Top News:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
James Paxton still feels ‘something’ in his left knee — James Paxton hopes to be cleared after a bullpen on Sunday to start next week. The Yankees' lefty has been on the injured list with inflammation in his left knee, and he said he still felt “something,” when he threw a bullpen on Friday.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Masahiro Tanaka pitches six shutout innings, leaves game with possible injury — This one hurt. Masahiro Tanaka pitched beautifully Saturday. The veteran right-hander has finally found his splitter, and over his last two starts he has dominated the Rays.
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Games of the Day — Blake Snell faces Masahiro Tanaka as the Rays and Yankees continue their epic battle for the AL East lead. They Rays put together a great cost effective team, while the Yankees added so much depth they sustained injuries to a number of their best players.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Pinstripe Alley
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
What Yankees lefty CC Sabathia was saying and doing in trying, unsuccessfully, to get revenge on Rays
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
Fiery Sabathia shouts at Rays in tense Yanks win
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and DRaysBay
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Yankees could turn to opener this weekend with James Paxton still out
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Pinstripe Alley and New Jersey Online
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals, grasping for a spark, stick with lineup amidst losing streak — ARLINGTON, TEXAS — The trip to Texas and the access to the designated hitter seemed to give the Cardinals all the reason they needed to give their lineup a different look. They had scored two runs in two losses in Atlanta …
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds lefty Cody Reed gets another ride on the I-71 shuttle to Louisville — Left-hander Cody Reed has had two stints with Reds his season. Both lasted one game. — Reed, who pitched two innings in Friday's game, was optioned back to Triple-A Louisville Saturday.
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
RedsXtra: You've got questions, we've got answers — You've got questions we've got answers: — Question: From P.J. Rahe: When Scooter Gennett comes back, something has to happen, right? He's going to play and have to play Jose Iglesias at shortstop. Just curious of who you think goes where?
Associated Press:
Plutko, 3 relievers allow 1 hit for Indians in 4-1 win — Adam Plutko, making his first appearance of the season, allowed one run in six innings— a solo homer by Trey Mancini for Baltimore's only hit— and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Orioles 4-1 on Saturday.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
Terry Pluto / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians: Are playoffs realistic or is this team in trouble?
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
Todd Rosiak / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Braves 12, Brewers 8: Longball returns to bite Corbin Burnes in an ugly loss — ATLANTA — Ugliness abounded for the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at SunTrust Park. — Sloppy defense, mental errors, non-existent offense - it was all on display in a 12-8 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Braves …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
RELATED:
Jordan McPherson / Miami Herald:
Pablo Lopez gets his redemption, and the Miami Marlins clinch series against the Mets — Pablo Lopez waited for this moment, this chance for redemption. The New York Mets roughed him up the last time he took the mound, tagging Lopez for 10 runs — including an eight-run, 13-batter first inning …
RELATED:
Jordan McPherson / Miami Herald:
Miami Marlins snap scoring drought and losing streak with big night against deGrom
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves hopeful Mike Foltynewicz's fifth start brings better results — Mike Foltynewicz has mostly slugged through his first four starts since returning from the injured list, but he and the Braves are optimistic that he will wield his best results yet when he starts Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Richard Morin / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks bullpen provides major lift in shut-out win vs. Giants — After right-hander Merrill Kelly loaded the bases in the sixth inning, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo turned to right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano to inherit three runners in one-run game and one out.
RELATED:
Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
JB Shuck Trying To Become Two-Way Player — The Pirates will attempt to convert veteran outfielder JB Shuck into a two-way player, director of player development Larry Broadway told Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic. Shuck will begin honing his pitching skills at Triple-A Indianapolis …
Discussion:
The Athletic and Bucs Dugout
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Napoli says Mathis ‘one of my best friends.’ A look at how two ex Angels catchers bonded — Baseball is still a little tough for Mike Napoli to watch in his first year of retirement, so he doesn't flip the TV on to a ballgame very often. — He's invested in some racehorses …
Associated Press:
Price to rejoin Red Sox rotation Monday in Toronto — BOSTON — Red Sox left-hander David Price will return to the rotation for Monday's series opener in Toronto, manager Alex Cora said. — Price (1-2, 3.75 ERA) has been sidelined with left elbow tendinitis since his last start on May 3.
Sporting News:
George Springer making early MVP case as Astros win 9th straight — Houston just keeps producing MVP candidates. — George Springer hit a two-run, go-ahead home run to lead the Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Red Sox on Friday and it's time to start taking notice of what the Astros' outfielder is doing.
RELATED:
Chris Grenham / NESN.com:
Red Sox Wrap: Boston Falls 3-1 To Astros In Pitchers' Duel At Fenway
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, Over the Monster, Athletics Nation and MLB Baseball News …
Ty Bradley / MLB Trade Rumors:
Braves Select Jerry Blevins, Release Jonny Venters — The Braves are again shaking up the bullpen, selecting the contract of lefty Jerry Blevins, who'd been designated and outrighted earlier in the week after clearing waivers, to replace fellow lefty Jonny Venters, who's been issued his release by the club.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Talking Chop
Associated Press:
Rangers' Kelley has lumps removed from throat — ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers reliever Shawn Kelley had two lumps surgically removed from his throat this week. — Kelly says an initial biopsy on the lumps was inconclusive, so doctors removed the “decent-sized” lumps on Thursday.
