Top News:
Associated Press:
Stanton homers twice in debut, Yankees beat Blue Jays 6-1 — TORONTO (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton homered twice, doubled and had four RBIs in his New York Yankees debut, a 6-1 win Thursday over the Toronto Blue Jays that gave Aaron Boone in a win in his first game as a professional manager.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch and MLB Baseball News …
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Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
WATCH: Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor made standout defensive play in 2018 season opener — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor made a standout defensive play in the team's 2018 season opener against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field Thursday night.
RELATED:
WKYC-TV:
OPINION | Time for Cleveland Indians to seize World Series crown because nothing is guaranteed
Discussion:
Red Reporter
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
When, where to watch Cleveland Indians open 2018 season at Seattle Mariners
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
WKYC-TV:
Cleveland Indians fall to Seattle Mariners, 2-1, in opening game of 2018 regular season
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and sports.MyNorthwest.com
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Five predictions for Cleveland Indians ahead of 2018 regular-season opener
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
A new day after sickening loss for Phillies | Extra Innings — One down, 161 to go. The Phillies' difficult-to-digest, season-opening 8-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves gave us a first glimpse of how rookie manager Gabe Kapler plans to run things from the dugout this season.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Philly.com
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Paul Newberry / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Markakis' 3-run homer gives Braves 8-5 walk-off vs Phillies — Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer with two out in the ninth inning, capping the — Atlanta Braves' comeback from a five-run deficit that rocked the — Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 Thursday and ruined the managing debut of Gabe Kapler.
Discussion:
Talking Chop, Phillies Nation, The Good Phight and baseballmusings.com
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies reliever Pat Neshek sidelined with back issue — ATLANTA — The Phillies spent $34 million in one day last December to sign both Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek, believing the two veterans would bolster their bullpen. But both free-agent prizes were sidelined with injuries Thursday when the Phillies opened their season.
Bill Plaschke / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Dodgers' opener fizzles like a certain Game 7 — LOS ANGELES—Matt Kemp began the ninth inning with a single, an afternoon of welcoming cheers still ringing in his ears. — The Dodgers trailed the San Francisco Giants by a single run, but that was about to change.
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Kerry Crowley The Mercury / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Blach outduels Kershaw, Giants blank Dodgers to steal Opening Day win — LOS ANGELES — Joe Panik stared in disbelief. — Clayton Kershaw laughed it off. — It was one of those moments that didn't seem real. Until it was. — With a high, arching flyball that hooked just inside the foul poul …
Discussion:
Associated Press
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
No score through three innings
Discussion:
True Blue LA, MLB Baseball News … and baseballmusings.com
Andy McCullough / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Dodgers suffer Panik attack in opening day loss to Giants
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Jon Gray struggles vs. D-backs at Chase Field, again, in opening-night loss — Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu homer for Colorado, but it's not nearly enough … PHOENIX — The indelible impression left by the Rockies' season-opening, 8-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on Thursday night was starter Jon Gray's painful struggles.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, MLB Baseball News … and Purple Row
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies
Discussion:
Purple Row and AZ Snake Pit
Katherine Fitzgerald / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Springer, World Series champ Astros top Texas 4-0 in opener — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - World Series MVP George Springer hit a leadoff homer in the season opener for the second year in a row, Justin Verlander pitched six scoreless innings and the Houston Astros started their championship defense …
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
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Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Yu Darvish and the Cubs look like the perfect match at the perfect time — Chicago Tribune — One month into his Cubs career, Jon Lester had zero victories. He had one quality start. He had a 6.23 ERA. — He had the burden of a $155 million contract, and he took the mound each …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Kyle Schwarber's defensive woes could mean more playing time for Albert Almora Jr. — Chicago Tribune — The script could have played out any better Thursday for Kyle Schwarber and the Cubs. — But after some of the developments during the Cubs' 8-4 win over the Miami Marlins in the season opener …
Associated Press:
Davidson hits 3 of White Sox's 6 homers in 14-7 rout of KC — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Most days, Tim Anderson's performance would have made him the star. — Matt Davidson showed up his Chicago White Sox teammate. — The young designated hitter became the fourth player in major league history …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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Adam TeicherESPN / ESPN:
White Sox's Matt Davidson blasts 3 homers in opener
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Attention, Span! How Tampa's Denard Span made Rays opener his best career moment — ST. PETERSBURG - Denard Span first felt the emotions of the day when he ran on to the Tropicana Field turf for the start of the Rays' Thursday season-opener. — “It was crazy,” Span said.
Discussion:
DRaysBay
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New York Daily News:
MLB average salary drops as new season opens, AP study finds — NEW YORK — The average major league salary on opening day dropped slightly following an offseason of slashed contracts for many free agents and the decisions to start three highly paid players in the minor leagues, according to study by The Associated Press.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Rough start for Cards, Martinez against Mets — NEW YORK • Often out of sight but never out of mind, Carlos Martinez spent weeks of spring groping for consistency on the back fields against minor-leaguers, and his results were as erratic as his schedule sometimes appeared.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals land their closer, finalizing deal with All-Star Holland — NEW YORK • For several days leading into Thursday's opener and for several minutes that morning, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny candidly acknowledged how the team's ad hoc approach to the bullpen and lack of a tried-and-true closer presented a challenge.
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, Red Reporter and MLB Baseball News …
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Eduardo A. Encina / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Adam Jones hits walk-off homer in 11th, Orioles top Twins, 3-2 — BALTIMORE — On Opening Day that seemed scripted for disaster Thursday at Camden Yards ended with the longest-tenured Oriole — center fielder Adam Jones — the hero. — After the Orioles blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning …
RELATED:
USA Today:
Extra long debut comes and goes for Angels' Shohei Ohtani — OAKLAND — There will undoubtedly be longer days for Shohei Ohtani in his major-league career than his 4-hour-2-minute debut, but maybe not many so infused with emotion. — Thursday started with him meeting his parents …
RELATED:
Jeff Fletcher / Orange County Register:
Angels Q&A with Jeff Fletcher: Concern for Shohei Ohtani?
Discussion:
Halos Heaven, MLB Baseball News … and Whittier Daily News
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Prospect watch: 10 minor-league prospects who may play in Des Moines this season against Iowa Cubs — Big names such as Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber have all made their way through Des Moines playing for the Iowa Cubs the last few seasons. — Iowa likely won't have the same type …
Bernie Wilson / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Arcia's single lifts Brewers over Padres 2-1 in 12 innings — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Orlando Arcia singled in Ji-Man Choi with two outs in the 12th inning to lift the Milwaukee Brewers over the San Diego Padres 2-1 on opening day Thursday. — Arcia's hit came off sidearmer Adam Cimber (0-1), who was making his big league debut.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, Baseball Prospectus and Gaslamp Ball
