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.

Springer 1st with consecutive MLB opening day leadoff HRs  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - George Springer has set a MLB first with his 100th career home run for the Houston Astros.  —  The World Series MVP led off the Astros' season opener at Texas with a home run off Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels.

Thor brings the thunder as 1-2 punch of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom is off to a good start  —  Dressed in a double-breasted, light-blue, plaid suit and his long blond hair slicked back, Syndergaard heard the comments coming from behind him as he walked out of the clubhouse door Thursday evening.

Giancarlo Stanton hits pair of home runs, drives in four as Yankees beat Blue Jays, 6-1 on Opening Day  —  TORONTO -You cannot stop him.  —  Giancarlo Stanton was a smashing success in his Yankee debut, blasting two homers, as the Bombers made a winner out of first-year manager Aaron Boone …

Reds play catch between raindrops, await opener vs Nationals  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Closer Raisel Iglesias skirted the tarp-covered infield along with the rest of the Cincinnati Reds pitchers, heading for the outfield and a quick game of catch before the rains returned.

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.

Melancon joins Bumgarner, Samardzija on Giants' DL  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — San Francisco Giants closer Mark Melancon was put on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain before Thursday's opener, joining starters Madison Bumgarner and starter Jeff Samardzija on the sidelines.

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 …

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.

Brian Cashman still has full confidence in Aaron Boone as new Yankees manager  —  TORONTO — Heading into a season of great expectations, Brian Cashman feels that he's hired the right manager.  —  “I have no second-guessing or concerns,” Cashman replied Thursday when asked …

It's time for some opening day music … In one of the final moves in constructing their opening-day roster, the 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.

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 …