Top News:
Associated Press:
Pederson hits 2 HRs, Bellinger goes deep again for Dodgers — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joc Pederson went deep twice, Cody Bellinger hit his third home run in as many games and the Los Angeles Dodgers used nine pitchers to hold off the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 on Thursday.
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Will Graves / Toronto Sun:
Pirates break out of funk, topple Dodgers 11-9 — PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle had a sense of deja vu while watching his team take and then threaten to blow three four-run leads during an 11-9 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bucs Dugout
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Cubs-Pirates a baseball rivalry worth watching: 'I don't care what they think' — It's hardly Yankees-Red Sox, or Dodgers-Giants, or even Cardinals-Cubs. — But suddenly, we have a blossoming rivalry in baseball, and it's starting to attract a whole lot of attention.
Will Graves / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Pederson homers twice, Dodgers hold off Pirates 8-7
Pederson homers twice, Dodgers hold off Pirates 8-7
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Ibandel Isabel has seven homers in seven games for Daytona Tortugas — The Cincinnati Reds couldn't have received that much in return for a pitcher they designated for assignment after he posted a 5.18 ERA and walked 22 in 24 1/3 innings for the team last season and was optioned to Triple-A Louisville in early March, right?
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Michael Lorenzen provides hardest hit by Cincinnati Reds hitter in StatCast era — When reporters approached Michael Lorenzen's locker following the Reds' 7-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, he had a confused look on his face. — His contribution to the win was a pinch-hit single to left field in the fifth inning.
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Homer Bailey could start rehab assignment in 4 or 5 days
Alex Butler / UPI:
Reds fan makes incredible catch while holding baby
Reds fan makes incredible catch while holding baby
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Rodney Page / Tampa Bay Times:
Jake Bauers' promotion to majors continues Rays' youth movement — ST. PETERSBURG — The promotion of Jake Bauers is just one more part of the Rays' youth movement this season. The 22-year-old made his major-league debut Thursday night, starting at first base and batting sixth in the order against the Mariners.
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Top prospect Adbert Alzolay out with injury but promotion to Cubs is ‘close’ — Cubs' senior vice president of player development/scouting Jason McLeod on the Cubs' draft. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs hope Adbert Alzolay will be wiser once he returns …
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Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' draft provides balance in farm system
Cubs' draft provides balance in farm system
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Jack Rintoul / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Fans share their stories of encounters with Red Schoendienst — St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famers Red Schoendienst (left) and Bob Gibson return to the dugout after pregame festivities before a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, April 13, 2015, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“It would be impossible to explain what he means to all of us.”
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Real or not? Mets can't do much of anything right during brutal slump
Associated Press:
Rangers, Jon Daniels agree to multiyear contract extension — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have given general manager Jon Daniels a multiyear contract extension at a time when the team is focused on developing young players at the big league level.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
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Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Gibbons' job becoming a hot topic around Blue Jays — Prior to Thursday's game against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons read part of a text he received from his friend, former O's pitching great Jim Palmer, now a noted broadcaster.
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ESPN:
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny frustrated over lack of communication — St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny voiced his frustrations Wednesday over the importance of players “being honest with us” about injuries and that he “can't read their minds.” — His comments come on the heels …
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Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Thor, deGrom to Bronx? Yankees' hunt for arms just got real — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees' hunt for starting pitching just got more intense. — When the organization learned this week that left-hander Jordan Montgomery would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2018 season …
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Rockies' first-round pick regrets 2012 tweet calling for Obama assassination — Was it a character flaw or just high school immaturity? — Either way, University of Mississippi pitcher Ryan Rolison addressed the issue of his controversial tweet from 2012 when he was introduced to the media …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets will listen to Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard offers if team doesn't turn things around: source — The Mets are not listening to offers for Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard — but that doesn't mean they wouldn't. — Despite GM Sandy Alderson's recent comments that he is not thinking about a rebuild …
Discussion:
The Comeback
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
Buyers, sellers and holders: Where does your team fit? — Amazingly, very little has changed since last month's Stock Watch. — EDITOR'S PICKS — What's the ceiling for these former top prospects whose stats suggest they were touted for more than they could deliver?
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Miguel Andujar has been a hitting machine since his childhood days, but Yankees believe young slugger has even more potential — It all started with a uniform. — Long before he become an extra-base hit machine for the Bombers as a 23-year-old rookie at the hot corner …
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
Past and present collide as Oakland A's host Kansas City Royals — OAKLAND, Calif. — Two pitchers representing the good and bad of recent Oakland Athletics trades go head-to-head Thursday night when the A's open a four-game home series against the Kansas City Royals.
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Valiaka brothers reunite at Principal Park for Iowa Cubs series — Iowa Cubs hitting coach Chris Valaika talks about his team playing against his brother's Tommy Birch, tbirch@dmreg.com — When Iowa Cubs co-hitting coach Chris Valaika walked out to coach third base this week …
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
What the Yankees are talking about ahead of weekend Subway Series with Mets — This isn't exactly the Subway Series everyone was hoping for. Not with the Yankees surging and the Mets reeling. Still, at least from a fan perspective, there are bragging rights at stake.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants … SAN FRANCISCO - Paul Goldschmidt stood near his locker deep in the visitors' clubhouse at AT&T Park, a strong series against the San Francisco Giants still large in the rearview mirror. Asked to reflect on whether the past three games constituted a breakout …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …