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12:50 PM ET, April 5, 2018

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 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
Discussion: Arizona Sports and USA Today
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Matheny: Decision to start Waino ‘not about sentimental reasons’
Associated Press:   Adam Wainwright to come off DL to start Cardinals' home opener
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.
RELATED:
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
John Rowe / NorthJersey.com:   Mets confident in entire rotation after 4-2 win over Phillies
ESPN:   Michael Conforto likely to rejoin Mets on Thursday after opening season on DL
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
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Dave Del Grande / UPI:   Rangers' Perez makes 2018 debut against A's
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:
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:   Happy Home Opener: How will you greet Gabe Kapler? | Extra Innings
Brian Marron / Daily Record:
Mets Facebook debut vs. Phillies draws mixed reaction
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
Tom Schad / USA Today:   Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo receives long-awaited contract extension
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
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Padres' Wil Myers goes on 10-day DL; reliever Phil Maton recalled
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.
RELATED:
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:   Winning homer on a 3-0 count? White Sox's Jose Abreu ‘was ready’
Thomas Lott / Sporting News:
Blue Jays' Aaron Sanchez, umpire Greg Gibson butt heads on pace of play in bizarre inning
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 …
RELATED:
Tampa Bay Times:   Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast: Answering your questions on Rays, Bucs, Lightning
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Luis Severino's ace performance, Ronald Torreyes' clutch play boost Yankees
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.
RELATED:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Next Slide  —  St. Louis right-hander Carlos Martinez took …
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
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 …
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.
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.
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 …
 
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 More News: 
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Snow may await Mariners in Minnesota
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Scenes from downtown as fans gather for Cardinals Opening Day
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Want to be entertained? The most exciting teams, players and themes of the 2018 season
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
A look at where the Mets prospects will be to start the minor league season
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Blake Snell comes up short as Rays lose again
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez on the mark as Cardinals blank Brewers
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
What Bronson Arroyo and Shohei Ohtani have in common
 Earlier Picks: 
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Nolan Arenado thrilled about Charlie Blackmon's new deal, not concerned about his own contract
Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Strike from Eddie Rosario jolts Twins toward a 7-3 win over Pirates
Discussion: Bucs Dugout
Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Aaron Judge, Yankees take aim at reeling Orioles
Andy McCullough / Baltimore Sun:
Dodgers have no answer for pitcher Patrick Corbin in 3-0 loss to the Diamondbacks
Discussion: MLB on Yahoo! Sports
Scott Andera / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ranking the 2018 Cardinals fan giveaways: From grand slams to strikeouts
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Chicago Cubs' top pitching prospects rising through the ranks, likely to play to play in Iowa
Discussion: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Associated Press:
Reds farmhand Joel Bender suspended 50 games
 

 
From WeSmirch:

CNN:
'I'm a black NAZI!': NC GOP nominee for governor made dozens of disturbing comments on porn forum

TMZ.com:
Cassie All Smiles As She Heads Out In NYC, Diddy Denied Bail Same Day

BBC:
Mohamed Al Fayed accused of multiple rapes by staff

 
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