Top News:
Stu Durando / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Braves hit back-to-back homers to take 3-1 lead over Cards — Dansby Swanson hit the first pitch of the sixth inning for a home run and Freedie Freeman followed with a homer to center field to give the Braves a 3-1 lead over the Cardinals and Miles Mikolas at Busch Stadium.
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Stu Durando / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wacha moves to bullpen in ‘tough decision’ for Shildt — Michael Wacha will move to the Cardinals' bullpen effective immediately and become available to pitch in relief as of Saturday, manager Mike Shildt said Friday afternoon. — Wacha is coming off of a rough start that saw his record fall …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers ‘loose’ to open road trip, and it shows early vs. Mets — QUEENS, N.Y. — A day after the Detroit Tigers were swept at home by the Miami Marlins, capping a winless homestand at 0-9, manager Ron Gardenhire liked what he saw. — At 2 p.m. on Friday, the Tigers had nearly …
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David Wilson / Miami Herald:
What can clutch moments mean for young Marlins? ‘You start to feel like you belong’ — Neither offensive hero in the Miami Marlins' two most thrilling wins of their three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers this week would have been the obvious choice. Chad Wallach, who smacked …
Mike Sheets / ESPN:
Daily fantasy notes: Pitcher projections and hitter ratings for Saturday — Memorial Day weekend kicks off with plenty of daytime baseball, as 10 of Saturday's 15 games will be played in the afternoon. The most enticing daytime matchup pits Charlie Morton against Carlos Carrasco …
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Kristie Rieken / Associated Press:
Lucas Giolito strikes out 9 in a 4-hit shutout of the Astros as the White Sox win 4-0 to split the series
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune, The Crawfish Boxes, Twinkie Town, South Side Sox and Over the Monster
Chandler Rome / Houston Chronicle:
Astros mailbag: What's most impressive thing about 2019 squad?
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle
Jeff Todd / MLB Trade Rumors:
Brewers Reinstate, Option Jimmy Nelson — In something of a surprise move, the Brewers announced today that they have reinstated Jimmy Nelson from the injured list and optioned him to Triple-A. He is finally back to health after a long layoff but won't come straight up to the majors.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Brew Crew Ball
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Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
5 things to know about Austin Riley's homer streak — Austin Riley showed his power in his major league debut May 15 against the St. Louis Cardinals. In the short time since, the Braves rookie has exhibited more of that power. — Thursday in San Francisco, Riley homered again and then drove …
Discussion:
Talking Chop
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scores.nbcsportsbayarea.com:
Riley homers again as Braves beat Giants 5-4 in 13 innings — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Austin Riley has been at the center of Atlanta's recent power surge and did it again with his fifth home run in nine games to set a modern-day franchise record. — Riley's single five innings later was equally pivotal and helped the Braves keep rolling.
Discussion:
NBC Bay Area, MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
James Paxton's knee still not right after throwing in extended spring training game Friday — KANSAS CITY — The Yankees and James Paxton are now in wait-and-see mode. The lefty threw four innings in an extended spring training game Friday, but still reported feeling discomfort in his left knee …
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
‘This was supposed to be a good year for me. I want to be here in the big leagues.’ — Delino DeShields knows what's going on with the Texas Rangers, even if isn't quite sure what's going on. — Elvis Andrus is coming off the injured list Saturday, when the Rangers will likely option DeShields …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ever since Gibby shut down Sox in '67, Boston rules sports rivalry with St. Louis — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson is congratulated by catcher Tim McCarver and third baseman Mike Shannon following his three-hit 7-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox to win the 1967 World Series at Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, Oct. 13, 1967.
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Michael McMahon / NESN.com:
Red Sox Notes: Steve Pearce Hopes He Has Turned Corner After Slow Start
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Over the Monster
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals used to beat Boston, especially Braves/Bees
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
B-team Bombers? Hardly. Backups bid to equal 2018 Yankees' historic HR pace — BALTIMORE — As he angrily picked himself up off his belly in the ninth inning Thursday, Aaron Hicks put a scowl on his face and took his mind to one place: over the fence. — “I wanted to get up and hit a homer …
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Mets Sign Ervin Santana — The Mets announced Friday that they've agreed to terms with right-hander Ervin Santana on a minor league contract. The deal is still pending a physical. Assuming he passes that test, he'd head to Port St. Lucie to begin building his arm strength back up.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
Tim Tucker / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Announcement expected that SunTrust Park will host 2021 All-Star game — An announcement is expected next week that SunTrust Park will host the MLB All-Star game in 2021. — “We continue to feel really good about it, and we expect there will be an announcement at some point in time soon …
Discussion:
NBCSports.com, Ballpark Digest and Talking Chop
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies' body language speaks volumes after series split with Cubs | Extra Innings — That, boys and girls, was one of the best body-language finishes I've ever seen. It took nearly four hours, and after leading, 7-0, it seemed the Phillies were destined to lose the series finale against the Chicago Cubs.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
