Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals set opening roster, remove Lucas, Valera to make room for Hicks, Pena — • After making two moves they hope won't erode the depth they might need later, the Cardinals finalized their 25-man roster for Thursday's opening day at Citi Field. — To make room for Jordan Hicks …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Series preview: Cardinals at New York Mets — • Two of the hardest throwers in the majors will face off in Thursday's series opener when New York's Noah Syndergaard, who touches 100 mph twice as often as any other pitcher, will oppose the Cardinals' Carlos Martinez, who occasionally hits that level.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Opening acts: Cardinals, Mets need young, talented pitchers to contend — NEW YORK • There is a word that two executives with rival teams used this past year to describe the one hitch the Cardinals could face by resting so much of their hopes, so much of their identity as a perpetual contender …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Dave Eiland wants Mets pitchers to be the most aggressive in baseball — Dave Eiland stood in the Royals dugout for 135 games just waiting. As the Royals' pitching coach then, he had watched their shortstop Alcides Escobar go up to the plate and swing away at every first pitch he was offered.
Jerry Beach / UPI:
Syndergaard leads Mets into opener vs. Cardinals — The St. Louis Cardinals remained in the wild-card chase until game No. 159 last season. The New York Mets began playing out the string around Memorial Day. — But the sting of missing the playoffs is the same for both clubs …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Matt Harvey's renewed confidence and coaching changes among reasons to feel good about Mets entering Opening Day
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
MLB salaries 2018: A 3.5% raise for average major leaguer - but future commitments dipping — TORONTO - The free-agent market was a dud this winter, leaving Major League Baseball players and their agents seething. — Ultimately, baseball's average salary compared to 2017 amounted to a cost-of-living bump …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
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Associated Press:
Judge and Stanton eager to get started as Yankees teammates — TORONTO — After a winter of waiting, the New York Yankees are ready to roll with two of baseball's best sluggers. — Aaron Judge and newcomer Giancarlo Stanton will bat second and third when the Yankees open against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
Discussion:
ESPN
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Yankees be damned, fast start is crucial to Blue Jays resurgence — If Josh Donaldson is aware of the poor ticket sales for the Blue Jays opening homestand, he likely doesn't even care. — What the Jays' MVP third baseman is well aware of, however, is that entering a season of potential flux …
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Tampa Bay Rays hope modest investment in Nathan Eovaldi pays big
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs not taking Marlins, or any team, for granted — Chicago Tribune — The Marlins may have as many as a dozen players participating in opening-day festivities for the first time. — Their No. 2 starter, Caleb Smith, was a Rule 5 pick whom the Cubs returned to the Yankees last spring.
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Game Day: Arizona Diamondbacks open 2018 season against Colorado Rockies — The Arizona Diamondbacks open the 2018 regular season against the Colorado Rockies. Follow this page for updates, news and analysis throughout the series. — PREVIEW: Diamondbacks' lineup looks thin with Steven Souza injured
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — The last time the Diamondbacks played a game …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Steve Habel / UPI:
Verlander, Hamels duel on opening day for Astros, Rangers — There will be no love lost between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros when the Lone Star State rivals meet Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on opening day in Major League Baseball.
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
'We're making the postseason. No question.' With Rangers, there might be a few
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and MLB Baseball News …
Gerry Fraley / Dallas Morning News:
5 things Rangers fans need to know about the Houston Astros ahead of opening day 2018
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Rotoworld.com:
Salvy Sidelined — Salvador Perez has been the most durable catcher in the majors over the past five seasons, but he's going to get a late start on his 2018 campaign after suffering a Grade 2 MLC tear in his left knee. — According to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets have discussed adding reliever Greg Holland, according to sources — The Mets may have one big more up their sleeve. — The team has recently discussed adding free agent closer Greg Holland, according to sources. Holland is the top remaining free agent pitcher.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings …:
New-look Royals open versus White Sox — Kansas City Royals lost a couple key contributors during the offseason when — San Diego Padres and Lorenzo Cain joined the — Milwaukee Brewers. — Then the Royals learned this week that they lost five-time All-Star catcher
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Chicago Tribune
RELATED:
Dave Brown / Chicago Tribune:
James Shields hopes to help White Sox surge as he did with Royals
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Rusty Staub, beloved Mets icon, dead at 73 — In every way, Rusty Staub, the beloved Mets' hitting icon, who passed away early Thursday morning at age 73, was bigger than life — a bigger-than-life baseball personality, humanitarian, gourmet chef, wine connoisseur, friend-to-all and …
Discussion:
FOX 61 and Amazin' Avenue
Andy McCullough / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Dodgers' Toles is optioned to minors — LOS ANGELES — In one of the final moves in constructing their opening-day roster, the Los Angeles Dodgers optioned outfielder Andrew Toles to triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, clearing a path for outfielder Joc Pederson and utility man Kyle Farmer to occupy the last two spots on the bench.
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Gene Warnick / UPI:
Kluber-Hernandez duel highlights Indians-Mariners opener — In 2014, Corey Kluber edged Felix Hernandez for the American League's Cy Young Award. — Since then, the careers of the two 31-year-old right-handers have taken different paths. That was strikingly evident last year …
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
A healthy Garrett Richards opens Angels' season with optimism — OAKLAND — On a team whose starting pitchers have been victims of a raft of injuries over the past few years, Garrett Richards stands alone in a couple ways. — He's had the most serious injuries. He's also performed the best when healthy.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven and Daily News
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Guerrero's progress could mean the writing is on the wall for Donaldson with the Jays — Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman created some waves at spring training when he said that young prospects Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr. are ready to play in the major leagues right now.
Discussion:
globalnews.ca, Newsweek and Associated Press
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Happ bats leadoff as Cubs open the 2018 season — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs will open the 2018 season Thursday with the hope that Ian Happ will stabilize the leadoff spot. — Happ will bat leadoff as the Cubs face the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park.
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Opening Day Live: Primer, predictions and updates from every game — For the first time in 50 years, every major league team was scheduled to start the season on the same day — before a Nationals-Reds rainout got in the way. Still, one Opening Day is reason to celebrate, and that's exactly what we plan to do.
