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 …

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 …

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 …

Japanese baseball stars returning home from MLB to extend careers … Daisuke Matsuzaka says he still has something to prove.  —  Koji Uehara wants to help his former team regain its past glory.  —  The two former U.S. major leaguers are among several Japanese stars that will be looking …

All-Star closer Greg Holland, Cardinals agree to one-year deal  —  It took until Opening Day for the All-Star closer to find a home, but Greg Holland and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a one-year deal, according to a baseball official with direct knowledge of the deal.

Grease fire causes smoke inside Tropicana Field before Rays opener  —  A small grease fire in the upper deck of Tropicana Field on Thursday caused a smoky haze to fall over the playing field five hours before the first pitch of the regular-season opener between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.

Cubs wear Stoneman Douglas T-shirts to honor Parkland victims before Opening Day game  —  The Cubs have kicked off their season by supporting Majory Stoneman Douglas High School.  —  Chicago manager Joe Maddon addressed reporters while wearing a “#MSDStrong” T-shirt before Thursday's Opening Day game against the Marlins.

Chicago sportswriter vowed to jump in Lake Michigan if Ian Happ led off with homer, and well ...  Chicago Tribune  —  Apparently, anybody who doubts Ian Happ's power can just go jump in the lake.  —  Just before the Cubs' opener at Miami on Thursday, Bleacher Nation reporter Michael Cerami promised …

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

MLB Opening Day: Find Out When All 30 Baseball Teams Will Kick Off The 2018 Season  —  Play Ball!  Major League Baseball's Opening Day is here, kicking off the 2018 season.  From the World Series champion Houston Astros to the New York Yankees, find out when your favorite team will hit the field.

Giants place closer Mark Melancon on 10-day DL with elbow injury  —  The San Francisco Giants placed closer Mark Melancon on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a right elbow flexor strain.  —  The move was made retroactive to March 26.  Right-hander Reyes Moronta was recalled from Triple-A to fill his roster spot.

Tigers-Pirates opener postponed because of weather  —  DETROIT — The season opener between the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates has been postponed because of bad weather.  —  The game has been pushed back to Friday.  —  The Tigers announced the postponement about four hours …

Troy Tulowitzki placed on 60-day DL with bone spurs in heel  —  The Toronto Blue Jays placed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on the 60-day disabled list Thursday as they set their 25-man roster for Opening Day.  —  Tulowitzki has been dealing with bilateral heel bone spurs and was scheduled to see a specialist on Wednesday.

After brutal month, Sox season springs up  —  No doubt for many Metrowest residents that March, in just a matter of a devilish few weeks, became the least favorite month on the calendar.  March mauled us.  It knocked our brains out, not to mention our electricity.  It snowed and snowed, it howled and howled.

Angels' Shohei Ohtani to make MLB debut at DH  —  Japanese star and prized offseason acquisition Shohei Ohtani is set to make his major-league debut as a designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, batting eighth against the Oakland Athletics.  —  The 23-year-old two-way player …