Top News:
Toronto Sun:
Astros' Verlander goes for eighth win vs. Rangers — The Texas Rangers, mired in last place in the American League West while acknowledging they are in a rebuilding mode, announced Thursday that they've reached an agreement with general manager Jon Daniels on a multi-year contract extension.
RELATED:
Alan Robinson / UPI:
Cardinals want to make some hay vs. Reds — The St. Louis Cardinals can't seem to find any traction in the National League Central race, unable to pull past the Milwaukee Brewers or Chicago Cubs or develop any consistency. — Maybe they can generate some this weekend in Cincinnati …
RELATED:
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.
Michael Wagaman / Associated Press:
Chapman, A's break through in 6th to beat Royals 4-1 — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Athletics pitcher Paul Blackburn couldn't wait for the postgame meal following his first start of the season. Jittery nerves kept the right-hander from eating beforehand, and he was anxious to dig in.
RELATED:
Jerry McDonald / Mercury News:
Athletics' Blackburn sharp; beats Royals in 2018 debut
Athletics' Blackburn sharp; beats Royals in 2018 debut
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
Past and present collide as Oakland A's host Kansas City Royals
Past and present collide as Oakland A's host Kansas City Royals
Discussion:
Royals Review, Baseball Prospectus and MLB Baseball News …
Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Nationals play host to Giants, who begin road stretch — WASHINGTON — The San Francisco Giants will look to build on a solid homestand when they begin a 10-game road trip Friday night against the Washington Nationals. — The Giants (31-31) won five of six games to move within 1 1/2 games …
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and MLB Baseball News …
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies return home seeking more offense from shortstop, third base | Extra Innings — Close your eyes, Phillies fans. Now, click your heels and repeat after me: There's no place like home. After 11 days on the road — and a 3-7 record in 10 games against the Dodgers, Giants and Cubs …
RELATED:
Corey Seidman / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Phillies waste great opportunity and it gets only tougher from here
Phillies waste great opportunity and it gets only tougher from here
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Larry Millson / UPI:
Blue Jays try to make it two straight vs. Orioles — TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles are offensively challenged teams looking for something good to happen during their four-game series at the Rogers Centre. — The bottom two clubs in the American League East deserve each other.
RELATED:
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Gibbons' job becoming a hot topic around Blue Jays
Gibbons' job becoming a hot topic around Blue Jays
Discussion:
Bluebird Banter
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Orioles ‘slugger’ Chris Davis is having a mind-bogglingly bad season — It was a relatively slow day of baseball on Thursday, so indulge me as I go down the rabbit hole with Chris Davis. Hopefully we'll all come out alive. — Davis is having a terrible season.
Discussion:
Deadspin
Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
To shift or not, the bullpen shuttle and MLB's next big thing — My working assumption about shifts in baseball has been that they work so often that when they don't, it sticks in our minds. I also kind of figured pitchers who get burned by a shift now and again tend to see it the same way.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gibson, McCarver, Shannon remember Red as tough, no-nonsense manager — 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.
RELATED:
Keith LawESPN Senior / ESPN:
Keith Law's draft recap: AL team-by-team breakdown — After our breakdown of the 2018 draft began with a recap of the National League's most notable picks, it's now time to examine — you guessed it — the American League. — Baltimore Orioles — The Orioles started their draft …
UPI:
Marlins hope to contain Padres' turnaround — MIAMI — The San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins are rebuilding. — The Padres' effort is starting to pay off. — They have won three straight series for the first time in 11 months. Their bullpen's 3.29 ERA ranks seventh in the majors.
Blair Kerkhoff / Kansas City Star:
Remember hero MLB umpire Steve Palermo? Here's how he is still being honored — A stretch of road in Steve Palmero's hometown of Oxford, Mass., was dedicated to the former major-league umpire who died of cancer in 2017. — Palermo, who made his home in Kansas City …
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Mets' Yoenis Cespedes not expected to play against Yankees in Subway Series — Check back for updates — The Mets will have to wait a little longer for Yoenis Cespedes. — Sources confirmed Thursday that the Mets are not expecting their slugger to return in time to play against the Yankees …
Discussion:
Daily Record and Amazin' Avenue
RELATED:
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
What the Yankees are talking about ahead of weekend Subway Series with Mets
What the Yankees are talking about ahead of weekend Subway Series with Mets
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and MLB Baseball News …
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 …
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' draft provides balance in farm system
Cubs' draft provides balance in farm system
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Kris Bryant to lead off for Cubs against Pirates on Friday at Wrigley Field — Chicago Tribune — The Cubs enter Friday's game against the Pirates a season-high 11 games over .500, and they have installed a new leadoff hitter. — Kris Bryant will get the first look at Pirates right-hander Chad Kuhl …
Bill Baer / NBCSports.com:
Report: Nationals checked in with the Marlins about J.T. Realmuto recently — In his latest notes column, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports that the Nationals checked in with the Marlins a couple weeks ago about catcher J.T. Realmuto. The two sides didn't get anywhere …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, FRS Baseball and Fish Stripes
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Seven deserving first-time MLB All-Stars — More than a month remains before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is set to be played, but it's never too early to forecast the rosters. — The regulars — Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer - figure to return …