Jake Arrieta’s hamstring injury ‘could be worse’ but severity unclear

The hottest pitcher in the majors left the Cubs’ 12-0 loss to the Pirates in the third inning Monday when the middle of the right hamstring “grabbed” on a pitch to the third batter of the inning.

“I’ve never really had any -hamstring issue before. It’s kind of a foreign feeling,” said Arrieta, the National League’s pitcher of the month in August. “I think it could have been a lot worse. No pop or anything like that. So that’s a good sign.”

Arrieta is to be re-evaluated ...

Diamondbacks blast Dodgers with 4-HR game from J.D. Martinez

Martinez became just the 18th player in baseball history to hit four home runs in a game, going deep in each of his final four trips to the plate to lead the Diamondbacks to their 11th consecutive victory, a 13-0 shellacking of the Dodgers.
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The win left the Diamondbacks one win shy of their 2003 franchise record of 12 consecutive wins. It was their fourth during the streak that’s come against the Dodgers. Not long ago, the Dodgers had a chance at establishing an all-time wins record. On ...

Cleveland Indians beat White Sox, 5-3, for 12th straight win; Trevor Bauer wins No. 15

The Indians are in the midst of their longest winning streak since last year’s franchise record 14-gamer. They have not lost a game since Aug. 23 against Boston.

They are the first team to construct winning streaks of 12 or more games in consecutive seasons since the Orioles in 1970 and 1971.

The Indians are 34-16 since the ASB, the best in the majors during that stretch.

Angels use league record 12 pitchers to grind out 11-inning victory over A’s

Scioscia issued no apologies after setting an American League record on Monday by using 12 pitchers in the Angels’ 11-9, 11-inning victory over the Oakland A’s.

After Kole Calhoun’s two-run triple put the Angels on top, Scioscia used three pitchers to get the final three outs in the bottom of the inning.

“If I’d needed a couple more innings, I’d have used 13 or 14,” he said with a chuckle.

The Angels began the day with 12 relief pitchers on the lineup card, and they ended up ...

It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s OMNICHATTER for September 4, 2017

Clear eye for the Cubs’ guy: Javy Baez seems to be OK after collision – Chicago Sun-Times

Javier Baez seems to be OK. Those headfirst slides are a problem.

Souhan: On Twins and cowardly trolls - StarTribune.com

I’m not sure about the background on this but it’s clear Aaron Gleeman thinks it’s aimed at him.

High-speed prospect Alcantara shows another gear in MLB debut | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com

In a three-pitch at-bat in the middle of Alcantara’s major-league debut Sunday, the former National League MVP saw back-to-back sliders and then swung over a 92-mph changeup. Catcher Yadier Molina rolled the changeup ball to the dugout as a souvenir of Alcantara’s first big-league strikeout. It came against the best hitter he faced and without using his best pitch.

“You can start getting exciting when you see (that),” manager Mike Matheny said. “Anybody who throws hard, you know ...

Red Sox’ Blake Swihart looking for a reboot

I wouldn’t write Swihart off yet. Hopefully, he’ll be able to get his ankle strong enough for the season grind.

New York Yankees’ young core is giving them reason to dream - Yankees Blog- ESPN

Severino sure looked like an ace last night.

“I think it is important to his development because you have to be able to do that,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Severino’s beating Sale. “If you want to call yourself an ace, you have to be able to match up against their No. 1 guy.”

New Marlins owners plan told potential investors they plan to cut payroll | Miami Herald

For those who believe Derek Jeter’s purchase of the Marlins will be a great panacea, here’s one warning:

His group doesn’t appear equipped to spend lavishly on payroll.

In fact, a potential investor who was specifically briefed by the Bruce Sherman/Jeter group this summer said they spoke of a payroll being pulled back from $115 million to potentially as low as $55 million (if Giancarlo Stanton is traded) or $80 million to $85 million if Stanton is retained at $25 million next season.

One rookie Mets stud starts to soar — as the other goes down | New York Post

If Lagares is healthy, and I know it’s a big if, he should be playing centerfield.

Lost in the offensive barrage was a terrific play by Juan Lagares to end the third. He came over from center, retrieved a ball off the wall in left and threw off balance and on the run to third, nailing Tony Kemp trying for a triple.

“He’s a Gold Glove, he’s got a great arm and he’s getting playing time,” Collins said.

Tip drills: J-Ram hits 2 assisted HRs | MLB.com

Jose Ramirez is a hell of a good player. He got a little help on this homer, though.

Giancarlo Stanton is just what the Red Sox need

Have to be?

If Stanton is made available, the Red Sox have to be in on him. Whether they would have enough to satisfy the Marlins’ demands and whether the Marlins would eat some of Stanton’s contract remains to be seen. But at age 27 and with 60-homer potential, Stanton is a player the Sox must inquire about.

D-backs LHP Robbie Ray wears insert in cap after line drive to head

Ray says he’d like to think that if he had worn an SST guard the night he got hit, it would have prevented him from having his head cut open. He says the liner hit him a couple inches above and a couple inches behind the ear in an area where he now wears the insert.

The shot left the bat of the Cardinals’ Luke Voit at 108 mph, ricocheted off Ray and was caught in the air by third baseman Daniel Descalso. Ray collapsed to the ground and was soon carted off while he held a bloody towel to his ...

Rays’ Archer cites forearm tightness upon leaving game vs. White Sox

CHICAGO—Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Archer left the game against the Chicago White Sox due to right lateral forearm tightness after giving up back-to-back home runs without recording an out in the first inning of his start Saturday night.

Season over: Victor Martinez to have cardiac ablation procedure

Detroit – The season is over for designated hitter Victor Martinez, but not his baseball career.

The Tigers announced Saturday that Martinez, on the disabled list with an irregular heartbeat, will undergo cardiac ablation surgery.
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Cardiac ablation is a common procedure to correct heart arrhythmia. Indians manager Terry Francona had the procedure done before the All-Star break. He returned to manage the team after the break.

SI | The Orioles Are Hot, Hot, Hot, but Can They Sustain Their Run at the AL Wild Card?

But before discussing what, exactly, about the Orioles has helped them get here, maybe the initial question is best asked another way: How bad is the rest of the AL wild-card field? It has been an odd baseball season in so many ways, and as September arrives no oddity seems quite as substantial as the stubborn parity on the junior circuit.

With the Yankees losers of three of four, the Mariners losers of five in a row, and the Orioles, Twins, and Angels streaking in the other direction, the ...

Mets’ Matt Harvey still predicting success

Matt Harvey stood on the mound on Saturday afternoon, supposedly a changed man. It was a newer, trimmer, healthier Harvey ready to show that the first part of his dismal 2017 season was behind him, and he can get outs and put up zeros.

Clayton Kershaw’s return helps end Dodgers’ slide with 1-0 defeat of Padres | LAT

Kershaw handled his opposition earlier in the evening with ease. He struck out seven and appeared unfazed by his time on the disabled list nursing a strained back. He spun an abbreviated gem, exiting only because of the Dodgers’ decision to gently ease him back into big-league competition.

Kershaw faced little adversity. He permitted two infield singles. He walked none. His outfielders did not field the baseball once. His employers can breathe easier about October — Kershaw looked like ...

When the flood calls, you have no OMNICHATTER, you have no walls for the weekend of Sept. 2-3, 2017

After hitting a home run, Joey Votto gave his bat and jersey to a young Reds fan | MLB.com

Making the world better, one fan at a time.

After learning that Walter’s parents said that the gift meant the world to the young boy, Votto told MLB.com’s John Fay, “That’s all that matters.”

Area woman realizes how many of her kids she likes less than Byron Buxton - Twinkie Town

“I’ll be honest with you, my kids can be pricks,” said the Cottage Grove human resources administrator. “Cale’s got a busted arm from doing skateboard tricks on the stairs at the middle school, which I’ve told him 100 ####### times not to do. Buxton is carrying this team. He needs to be healthy, especially if (Miguel) Sano is still hurt.”

Hauser said her relationship with her children is far from strained, but Buxton’s injury has clarified some things.

“When I heard the ...

OMNICHATTER can’t stand the rain against its window, for September 1, 2017

C.C. Sabathia Rants Over Red Sox’ Nunez Bunting On Him « CBS Boston

So, how many more bunts will he have to deal with in the future?

“It’s kind of weak to me,” Sabathia told reporters after the game. “It shows what they’ve got over there. … I’m an old man. They should go out there and try to kick my butt.

“I just feel like they tried to take the weak road.”

Asked if he felt the Red Sox disrespected him, Sabathia responded: “[They gave me] too much respect. … Let’s go. Let’s play. Swing the bat.”

The battle over the Chief Wahoo logo is finished. Now it’s time for the Indians to act – The Athletic

Rosenthal’s latest is outside the paywall.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-1-2017

Chicago Eagle, September 1, 1917:

There are rumors and much whispering about the third major league plan which, it is said, may be put into effect when the season ends. The plan provides for clubs from Buffalo, Toronto, Baltimore, Newark, Indianapolis, Toledo, Milwaukee, and Kansas City. Let us hope some of these predictions come true. It will be good to see those cities represented in the big leagues.

An attempt at a major league with teams in Buffalo, Newark, Baltimore, Indianapolis, and ...

Chad Green on His Overpowering Repertoire

Chad Green’s 2-0 win-loss record and 2.05 ERA suggest he’s had a successful season. Those numbers only begin to tell the story. Pitching out of the New York Yankees bullpen, the 26-year-old right-hander has allowed just 27 hits in 57 innings while also recording 86 strikeouts…

“[The coaching staff] probably saw that I had a high spin rate, so they said, ‘OK, let’s try throwing more fastballs up in the zone.’ I’d say I probably learned about my spin rate around the middle of the ...

Cubs acquire outfielder Leonys Martin from Mariners

The Cubs made a late-night acquisition on Thursday before the 11 p.m. deadline, acquiring Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin and cash for a player to be named later or cash.

Rangers Acquire Miguel Gonzalez

Though Texas isn’t exactly in prime position to snag a Wild Card berth — the team entered play today three games out and dropped its contest — it seems the club is at least interested in keeping that possibility open. Gonzalez will help bolster a rotation that no longer features Yu Darvish and has seen numerous other pitchers struggle. If they can crack the postseason, the Rangers will be able to utilize Gonzalez on their roster.