Top News:
Associated Press:
Gonzalez leads Mets' hit parade in 14-2 drubbing of Padres — SAN DIEGO — Adrian Gonzalez had a spectacular homecoming at Petco Park. — Facing the hometown team he once played for, Gonzalez homered, doubled and drove in five runs on Sunday to help the New York Mets overwhelm the San Diego Padres 14-2.
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets pushing back Steven Matz's scheduled start due to soreness, will go with Noah Syndergaard vs. Braves on Tuesday
Mets pushing back Steven Matz's scheduled start due to soreness, will go with Noah Syndergaard vs. Braves on Tuesday
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Meet Bobby Nightengale, your new Cincinnati Reds beat reporter.
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
MLB power rankings: Yankees' nine-game winning streak vaults them toward the top — The New York Yankees have shaken their early-season doldrums, sweeping the Los Angeles Angels for their ninth consecutive win. — Now 18-9, the Yankees have outscored opponents 64-18 during that streak …
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Tom Schad / USA Today:
Suspended Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly watches game from the Fenway bleachers — Boston Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly's ongoing suspension prevented him from watching this weekend's series from the dugout or the press box. — So Kelly decided to watch from the bleachers at Fenway Park instead.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, ESPN and Pinstripe Alley
ESPN:
Power Rankings: How long can the Red Sox hold on to No. 1? — This week's rankings featured some major moves within the top 10. Welcome the Cubs and the Phillies back to MLB's top tier, as the Cubs made an expected return thanks to some strong starting pitching, while the hard-charging …
Casey L Moore / USA Today:
Biggest surprises — good or bad — one month into MLB season
Joshua Koch / Associated Press:
Cole strikes out 12, Astros capitalize on errors to beat A's — HOUSTON (AP) — Gerrit Cole worked into the seventh inning and struck out 12, George Springer and Jose Altuve each drove in two runs and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 8-4 on Sunday.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes and MLB Baseball News …
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Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — WASHINGTON - The Diamondbacks already …
Last Slide — WASHINGTON - The Diamondbacks already …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and True Blue LA
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Houston Astros, New York Yankees kick off ALCS rematch
ESPN:
What to make of Nick Kingham's impressive MLB debut — There were plenty of big stories in baseball this weekend, but Nick Kingham's impressive debut was among the most noteworthy performances. The Pittsburgh Pirates' prospect seemed to earn himself some time in the big league rotation …
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Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Surging Pittsburgh Pirates begin series with Washington Nationals — The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates will be looking for their sixth straight win when they open a four-game series against the Washington Nationals on Monday. — Pittsburgh (17-11) completed a sweep of St. Louis on Sunday as Nick Kingham …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Federal Baseball, CBS DC and Bucs Dugout
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals Notes: A curve in Memphis brings Gomber to Cardinals bullpen — PITTSBURGH • If asked to describe the “ideal pitcher” he could be, lefty Austin Gomber said he would be able to provide a description, maybe a list. — Now, though, he just has to point to a box score.
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Jeff Miller / Baltimore Sun:
Surging Yankees sweep Angels — The Angels aren't hitting, aren't scoring, aren't winning. — There's one other thing they aren't doing, not even after another low-octane loss that gave the New York Yankees a three-game sweep at Angel Stadium. — “I'm not panicking,” infielder Zack Cozart said after Sunday's 2-1 loss.
