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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Hawk Harrelson and A.J. Pierzynski take their act to Sox Park  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The beginning of the end for Hawk Harrelson starts today as the longtime White Sox announcer enters his final year of broadcasting.  —  “I've been lucky,” Harrelson said.  “I've been in the right place at the right time in a lot of places.”

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.

On Deck: Blue Jays at Rangers  —  TORONTO BLUE JAYS at TEXAS RANGERS  —  STARTING PITCHERS  —  RHP Marco Estrada (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. LHP Matt Moore (0-1, 9.00 ERA)  —  Last year with the Giants, Moore was 6-15, 5.52.  The 15 losses were tied for the most in the NL, and his ERA was the highest among MLB qualified pitchers.

Rays lose to Red Sox in 12 innings  —  BOSTON — Things seemed different for the Rays on Thursday.  —  They got the kind of strong start they'd been lacking, as rookie Yonny Chirinos, stepping in on their second planned bullpen day of the season, worked five strong, scoreless innings.

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.

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 …

Blue Jays feel Grichuk will get a handle on his hitting soon  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — I asked Sam the retired taxi driver on Thursday for his thoughts on the off-season trade that brought Randal Grichuk to the Blue Jays from St. Louis.  —  “Give him time,” the longtime Cardinals fanatic said as we drove to Toronto's Pearson airport.

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 …

Cincinnati Reds pitchers are working their way off the disabled list  —  After starting the season with a handful of pitchers on the disabled list, the Cincinnati Reds are slowly clawing their way back to a healthier ballclub.  —  Brandon Finnegan, who's been dealing with a left biceps strain …

Detroit Tigers' Daniel Norris likely sent down when Mike Fiers returns  —  CHICAGO — When Daniel Norris ran out of the Detroit Tigers' dugout on Thursday morning, he wore a wool beanie, a hooded sweatshirt and his trademark high socks.  —  He ran out to right field, where he shagged fly balls …

Senzel hopes to meet expectations for the Louisville Bats on his way to the major leagues  —  Confidence is high in Nick Senzel throughout the Cincinnati Reds organization.  —  “You always have expectations,” Senzel said.  “But you have your own expectations and that's more important.