Top News:
Associated Press:
Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts put on DL with cracked bone in ankle — BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was put on the 10-day disabled list because of a cracked bone in his left ankle. — Boston says an MRI confirmed the injury on Monday, a day after he was hurt.
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Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Red Sox-Yankees: Why MLB players say Boston is ‘the roughest’ — BOSTON - It's a charming town, filled with rich colonial history, the intellectual might of Harvard, MIT and Tufts, and the home of a famed symphony orchestra, all packed within just 48 square miles of land.
Steve Gardner / Cincinnati.com:
Mark McGwire insists he didn't need PEDs when he hit 70 homers — Baseball fans were much less skeptical 20 years ago when St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire chased, and then broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record. — Given what we know now — McGwire admitted in a 2010 interview …
Discussion:
USA Today
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Giancarlo Stanton looking for better luck in Boston as Yankees and Red Sox set to resume rivalry — BOSTON — Giancarlo Stanton is about to get his first taste of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry come Tuesday — and he may get better treatment in enemy territory than he's gotten in the Bronx.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Surviving Grady
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Despite Ian Happ's struggles, Cubs manager Joe Maddon keeping him at leadoff — Chicago Tribune — Manager Joe Maddon was fully committed to using Kyle Schwarber as the Cubs' primary leadoff hitter through the first month of 2017, and he isn't about to give up on Ian Happ in that role after only nine games this year.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' home opener against Pirates postponed to Tuesday
Cubs' home opener against Pirates postponed to Tuesday
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Cubs push back home opener to clear Wrigley Field snow
Cubs push back home opener to clear Wrigley Field snow
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Smith ties career high with 4 hits, Rays beat White Sox 5-4 — CHICAGO (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays finally pulled out a close game to win for the first time since their opener. And they were more than a little relieved to stop the slide. — “You probably can't overstate it,” manager Kevin Cash said.
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Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Familiar refrain for White Sox for snow-delayed Rays game: ‘Stay warm’ — Chicago Tribune — It looks like the Sodfather has his work cut out from him, but White Sox manager Rick Renteria trusts his groundskeeper. — Unlike the flurries that fell during the opener at Guaranteed Rate Field …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and South Side Sox
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Snow job? Cubs postpone while White Sox play — and both teams made right call
Column: Snow job? Cubs postpone while White Sox play — and both teams made right call
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
Adam Baum / Cincinnati.com:
Why the loss of Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez hurts off the field too — Reds manager Bryan Price discusses his third baseman Eugenio Suarez and his broken right thumb suffered in Sunday's 5-0 loss at Pittsburgh The Enquirer/Adam Baum — PHILADELPHIA - What happens on a baseball field …
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
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Steve Habel / UPI:
Los Angeles Angels look to keep momentum against Texas Rangers — The new-look Los Angeles Angels have been impressive during the first week and a half of the 2018 season and look to keep up that momentum against the Texas Rangers on Monday in the opener of a three-game set at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter, Halos Heaven and Lone Star Ball
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Associated Press:
Shohei Ohtani gives up 1 hit in 7 shutout innings in home debut
Shohei Ohtani gives up 1 hit in 7 shutout innings in home debut
Discussion:
USA Today and MLB Baseball News …
Elliott Teaford / Orange County Register:
Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani nearly perfect in Big A mound debut
Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani nearly perfect in Big A mound debut
Discussion:
Daily Breeze
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles give top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey his first big league call-up — The Orioles' bullpen carousel took another turn before the team's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday as top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey received his first big league call-up.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bluebird Banter and Batter's Box Interactive …
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Seth Lugo flourishing in new role, as the Mets' bullpen continues to dominate — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Seth Lugo does not like change. Like every other pitcher, he is a creature of habit. He has his days he lifts and runs. The 28-year old righthander has the days he throws.
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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Jason Vargas has yet to catch since undergoing right hand surgery
Jason Vargas has yet to catch since undergoing right hand surgery
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies give struggling J.P. Crawford the night off — J.P. Crawford was left out of Monday night's lineup to give the struggling shortstop “some additional time to work on some things that he's thinking about,” manager Gabe Kapler said. — It was the second respite in three days for Crawford …
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Alex Butler / UPI:
Nationals' Bryce Harper swats MLB-leading 6th home run — Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper continued his tear, hitting home run No. 6 on the season off of New York Mets starter Matt Harvey. — Harper now leads Major League Baseball in long balls.
Discussion:
SBNation.com, Halos Heaven, Federal Baseball and MLB Baseball News …
RELATED:
Jeff Seidel / UPI:
Strong-starting Braves face struggling Nationals
Strong-starting Braves face struggling Nationals
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and Talking Chop
ESPN:
Cardinals recall All-Star closer Greg Holland from minors — The St. Louis Cardinals have recalled Greg Holland from the minors after the All-Star closer made a brief stint at Class A Palm Beach. — The Cardinals announced Holland's promotion before Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers …
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals leaning right as retooling of bullpen begins, Holland's arrival nears
Cardinals leaning right as retooling of bullpen begins, Holland's arrival nears
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Viva El Birdos
Jon Rothstein / FanRag Sports:
Bennie Boatwright to return to USC — 's Bennie Boatwright will return to school for his senior season, he told FanRag Sports on Monday evening. — Boatwright confirmed the news via text message. — The 6-10, 230-pound forward averaged 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds last season before being sidelined with injury.
Discussion:
Daily Breeze
ESPN:
Angels' JC Ramirez has torn UCL; Tommy John surgery may be next — Los Angeles Angels right-handed starting pitcher JC Ramirez has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and Tommy John surgery is recommended, the team announced Monday. — He was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Lone Star Ball
ESPN:
Mark McGwire: Didn't need PEDs to hit 70 home runs — Mark McGwire insists he didn't need to use performance-enhancing drugs to hit 70 home runs, telling The Athletic in an interview published Monday that he would have accomplished that feat without help. — “Absolutely,” McGwire said.
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Swings and misses adding up for Blue Jays' Grichuk — BALTIMORE — Don't think Randal Grichuk hasn't pondered it himself — and possibly too much. — He knows who he is replacing in right field for the Blue Jays, and he knows that the team and its fans expect a major upgrade in production from what Jose Bautista offered last year.
Ari Gilberg / New York Daily News:
Jim Duquette, ex-Mets GM, on Alex Rodriguez's claim he would've made ‘great concessions’ to sign with Mets: 'It's just not true' — Jim Duquette is calling BS. — The former Mets GM called out Alex Rodriguez for suggesting he would've taken less money to sign with the Mets during the 2000-01 offseason.
Discussion:
NESN.com
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire: ‘Everybody is going to play’ vs. Indians — CLEVELAND — Victor Reyes and JaCoby Jones weren't in the starting lineup on Monday for the Detroit Tigers as they started a four-game series against the Indians, but should get playing time later this week.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bless You Boys
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Cubs prospect Duane Underwood Jr. to make long-awaited Triple-A debut on mound — Since he was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, it may seem like it has taken Duane Underwood Jr., a long time to finally get to Triple-A. — But from the perspective of the Chicago Cubs …
ESPN:
Back injury sends Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo to disabled list — The Chicago Cubs have placed first baseman Anthony Rizzo on the 10-day disabled list with a back injury. — The move is retroactive to last Friday as Rizzo has missed the team's past three games and was slated to miss Monday's home opener before it was snowed out.
Discussion:
Associated Press