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
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Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
CC Sabathia jaws with umpire Angel Hernandez, as Yankees beat Angels, 2-1, to increase win streak to 9
CC Sabathia jaws with umpire Angel Hernandez, as Yankees beat Angels, 2-1, to increase win streak to 9
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Shohei Ohtani has next start pushed back for Angels
Shohei Ohtani has next start pushed back for Angels
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Nobody is grouchy when Blue Jays' Teoscar is on — When the Blue Jays start getting guys back from the disabled list (Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki), there will be some tough decisions that will have to be made. — But it's becoming pretty clear that one of those decisions …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Baseball News …, Bluebird Banter and Twinkie Town
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Stefan Stevenson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Rangers Reaction: Despite failure to sweep, plenty positive coming out of Canada beyond donuts — TORONTO — Baseball is often explained and interpreted with streaks and stretches to illustrate how a team or player is doing at any particular segment of the season.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Lone Star Ball and Dallas Morning News
Associated Press:
Baseball roundup: Cubs blank Brewers again, sweep series — Cubs blank Brewers again to sweep series — Tyler Chatwood allowed two hits, struck out four and walked three over seven innings and had an RBI single, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 2-0 victory at home over Milwaukee on Sunday for a sweep of a four-game series.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Andy McCullough / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers' frustrations boil over as Cody Bellinger benched in loss
Dodgers' frustrations boil over as Cody Bellinger benched in loss
Discussion:
Arizona Sports, Deadspin and DodgerBlue.com
Pedro Gomez / ESPN:
Dodgers' Cody Bellinger surprised by benching: 'I'm always hustling'
Dodgers' Cody Bellinger surprised by benching: 'I'm always hustling'
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Mike Shalin / UPI:
Red Sox could set record for April wins vs. Royals — Eduardo Rodriguez looks to continue his early season roll when he opens the Boston Red Sox's three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night at Fenway Park. — Rodriguez, whose season debut was delayed after offseason knee surgery …
Discussion:
Over the Monster
RELATED:
Rotoworld.com:
Daily Dose: Spectacular Debut — Spectacular Debut — They say that first impressions are important and lasting. If that's the case, the Pirates' faithful will be endeared to right-hander Nick Kingham. — The 26-year-old right-hander was a fourth round selection of the Pirates in the 2010 draft.
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Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies in need of a lefthander | Extra Innings — One of the reasons the Atlanta Braves have dominated the season series against the Phillies so far is quite simple to figure out. They have a lineup loaded with dangerous lefthanded hitters whenever the opposition sends a righthander to the mound.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Indians continue long homestand against Rangers — Halfway through Cleveland's longest homestand of the season that spans 11 games, the Indians are 2-4 and licking their wounds after losing three of four games to the Seattle Mariners, including a 10-4 loss on Sunday.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
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Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Observations from the first month of the Iowa Cubs season — Chicago Cubs pitching prospect makes Triple-A debut Friday — That went by fast. — The first month of the Iowa Cubs season is complete. And boy was it an interesting. — Fans are Principal Park got to see the Chicago …
ESPN:
Which players' slow starts should scare you, and why — “It's still early!” is the motto of April baseball. Everyone knows in their hearts that the guy on pace for 324 home runs after Opening Day and the slugger hitting .090 are not going to finish the season anywhere near those figures.
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Extra-base hit machine Miguel Andujar cementing his status as the Yankees' third baseman — ANAHEIM, Calif. - Brandon Drury continues to progress, getting past the migraine headaches that contributed to blurred vision - a problem he'd dealt silently with since his Arizona Diamondbacks days.
Discussion:
USA Today and Pinstripe Alley
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Aj MassEspn / ESPN:
How run support can impact fantasy pitcher values — Don't blame Jason Hammel for not winning. The Kansas City starter is doing everything he can to keep his club in games this season, with three quality starts in five outings and a 3.38 ERA. It's far from Cy Young-worthy to be sure …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees return to Houston for first time since ALCS, so here are five things to know — HOUSTON - The last time he was in the Minute Maid Park visiting clubhouse, an emotional CC Sabathia vowed to return to the Yankees and “see this thing through” to a World Series.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Albert Almora Jr., Javier Baez look to start new hitting streaks vs. Colorado — Chicago Tribune — Albert Almora Jr. and Javier Baez will try to start new hitting streaks Monday night when the Cubs host the Rockies at Wrigley Field. — Almora and Baez each had their 11-game hitting streaks snapped Sunday.