Top News:
Jill Painter Lopez / Associated Press:
Buehler latest injured Dodgers, but LA beats Braves 7-3 — LOS ANGELES (AP) Walker Buehler was looking like the answer to the Dodgers' injury woes. Then he became just another problem. — Buehler was pulled from his start Friday night with rib soreness, and Los Angeles overcame another blow …
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Walker Buehler's exit puts damper on Dodgers' win over Braves — A prized 23-year-old right-hander who cranks his fastball up to 98 mph was pulled from a game because of injury Friday night, causing consternation for a Los Angeles-area team and its fans. — The Dodgers, unlike the Angels, can exhale.
Discussion:
Talking Chop and DodgerBlue.com
Doug Padilla / UPI:
Dodgers' Wood hopes to turn season around against Braves — Four of the five starting pitchers on the Los Angeles Dodgers' Opening Day roster are on the disabled list. The other, Alex Wood, has given the club cause for concern. — Wood will take the mound for the Dodgers on Saturday night …
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals get it right in the end, beat Reds — CINCINNATI • Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was fretting as to how he would get to the eighth inning with his bullpen Friday, what with lefthander Tyler Lyons going on the disabled list earlier in the day.
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John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Reds Xtra: Maybe it's time for the Reds to experiment with how pitchers are used — One of my Twitter followers made a long (really, really long) impassioned case for the Reds to blow up the way pitchers are used. — His point: “They don't need ‘starting’ pitching. They need pitchers to be utilized properly.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks' Torey Lovullo focusing on Brad Boxberger's workload — DENVER - Closer Brad Boxberger's struggles on Wednesday, when he blew a save and exhibited significantly diminished velocity pitching for the third consecutive day, has manager Torey Lovullo reconsidering using him that frequently in the future.
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Michael Kelly / Associated Press:
Goldschmidt homers twice, Diamondbacks beat Rockies 9-4
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Rockies pitchers torched again in loss to NL West-leading D-backs
Rockies pitchers torched again in loss to NL West-leading D-backs
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Purple Row
Associated Press:
Verlander recovers from 1st-pitch HR, Astros top Rangers 7-3 — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Justin Verlander tried to shake off Shin-Soo Choo's homer on the Houston ace's first pitch of the game as a “one pitch, one run” no big deal. — The Astros kept it from mattering too much.
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Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Joey Gallo bunted! The sole highlight from another Rangers loss to Astros — The Rangers season summed up neatly: They lost again Friday and a pitcher walked off the mound with an injury. — But Joey Gallo bunted! — For a team fully focused on the future, the most important moment …
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Lone Star Ball
Associated Press:
Gardner homer leads Yanks over Mets 4-1 as Tanaka gets hurt — NEW YORK — Standing off third base for the first time in his big league career, Masahiro Tanaka heard coach Phil Nevin yell for him to tag up when Aaron Judge lofted a 264-foot flyball to Mets right fielder Jay Bruce in the sixth inning …
Discussion:
Faith and Fear in Flushing
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Peter Botte / Baltimore Sun:
Masahiro Tanaka injury is latest reminder NL needs to adopt the designated hitter
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
What the Mets Need Now: Some Yankees-Style Boldness
What the Mets Need Now: Some Yankees-Style Boldness
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and Amazin' Avenue
Harvey Valentine / UPI:
Nationals lean on veteran Gonzalez vs. Giants rookie Rodriguez — Washington starter Gio Gonzalez doesn't get the same amount of attention as rotation mates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. — That hasn't stopped him from putting together an impressive start this season.
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Chelsea Janes / Washington Post:
Stephen Strasburg leaves Friday's game after two innings
Stephen Strasburg leaves Friday's game after two innings
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, The Comeback and baseballmusings.com
Eduardo A. Encina / Baltimore Sun:
Orioles top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey sidelined with shoulder injury — Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey was scratched from his scheduled start with Double-A Bowie on Friday with a sore right shoulder, according to an industry source. — Harvey, the Orioles' first-round draft pick in 2013 …
Discussion:
BaltimoreBaseball.com and Camden Chat
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Ian Harrison / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Happ gets 100th career win, Blue Jays top Orioles 5-1
Happ gets 100th career win, Blue Jays top Orioles 5-1
Discussion:
Camden Chat, Bluebird Banter and UPI
Dave Campbell / Toronto Sun:
Kinsler, Upton power Angels past Twins 4-2 — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Los Angeles Angels are missing some significant pieces of their team. The Minnesota Twins are down several important players, too. — With a couple of clutch hits and a strong night by the bullpen, the Angels taught a lesson in resiliency.
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Mike Berardino / Twin Cities:
Late homer victimizes Ryan Pressly again in 4-2 Twins loss
Late homer victimizes Ryan Pressly again in 4-2 Twins loss
Discussion:
Twinkie Town and Halos Heaven
UPI:
Last-place Marlins looking to beat Padres again — The Miami Marlins — this weekend celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first season — are looking for a big series against the visiting San Diego Padres. — The Marlins got off to a good start in that endeavor on Friday, shutting out the Padres 4-0.
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UPI:
Frustrated Jake Arrieta back on the hill for Phils to face Brewers — Jake Arrieta returns to the mound Saturday for the first time since calling out the Philadelphia Phillies' defensive strategy after a frustrating loss. — Arrieta will face the Milwaukee Brewers as the Phillies try to avoid their fourth straight loss.
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball
Stephania BellESPN Senior / ESPN:
What you need to know about Shohei Ohtani's injury — The news Friday that dual threat Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is headed to the disabled list with a Grade 2 ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprain in his right (throwing) elbow immediately sent ripples through the baseball world.
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Baltimore Sun:
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin throws out first — and second — pitches at Nationals game — Fans celebrated the Capitals' first Stanley Cup championship Thursday night and early Friday morning in Washington. — With the Stanley Cup sitting near the mound and the Capitals behind him …
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Phillies injury updates: Rhys Hoskins could return Saturday; Jerad Eickhoff won't need surgery — The final hurdle to Rhys Hoskins' return from the disabled list could be the protective helmet that was en route Friday afternoon to Citizens Bank Park. — Hoskins is “pretty hopeful” …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors and The Good Phight
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Connor Byrne / MLB Trade Rumors:
Nationals Activate Adam Eaton, Release Rafael Bautista — The Nationals have activated outfielder Adam Eaton from the 60-day disabled list, per a team announcement. In corresponding moves, the Nationals released outfielder Rafael Bautista and optioned right-hander Wander Suero to Triple-A.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball and MLB Daily Dish
Toronto Sun:
A's Bassitt to make season debut against Royals — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics plan to promote right-hander Chris Bassitt from Triple-A for his 2018 major league debut on Saturday afternoon in their quest for a third consecutive win over the reeling Kansas City Royals.