Top News:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Holland assumes late-game duties — Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, explaining before the season how he planned to deploy his bullpen, said any number of his pitchers could turn up as closers. “We didn't have an idea of who was going to close out games,” admitted Matheny on Monday night.
RELATED:
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Brewers beat Holland, Cardinals 5-4 in 10th — Greg Holland, signed to pitch the ninth inning for the Cardinals, made his debut with the club on Monday night. In the 10th inning. — There was no save at stake but Holland walked four men, one intentionally, the final one forcing in a run …
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball and MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals
Detroit Free Press:
More Detroit Tigers: — Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire: ‘Everybody is going to play’ vs. Indians — Detroit Tigers get first series sweep of season in win over White Sox — As for the Tiger hats, I'm angrier now than I was when the new look first came out earlier this year.
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' can't figure out Corey Kluber in loss to Indians
Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Indians have Tigers by the tail
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire: ‘Everybody is going to play’ vs. Indians
Detroit Tigers' Ron Gardenhire: ‘Everybody is going to play’ vs. Indians
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Bless You Boys and MLB Baseball News …
Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Max Scherzer steals base, tosses shutout against Braves — WASHINGTON - Max Scherzer's fifth big-league shutout was all well and good, of course. His 10 strikeouts and zero walks Monday were terrific, too. — The most memorable part of the night for the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner …
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Associated Press:
Baseball roundup: Scherzer steals base, throws 5th shutout — Scherzer steals base, throws 5th shutout — Max Scherzer stole the first base of his professional career and allowed only two singles in his fifth big league shutout, and the Nationals ended a five-game losing skid while getting …
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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Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets match best start in franchise history even while Noah Syndergaard has yet to dominate — Mets manager Mickey Callaway previews Noah Syndergaard's start — MIAMI — Through three starts, the Mets have yet to see Thor. — Noah Syndergaard has pitched well to start the year …
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, MLB Baseball News … and Amazin' Avenue
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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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Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Mallex Smith helps ignite much-needed win — CHICAGO — OF Mallex Smith played a role in two of the Rays' toughest losses, unable to make what could have been game-turning catches. Monday, using his bat and his speed, he had a big hand in their much-needed victory …
Associated Press:
Verlander dominates over 7 innings, Astros beat Twins 2-0 — MINNEAPOLIS — Facing Joe Mauer with runners at the corners and no outs, Justin Verlander reached back for a fastball that broke in to strike out the lefty-hitting Mauer. — Verlander said he yanked the four-seam fastball and was fortunate Mauer swung over it.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Angels starter Ramirez will miss rest of year with torn UCL — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Los Angeles Angels starter JC Ramirez will miss the rest of this season because of a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and Tommy John surgery has been recommended for the right-hander.
RELATED:
Jeff Miller / Baltimore Sun:
Angels off to best start since 1987 after 8-3 win over Rangers — Shohei Ohtani didn't play Monday, but the rest of the Angels did, and beat Texas 8-3 anyway. — Right now, it appears that this franchise revolves around its prized rookie pitcher/designated hitter, and why wouldn't it?
RELATED:
Josh Peter / USA Today:
Victor Conte says Mark McGwire needed PEDs to break home run records — Victor Conte said he thinks Mark McGwire is “deluded” after the retired slugger said he would have hit 70 home runs in 1998 even if he hadn't been using performance-enhancing drugs. — “I don't think he would have …
RELATED:
Steve Gardner / Cincinnati.com:
Mark McGwire insists he didn't need PEDs when he hit 70 homers
Mark McGwire insists he didn't need PEDs when he hit 70 homers
Discussion:
CBSSports.com, ESPN and USA Today
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Sodfather raises his game a notch as the Snowfather — Chicago Tribune — As if Roger Bossard's legend needed another page. — Certainly White Sox fans will boast to their Cubs brethren that their team's groundskeeper was able to squeegee enough slush from Guaranteed Rate Field …
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
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Jeff Arnold / UPI:
Snow pushes back Cubs' home opener against Pirates
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Giants' offense struggles again, wastes solid outing from Holland in loss — SAN FRANCISCO-During the first weekend of the season, the Giants could point to Joe Panik as their catalyst as he single-handedly willed the offense in a pair of 1-0 victories over the Dodgers.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
Tennessean.com:
Nashville Sounds: 5 things to know about their home opener on Tuesday — Reba, George and Johnny race at the Sounds game — The Nashville Sounds open their fourth season at First Tennessee Park on Tuesday night when they play the Iowa Cubs. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.
Associated Press:
MLB says percentage of black players highest since 2012 — NEW YORK — The percentage of black players from the United States and Canada on opening-day active rosters rose to 8.4 percent, its highest level since at least 2012. — Major League Baseball attributed the increase at least partly …
Rotoworld.com:
Daily Dose: My Name is Junis — Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @RyanPBoyer on Twitter. — The Royals seemingly won't have a whole lot to offer fantasy owners this season, but we might be seeing an under-the-radar hurler emerge. — Jake Junis carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning …
Associated Press:
Morgan's run leads West Michigan to 7-3 win over Great Lakes — COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (AP) — Joey Morgan scored on an error in the seventh inning to help the West Michigan Whitecaps secure a 7-3 victory over the Great Lakes Loons on Monday. — The error started the scoring in a five-run inning and tied the game 3-3.
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Sarah Brookbank / Cincinnati.com:
Joey Votto does it again, this time in Philly — Baseball is back and that means Joey Votto is back to punking people at baseball games. — Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto trolled fans in Philadelphia on Monday night in his signature move of not letting anyone have foul balls.
Discussion:
SBNation.com and NESN.com