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 …
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:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Amazin' Avenue
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 …
RELATED:
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
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Tampa Bay Rays hope modest investment in Nathan Eovaldi pays big — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - In the 2006-17 offseason, Nathan Eovaldi was coming off a year in which he yielded a career-worst 4.76 ERA and sustained two serious elbow injuries, requiring his second Tommy John surgery.
Larry Millson / UPI:
Yankees ready to get season started vs. Blue Jays — The New York Yankees won the battle of the offseason hype and Thursday afternoon they will begin to find out if it translates into success on the field. — The Yankees will play the Toronto Blue Jays, who had a rather quiet offseason …
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.
RELATED:
Darren RovellESPN Senior / ESPN:
Marlins Man says he'll no longer attend team's home games — Marlins Man is officially a free agent. — Miami lawyer Laurence Leavy acknowledged to ESPN Wednesday night that he couldn't come to terms with the Miami Marlins and will not be paying for tickets for the team's games for the first time in 25 years.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Recharged Cubs have eyes on World Series prize: ‘I see a lot of hunger’
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Smooth sailing ahead for the Cubs — at least until October
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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
RELATED:
Dan Bickley / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Jeff Mathis sits at his locker. A white tube sock covers his right hand. He is rubbing oil into every nook and calloused corner of his catcher's mitt. His brow is furrowed and his commitment seems absurd, like a car collector waxing his Lamborghini.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — The last time the Diamondbacks played a game …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 …
RELATED:
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone feeling relaxed despite enormous expectations as his first season as Yankees manager begins
Discussion:
USA Today
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Despite lofty expectations, Aaron Judge says he feels no pressure
Discussion:
Washington Post
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:
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
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:
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.
RELATED:
J.P. Hoornstra / Orange County Register:
Freeway Series finale leaves a stench as sewer water floods Dodger Stadium
Discussion:
Daily News, MLB Baseball News … and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
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:
Associated Press:
Mets promote Tebow to Double-A after spring training slump — NEW YORK (AP) — Tim Tebow has been promoted to Double-A after going 1 for 18 with 11 strikeouts in big league spring training for the New York Mets. — The Mets said Wednesday that the outfielder has been assigned to start the season at Binghamton of the Eastern League.
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
Evan Grossman / New York Daily News:
Mike Francesa and Chris Russo reunite, take digs at WFAN: 'There'll be nobody on WFAN before you know it' — Mike and the Mad Dog poked fun at their struggling former employer Wednesday. — Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, appearing side-by-side on Russo's “High Heat” show on MLB Network …
Associated Press:
Phillies eager for opening day, Braves hopes on hold — ATLANTA — The Philadelphia Phillies are eager to get started on a new, winning era. — For the Atlanta Braves, opening day still feels like it's a few weeks away. — The NL East rivals begin the season Thursday at 2-year-old SunTrust Park …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and ESPN
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire shaped by past as a ‘futility player’ — Watch Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire observer players perform drills at first base on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018 in Lakeland, Fla. Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press — FORT MYERS, Fla. — There is a street …
