MLB early overreactions: Astros, Nationals unstoppable, Boone and Kapler questionable  —  Spring training produces unbridled hope, and Opening Day blooms with pageantry, but there's nothing pretty about what we'll call Major League Baseball's extrapolation season.

Next Slide  —  This Reds season depends largely on the young arms in the rotation.  —  Monday, the young arm in question was outstanding.  The Reds rode rookie Tyler Mahle's impressive season debut to a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs before a crowd of 18,963 on the chilly, breezy day at Great American Ball Park.

Waino goes through his paces in bid for home opener  —  MILWAUKE  • Veteran Cardinals righhander Adam Wainwright, residing on the 10-day disabled list against his wishes, went through a plethora of drills Monday morning before the start of the Cardinals' game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Giancarlo Stanton, forced to delay pinstriped debut, not worried about swing at Yankee Stadium: ‘Think it fits nice’  —  During his Marlins playing days in South Beach, Giancarlo Stanton and his teammates rarely had to worry about home openers being postponed unless the Florida rain created a lake in the Marlins Park outfield.

Mets' series opener vs. Phillies postponed, rescheduled as single-admission doubleheader on July 9  —  The Mets' series opener against the Phillies Monday at Citi Field was postponed because of the snow storm that hit the New York area.  —  The game has been rescheduled as part …

Pirates' Moran hits grand slam in first at-bat at PNC Park  —  Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Colin Moran hit a grand slam Monday in his first at-bat at PNC Park.  —  Moran, 25, joined the Pirates in January, coming over in a trade from the Houston Astros.

OF Tomas, owed over $42M, demoted to minors by Diamondbacks  —  PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona outfielder Yasmany Tomas cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Reno by the Diamondbacks, who are responsible for the $42.5 million he is owed in the remaining three seasons of a $68.5 million, six-year contract.

Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks open three-game series  —  PHOENIX — Because of late spring training injuries, Arizona and the Dodgers are working through lineup challenges.  —  It has been a bit easier on the Diamondbacks than the five-time NL West champion Dodgers …

Los Angeles Angels hope to end 11-game skid vs. Cleveland Indians  —  The Los Angeles Angels are 3-1 to start the season for the first time in 10 years and they'll try to snap an 11-game losing streak against the Cleveland Indians when they open a three-game series Monday night at Angel Stadium.

Created with Sketch.  —  Rumors, factoids, league-meetings leftovers and draft niblets 24 days before the start of the NFL draft:  —  I know the first question I'd ask Josh Rosen in Cleveland this week.  The UCLA quarterback travels to Cleveland to meet with Browns brass this week.

Dexter Fowler un-jinxes himself, gets first hit of 2018 … April 2 (UPI) — St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Dexter Fowler took to Twitter to remove his hitting jinx before facing the Milwaukee Brewers Monday at Miller Park.  —  And in a game full of peculiar superstitions, this one worked perfectly.

Cubs have opening for ‘part-time mascot handler’ and we have translations  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs are in the market for a “part-time mascot handler.”  —  No, this is not a late April Fool's Day joke.  —  The Cubs posted the opening on their website.