Top News:
Doug Alden / Associated Press:
Porcello pitches Red Sox past Yankees 6-3 — BOSTON (AP) Rick Porcello looks a lot more like the pitcher who won the 2016 AL Cy Young Award than the one who lost 17 games last year. — That is one welcome development for the Boston Red Sox. — Porcello pitched seven scoreless innings …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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Associated Press:
Yankees-Red Sox fight fallout: Kelly, Austin suspended; Ramirez leaves after being hit by pitch — Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly and the Yankees' Tyler Austin have been suspended for their roles in the brawl between the American League East rivals at Fenway Park.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Bruce Vielmetti / USA Today:
Milwaukee TV reporter charged with felony battery over fight at Brewers game — A Milwaukee TV reporter was charged Wednesday with felony battery over an incident at Miller Park, when police say he broke the nose of another reporter who was demanding an apology to his fiancée.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Associated Press:
MLB notes: Rangers' early-season woes continue with losses, injuries
MLB notes: Rangers' early-season woes continue with losses, injuries
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch and MLB Baseball News …
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Why MLB will continue to have bench-clearing brawls
Why MLB will continue to have bench-clearing brawls
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and MLB Baseball News …
Mike Shalin / UPI:
Orioles next up for hot Red Sox
Dana Gauruder / UPI:
Struggling clubs meet when Yankees visit Tigers — Ron Gardenhire knew there would be some rough weeks when he accepted the managerial job with the rebuilding Detroit Tigers. This is turning out to be one of those weeks. — The Tigers come home to Comerica Park after getting swept in a four-game series by Cleveland.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
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Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Indians heating up, go for sixth straight vs. Blue Jays — CLEVELAND — It took the arrival of some warmer weather, but the Cleveland Indians have finally started to hit. That might be bad news for the Toronto Blue Jays, who will visit Progressive Field on Friday night for the opener of a three-game series.
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Sonny Gray continues to look nothing like the No. 2-type starter the Yankees hoped he'd be
Associated Press:
Polanco homers twice to back third strong start by Williams — Gregory Polanco homered twice at Wrigley Field to help back a third straight solid start by Trevor Williams, and the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled away from the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Thursday. — Francisco Cervelli lined a three-run shot …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Associated Press:
Ohtani's 3-run triple leads Angels to 7-1 win over Royals — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a bases-loaded triple in a five-run seventh inning to help the streaking Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.
Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press:
Shohei Ohtani eager for more as Angels balance work for 2-way star
Shohei Ohtani eager for more as Angels balance work for 2-way star
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus and Associated Press
Alan Eskew / UPI:
Angels look to continue onslaught vs. Royals
Associated Press:
Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki diagnosed with broken hand — NEW YORK — Kevin Plawecki of the New York Mets has a broken left hand and is following fellow catcher Travis d'Arnaud to the disabled list. — Plawecki was hit by a pitch from Miami Marlins reliever Tayron Guerrero in the eighth inning Wednesday night.
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
Kevin Plawecki's hand is broken — and the Mets are in trouble — Just when it appeared everything was roses for the Mets, a batch of of dead dandelions arrived. — Suddenly, the Mets are without not one, but two catchers as Kevin Plawecki sustained a broken left hand Wednesday night …
Alex Butler / UPI:
Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna robs foul ball, goes deep … St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna hit a home run and made a leaping catch over fans against the Cincinnati Reds. — Ozuna showed off his skills in the Cardinals' 13-4 win Thursday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Discussion:
Columbus Telegram
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Alan Robinson / UPI:
Reds aim to end five-game skid vs. Cardinals — With the Cincinnati Reds off to a terrible start amid whispers that his job could be in jeopardy, manager Bryan Price made an unusual move. He sat down his best player. — First baseman Joey Votto, whose streak of 202 consecutive games started included …
Associated Press:
Rebuilding Padres say brawl can bring them closer together — SAN DIEGO — Showing some fight seems to be a good thing for the rebuilding San Diego Padres. — While awaiting word on punishment from Major League Baseball for their brawl Wednesday with the Colorado Rockies, the Padres vowed not to get pushed around by anyone.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Stratton enjoys career night, Giants collect key two-out hits to win series-opener
Stratton enjoys career night, Giants collect key two-out hits to win series-opener
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles and Gaslamp Ball
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon: Clint Hurdle's tough talk reveals more about Hurdle than Javier Baez — Chicago Tribune — Joe Maddon was taken aback by Pirates manager Clint Hurdle's criticism of Javier Baez, saying, “I don't understand why he did what he did.” — But Maddon was more than prepared to respond Friday.
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Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
Good health, dominant bullpen key factors behind Amazin' start by Mets — The Mets are off to the best start in their history, their 10-1 record the best in all of baseball, and somewhere, assuming he's been watching, Terry Collins is saying: “Who are these guys?”
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:
Mets are going to start loosening reins on starting pitchers
Mets are going to start loosening reins on starting pitchers
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
The joy of Ohtani, a sleeping giant and MLB's next big thing — Imagine a world in which Roy Hobbs exists. — This is about inimitable rookie sensation Shohei Ohtani, but let me make my point using the fictional Hobbs, the protagonist of the great baseball movie “The Natural” (Yes, it was a book first.
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
One of MLB's most valuable pitchers, Diamondbacks' Archie Bradley not worried about paycheck — SAN FRANCISCO - In his heart of hearts, Archie Bradley still envisions himself as a starter. That's how he became a top-10 overall draft pick, and how he reached the major leagues.
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Marty Pevey sets Iowa Cubs managerial wins record — Thursday night was a big night for Iowa Cubs manager Marty Pevey. — Pevey secured the 1,000th win of his managerial career, 356th with Iowa and became the franchise's all-time wins leader when the Cubs beat the Nashville Sounds 6-3 in 11 innings at First Tennessee Park.
Patrick Stevens / Associated Press:
Rockies hot in victory … WASHINGTON — DJ LeMahieu carried the Colorado Rockies' offense on Thursday. — The second baseman homered twice, added two doubles and drove in a career-high four runs and Colorado earned a 5-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball