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MORE: These players could have breakout seasons | Giants’ unorthodox bullpen has major potential So with the bump on Cueto’s head still fresh, MLB plans to discuss its new protective “half-cap” meant to prevent injury to pitchers in similar situations, ESPN.com reported. The cap, a helmet-cap hybrid, has a carbon-fiber shell that wraps around a pitcher’s forehead and ears. It essentially looks like a batting helmet with the top cut off....

After a big postseason in 2011 and an All-Star season in 2012, the 30-year-old Freese struggled in 2013, hitting .262/.340/.381 with nine homers in 138 games. He was worse in the postseason, hitting below .200 in 17 games. The 2011 World Series MVP is available because the Cardinals hope to move Matt Carpenter to third and plug elite prospect Kolten Wong in at second base. Third base was on of several weak spots for the Marlins in 2013....

The A’s left-hander tossed 8 1/3 strong innings Saturday for a victory over the Twins. MORE: Trout’s numbers compare favorably with baseball legends Kazmir, 31, has allowed just one earned run in his last three outings (19 1/3 innings). “There was never really a stressful moment after the first inning,” Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt said of Kazmir’s performance against Minnesota. “He was some kind of good.”

Those words weren’t on anyone’s lips when the D-backs were two games under .500 on Aug. 24 and a longshot in the National League wild-card race. But after a 7-5 victory over the Reds on Friday, Arizona has won four straight and 10 of 11. The D-backs are now only 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs for the second wild-card spot, after Chicago’s 7-1 loss to Milwaukee on Friday....

Saturday saw Sebastian Giovinco’s Toronto upstaged by Canadian rivals Montreal Impact 1-0 at Stade Olympique. Toronto has been flying high in the CONCACAF Champions League , where the club is set to meet Mexican giant America in the semifinals, but the MLS titleholder has struggled domestically. Greg Vanney’s side is still searching for its first win of the MLS season after Jeisson Vargas’ deflected shot four minutes before halftime lifted the Impact to victory number one in 2018....

The first round of All-Star voting is at its end, and as you can imagine, it’s full of surprises in both leagues, but especially in the American League. As many as five Blue Jays players may be on the field at the start come July 19: Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Santiago Espinal, Bo Bichette and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. all made it to the next round of voting, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 5....

It’s hard to criticize a guy who just threw a complete game, but we’re a little disappointed Chris Sale didn’t strike out 10 or more batters for the ninth straight game. Sale joined Pedro Martinez as the only other pitcher with 10-plus strikeouts in eight straight games in his last start, and he sought the record outright Monday against the Blue Jays. Sale struck out only six this time, but did earn the win, allowing just two runs as he went the distance....

Neither the AL wild-card nor the NL West Division races were concluced until Sunday, when the Red Sox and Yankees won to clinch the two spots in the American League while the Giants won to earn the top seed and the division crown over the Dodgers. The Blue Jays and Dodgers both won on the final Sunday as well, meaning that the Red Sox, Yankees and Giants needed to win to maintain their positions heading into the playoffs....

Projected American League standings (All projections based on records through the All-Star break.) Before the season the most probable teams to reach playoffs in the AL were the Indians, Astros, Yankees and Red Sox. Each team has played over 90 games and our projection hasn’t changed a bit: these four teams have the highest probabilities to reach the playoffs after the rest of the regular-season games were simulated. The last wild-card spot was expected to be a very tight race between the Twins, Blue Jays, Mariners and Angels when every single game was simulated before the season....

A look at what’s ahead: American League East Expect a three-way fight to the end among the Orioles, Blue Jays and Red Sox. The O’s remaining schedule appears to be the toughest: Baltimore will play series against four contenders outside the division (Giants, Nationals, Tigers, Astros). The Blue Jays will play only two such teams (Astros, Indians). The Red Sox will face three (Dodgers, Indians, Tigers). MORE: Trade deadline winners and losers...

That Game 3 lineup was an amazing testament to the power of roster construction. And the lineup worked, of course. The Dodgers dominated the Cubs 6-1 on Tuesday night and are now just one win away from advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1988. It’s true the Dodgers have the highest payroll in baseball — and that has been the case for a couple years now — but they aren’t standing on the precipice of greatness only because of massive free-agent contracts or blockbuster trades (such as the one for Game 3 starter Yu Darvish)....

With the hometown Blue Jays down, 2-0, to the Rangers in the best-of-five AL Division Series, he tweeted to rapper Lil B that the team could use a hand. MORE: 5 takeaways from Game 4 | Jays manager says pitching David Price was about winning Remember, Lil B is the same guy who blessed Texas before the long-shot Longhorns upset No. 10 Oklahoma in Dallas. So when he replies that he loves you … well, that’s big....

Entering with a 4.50 ERA in 10 career postseason appearances, the Cy Young Award candidate allowed five runs on five hits with two walks over seven innings. He joined Randy Johnson as the only pitchers in MLB history to lose six straight postseason starts. MORE: Top ALDS photos | MLB postseason schedule Score: 5-3, Rangers Takeaway: While starter Yovani Gallardo and the Rangers relievers were solid, the Blue Jays had their chances to tie or take the lead but went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position....

The Nationals took down the Brewers 4-3 with an improbable comeback in the eighth inning. The Brewers had Josh Hader on the mound and the Nationals had the bottom of the lineup at the plate. But Michael Taylor was hit by a pitch, Ryan Zimmerman reached on a broken-bat single and Anthony Rendon walked to load the bases. Then Juan Soto broke the Brewers’ hearts. Keep reading below to find out how....

One thing we do know is that the biggest OF prospect won’t be in the majors when the season starts, but several others could be helping your fantasy team in Week 1. DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2019 cheat sheet MLB Top Prospects: OF Three rookie outfielders are on track to open the season as big league regulars, and all of them project to be significant offensive contributors in 2019....

Philadelphia has “had conversations” with the Tigers about a potential deal for starter Matthew Boyd and closer Shane Greene, according to a report from NBC Sports Philadelphia, which cites unidentified league sources. Greene has recorded 22 saves while Boyd holds a 6-8 record with a 4.13 ERA in 20 starts so far this season. “It’s just noise, right?” Boyd said about the trade rumors last month. “There’s no action that needs to be taken or anything....

In an interview with USA Today, general manager Dave Dombrowski sounded as though he’s prepared to wave the white flag on the Tigers’ season if their postseason outlook doesn’t improve within 10 days. MORE: AL Fleeting Four: Short stay, big impact | Mets trade rumors: These bats could help “At this point our focus is trying to win right now,” he said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to qualify for the playoffs....

The study — led by professor Mark T. Williams — looked at nearly 4 million pitches from the past 11 MLB seasons, and early in the study’s report, its authors make clear the basis for the study: “(T)hroughout its history, MLB has protected its error-prone umpires, resisted adopting strong performance measurements, and not taken advantage of available technology that could better the game. At a time of autonomous cars and machine learning, MLB needs to embrace useful change....

The Cubs keep finding a way to get it done and remain one game ahead of the Brewers, who beat the Padres 5-1. Chicago’s Kyle Schwarber only went 1 for 4, but hit a home run and tallied three RBIs on the night. Ben Zobrist and Willson Contreras were the only Cubs to get multiple hits, as each went 2 for 4. The Reds only managed to get six hits off of Chicago pitching, and two came from Jose Peraza....