Top News:
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.
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Bucky Dent / UPI:
Wainwright gets nod as Cardinals face Diamondbacks — A new season starts with old traditions in St. Louis on Thursday night. — The Clydesdales making their usual jaunt around Busch Stadium. The parade of Cardinals players in pickup trucks. The team's Hall of Famers all dressed in red jackets …
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.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Dan Bickley / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Discussion:
Arizona Sports
Associated Press:
Mets activate Conforto; outfielder to lead off vs Strasburg — WASHINGTON (AP) — New York Mets All-Star outfielder Michael Conforto has been activated off the disabled list and will make his season debut against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals.
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets' Michael Conforto is back for Thursday's game vs. Nationals — and he's leading off
John Harper / New York Daily News:
The Mets are off to a nice start, but now the real test awaits vs. the Nationals
Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Mets out to make statement vs. Nationals
Mets out to make statement vs. Nationals
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, MLB Baseball News … 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.
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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.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers Reaction: One play that wasn't made was one too many for this offense to overcome
Rangers Reaction: One play that wasn't made was one too many for this offense to overcome
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
Rangers' Perez makes 2018 debut against A's
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.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cold — but dry — for today's White Sox home opener — Chicago Tribune — It's cold but dry on the South Side Thursday morning as the White Sox get ready to meet the Tigers in the home opener. — Parking lots will open at noon, with the gates to the park open at 1:10 p.m.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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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:
Gaslamp Ball
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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, DRaysBay and Over the Monster
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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 …
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Lester aims for better effort as Cubs face Brewers — MILWAUKEE — The major-league season is barely a week old, but it will almost certainly be a playoff-like atmosphere at Miller Park this weekend as the Milwaukee Brewers face the Chicago Cubs in a four-game series.
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Alex Butler / UPI:
Pablo Sandoval calls homer against Felix Hernandez … San Francisco Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval followed through on his prediction that he would hit a homer off of Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. — He did so by going yard in the fifth inning of the Giants' 10-1 win …
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Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Home run-happy Giants crush ‘King Felix’, reward Cueto with win
Home run-happy Giants crush ‘King Felix’, reward Cueto with win
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, Lookout Landing and MLB Baseball News …
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
Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
SEE IT: 15-year-old catcher dominates despite having one arm — The arm of 15-year-old Luke Terry has been turning heads. — The high school catcher from Tennessee has gone viral after a video surfaced of him playing the position despite having just one arm.
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Snow may await Mariners in Minnesota — MINNEAPOLIS — Right-hander Kyle Gibson takes the mound Thursday afternoon as the Minnesota Twins return to Target Field to face the Seattle Mariners in their 2018 home opener. — Gibson had a huge second half in 2017, going 7-3 with 3.76 ERA …
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 …