Top News:
USA Today:
Facebook Watch, MLB hope to build off Phillies-Mets broadcast — Luckily baseball didn't add the designated hitter in the age of Facebook, which debuted its exclusive MLB broadcast package on Wednesday. — The rain-delayed Philadelphia Phillies-New York Mets game brought the first round of gripes …
RELATED:
Brian Marron / Daily Record:
Mets Facebook debut vs. Phillies draws mixed reaction
Mets Facebook debut vs. Phillies draws mixed reaction
Discussion:
Sporting News, New York Daily News and Sports Illustrated
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
MLB game on Facebook gets off to soggy start
Associated Press:
Corbin strikes out 12 as Diamondbacks sweep Dodgers — PHOENIX — Patrick Corbin finally found a way to end his long losing streak against the Los Angeles Dodgers. — And he did it emphatically. — Corbin shut out the Dodgers on one hit over 7 1/3 innings, striking out a career-high 12 in the Diamondbacks' 3-0 win on Wednesday.
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Preview: Cardinals vs. Diamondbacks — The Diamondbacks, who have won their first two series of the season against 2017 playoff clubs Colorado and Los Angeles, including sweeping the Dodgers, will play on the road for the first time but without 30-homer hitter Jake Lamb.
Andy McCullough / Baltimore Sun:
Dodgers have no answer for pitcher Patrick Corbin in 3-0 loss to the Diamondbacks
Dodgers have no answer for pitcher Patrick Corbin in 3-0 loss to the Diamondbacks
Discussion:
MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Dan Bickley / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Discussion:
Arizona Sports and USA Today
Bob McManaman / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Associated Press:
Nationals give GM Mike Rizzo 2-year contract extension — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have agreed to a two-year contract extension with general manager Mike Rizzo. — The team announced the deal on Thursday, hours before its home opener against the New York Mets.
RELATED:
Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo agrees to extension through 2020 season … After an offseason of uncertainty, President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo will lead the Nationals beyond this year. In a move that showed nearly unprecedented awareness of optics, and turned a spring of internal unrest …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, baseballmusings.com and MLB Daily Dish
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo receives long-awaited contract extension
Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Mets out to make statement vs. Nationals
Mets out to make statement vs. Nationals
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Amazin' Avenue
Michael Wagaman / Associated Press:
Manaea goes 8 innings, pitches A's to 6-2 win over Rangers — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Even as Sean Manaea eased through a 1-2-3 eighth inning and retired his 10th consecutive batter, Oakland manager Bob Melvin had no intention on sending the young lefty back out for the ninth. — Not yet anyway.
RELATED:
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers Reaction: One play that wasn't made was one too many for this offense to overcome — At 2-5, fans of the Texas Rangers might be looking for some silver linings. The Rangers Reaction is here help. — Try these: — The Rangers have not been shut out this season.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers lacking two key elements of the ‘pitch-to-contact’ philosophy — OAKLAND, Calif. - Critical elements of having a pitching staff with a “pitch-to-contact” mentality: — Throw strikes to force contact. — After contact, make plays. — The Rangers are struggling with the concepts.
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Gray, Rockies shut down Villanueva and Padres in 5-2 win … SAN DIEGO — Jon Gray pitched seven scoreless innings, Trevor Story and Ian Desmond each drove in two runs and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Wednesday night. — Gray (1-1) shut down the Padres a night …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
Mike Shalin / UPI:
Red Sox, Rays heading in opposite direction since Opening Day — Last week on Opening Day, the Tampa Bay Rays scored six runs in the eighth inning against the Boston bullpen and stunned the Red Sox 6-4 in St. Petersburg, Fla. — Since that fateful eighth inning that spoiled the managerial debut …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com and Over the Monster
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Matheny: Decision to start Waino ‘not about sentimental reasons’ — MILWAUKEE • It was a good day for Adam Wainwright although not so much for Jack Flaherty, or even Michael Wacha. — After undergoing two days of intensive running and movement drills and a final review …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Ohtani homers again, Cozart lifts Angels past Indians in 13 — ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his second homer in two games at Angel Stadium in the fifth inning, and Zack Cozart had walk-off homer in the 13th inning of the Los Angeles Angels' 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
Winning homer on a 3-0 count? White Sox's Jose Abreu ‘was ready’ — Chicago Tribune — White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu isn't exactly fond of taking a big swing on a 3-0 count, as he did Wednesday night in the team's 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays. — “Because I miss a lot,” Abreu said through an interpreter.
RELATED:
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
What Bronson Arroyo and Shohei Ohtani have in common — After a rough spring, Shohei Ohtnai impressed in his first pitching start of the year against the Oakland A's. Was it enough to silence his doubters? Time — CONNECT — One of Shohei Ohtani's rarest feats in his first week …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Astros sweep away Orioles with 3-2 victory — Josh Reddick had three hits and Alex Bregman's tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. — HOUSTON (AP) - Josh Reddick had three hits and Alex Bregman's tiebreaking RBI single …
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
A look at where the Mets prospects will be to start the minor league season — The minors season opens Thursday, and the Mets will have their top prospects sprinkled throughout their various affiliates. Here's a look at where you can find most of the organization's top 30 prospects as ranked by MLB.com.
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Want to be entertained? The most exciting teams, players and themes of the 2018 season — The best part of the first week of the baseball season is flipping through games and seeing all the amazing things going on: Giancarlo Stanton being booed in the rain at Yankee Stadium …
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Michael Conforto is back for Thursday's game vs. Nationals — and he's leading off — WASHINGTON — Michael Conforto is back. — The Mets activated the outfielder for Thursday's series opener against the Nationals. Conforto, who started the year on the disabled list …