Mets' bats steal show in 9-4 win over Cardinals in opener  —  NEW YORK — With pitchers dominating the conversation surrounding the Mets, the hitters tend to take a backseat.  The lineup has a handful of former All-Stars, but they are just mortals compared to the pitchers bestowed with superhero nicknames.

The Latest: Orioles' Gentry robs homer from Twins' Rosario  —  Kansas City Royals Alex Gordon runs sprints on during a baseball workout, Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals open the baseball season on Thursday afternoon when they host the Chicago White Sox.

Masahiro Tanaka looking forward to season debut despite getting passed over for Yankees' Opening Day start  —  TORONTO — Masahiro Tanaka said it wasn't a strange feeling that he wasn't starting on Opening Day.  But given that he had started the previous three season-openers for the Yankees, it must've been at least a little weird.

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 …

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.

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.

White Sox GM Rick Hahn brings realistic optimism to opening day  —  Chicago Tribune  —  White Sox general manager Rick Hahn brought a realistic optimism into opening day on Thursday.  —  He likes the potential he sees from many of the young players who will be counted on to help turn …

Sources: Cardinals working to close a deal with Greg Holland  —  NEW YORK  • A few days after suggesting they were ready to go into the regular season without a closer and throw a variety of pitchers at the ninth inning, including rookie Jordan Hicks, the Cardinals have made a move to answer their biggest question.

Ryan Court ‘very impressive’ to Joe Maddon despite not being named to Cubs' 25-man roster  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs' opening day roster didn't include infielder Ryan Court, but the versatile Dundee-Crown High School alum made a favorable impression on manager Joe Maddon.

Ian Happ hits home run on 1st pitch of season as Cubs beat Marlins, 8-4  —  MIAMI — Ian Happ made a statement about his leadoff credentials on the first pitch of the 2018 season.  —  Happ, making his first Opening Day start, smacked a home run off Jose Urena over the right-field fence …

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.

Why new baseballs are bringing more home runs: Kent study  —  Are the baseballs behind the recent uptick in homers?  Kent State University joins USC and FiveThirtyEight to investigate.  —  KENT, Ohio — A new season of Major League Baseball is beginning, which means home runs will start flying out of ballparks across the country.