Top News:
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 …
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Jacob deGrom bests Stephen Strasburg to help Mets to win in series opener — WASHINGTON — Though Jacob deGrom struggled to grip the ball in the sixth inning Thursday, he didn't let the game slip away from the Mets. — The ace worked his way out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam to help …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
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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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Jerry McDonald / Mercury News:
A's claim Klay's brother Trayce Thompson off waivers
A's claim Klay's brother Trayce Thompson off waivers
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
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.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ian Happ, Ben Zobrist at top of Cubs' order against Brewers as Kris Bryant drops to third for first time
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Notes: Reliever Jacob Barnes put rough spring behind him and has been a force for Brewers
Notes: Reliever Jacob Barnes put rough spring behind him and has been a force for Brewers
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Brew Crew Ball
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
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.”
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cold — but dry — for today's White Sox home opener
Cold — but dry — for today's White Sox home opener
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and South Side Sox
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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Donald Duench / Toronto Sun:
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.
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Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Inside Baseball | Kapler to face toughest critics — NEW YORK — Philly isn't an easy town. Heck, they've booed Santa Claus there. — So what's going to be the reaction when a new manager hits town for the home opener — a 3:00pm ET start at Citizens Bank Park vs. the Marlins …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, The Good Phight and CBS Philly
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David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Want to be entertained? The most exciting teams, players and themes of the 2018 season
Want to be entertained? The most exciting teams, players and themes of the 2018 season
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Happy Home Opener: How will you greet Gabe Kapler? | Extra Innings
Happy Home Opener: How will you greet Gabe Kapler? | Extra Innings
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Evan Drellich / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Lost challenge sends Red Sox, Rays to extra innings — BOSTON — The Red Sox nearly walked off on a replay Thursday afternoon. Instead, umpires sent the Red Sox and Rays — as well as a sellout Fenway Park crowd for the home opener — to extra innings. — Quiet at the plate all day …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com, Over the Monster, UPI and DRaysBay
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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 …
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
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.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
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
Alex Butler / UPI:
David Ortiz surprises Aly Raisman with ‘Girl Power’ shirt … Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz flashed a “Girl Power” shirt when he met Aly Raisman Thursday at Fenway Park. — “Big Papi” stood on the mound as Raisman was walking out for pregame festivities.
Discussion:
NESN.com, Boston Globe and USA Today
Steve Popper / Daily Record:
Aaron Boone searching for innings from Yankees starters — NEW YORK - When Masahiro Tanaka took the mound Thursday evening Yankees manager Aaron Boone of course wanted outs and excellence. But what he really wanted was innings. — Tanaka went six innings in his first start of the season in Toronto …
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 …
Adam Baum / Cincinnati.com:
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 …
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
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 …