Game 4 collision with the Milwaukee Brewers' Jesus Aguilar. — Manny Machado was fined $10,000 by Major League Baseball for an incident …
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Dodgers Ride Small Ball to Doorstep of World Series — The Dodgers won consecutive postseason games without a homer for the first time in franchise history, simply taking what the Brewers gave in Games 4 and 5 to move a win away from the Fall Classic. — LOS ANGELES — A rally cry kept rising …
Josh Peter / USA Today:
Dodgers learn valuable lesson in NLCS Game 5 - they can win big without long ball — LOS ANGELES — It was Popeye without spinach. Samson without hair. Hulk without adrenaline. — It was the Los Angeles Dodgers without their offensive power. — The Dodgers on Wednesday failed …
Jenna West / Sports Illustrated:
Craig Counsell Fools Dodgers Lineup, Pulls Wade Miley After Five Pitches
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, NBCSports.com, The Comeback and Brew Crew Ball
Chris Cwik / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Next-level managing? Wade Miley pulled from Game 5 of NLCS after facing one batter
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, SBNation.com and baseballmusings.com
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Clayton Kershaw's Game 5 start could be his last for L.A.
Discussion:
NESN.com
Orange County Register:
Live updates: Dodgers vs. Brewers in Game 5 of the NLCS
Discussion:
Daily Breeze and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
ESPN:
Yanks' Gregorius has Tommy John surgery, return uncertain — NEW YORK — Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius has undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and is expected to be out of action for much of next season. — The Yankees said Wednesday's surgery went as expected.
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees GM Brian Cashman on Gary Sanchez's future, Luis Severino tipping pitches and his letter grade for Aaron Boone
Detroit Free Press:
Last Slide — Among the player-personnel decisions the Detroit Tigers face this offseason, perhaps the toughest comes behind the plate. — And when the team makes a final decision on James McCann's fate, the answer could have more to do with Grayson Greiner than McCann.
Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds manager search: Joe Girardi, Brad Ausmus, David Bell to receive 2nd interview — Moving into the second round of managerial interviews this week, the Cincinnati Reds plan to speak with Joe Girardi, Brad Ausmus and David Bell, according to sources.
Discussion:
redsminorleagues.com and Talking Chop
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cards trying to figure out what to do with 11 starters — The Cardinals still have the five starting pitchers they counted on at the beginning of this past season and also the five who were in Memphis' rotation in April. Neither tally includes Alex Reyes, who made one record-setting-strikeout outing …
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
‘A Dirty Play by a Dirty Player’: The Brewers Have Had It With Dodgers Star Manny Machado — In an otherwise exhausting night, Manny Machado provided some spice when he collided with Brewers 1B Jesus Aguilar. Star outfielder Christian Yelich and the rest of Milwaukee seem to be over the shortstop's antics.
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Bleacher Nation and True Blue LA
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Brewers angrily fire back at Dodgers' Manny Machado over ‘dirty play’
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, Daily News, Daily Breeze, USA Today, Whittier Daily News and Camden Chat
