Top News:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Waino going old school: He'll rely on precision, not power, to get hitters out — LAKELAND, Fla. • In what had to be the longest game-planning session in Matt Wieters' career and maybe a record for a spring training game, he and Adam Wainwright spent the 2 ½-hour drive …
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals' dandy defensive plays steal outs, keep Wainwright tidy vs. Tigers — LAKELAND, Fla. • Had Cardinals left fielder Jose Martinez's reach been an inch shorter or his 6-foot-6 frame been only 6-foot-4, the third inning might well have been over for Adam Wainwright and not the Tigers.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notes: ‘Big target’ Wieters begins bid to be Molina's backup — LAKELAND, Fla. • A few times in his first week with the Cardinals, veteran catcher Matt Wieters has mentioned how he despises being late. Ask his wife, he has said. Ask his family, he insisted.
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer on his fastball: It will come, don't worry — LAKELAND, Fla. — He knew the questions were coming, so after every few pitches during Monday afternoon's spring training start, Michael Fulmer would walk back to the mound and check the radar gun readings on the scoreboard.
Associated Press:
Dodgers ace Kershaw could miss opening day start — Clayton Kershaw might not be on the mound when the two-time NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers start the season. — The lefty ace is working his way back from shoulder soreness that caused him to shut down his spring training.
RELATED:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Clayton Kershaw may not be ready to pitch in Dodgers' season opener
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Baseball News … and True Blue LA
Kyle Goon / Orange County Register:
Clippers knock out Lakers, likely ending their playoff dreams — LOS ANGELES — Just over a month ago, LeBron James made a triumphant return against the Clippers - the franchise that's so often played second fiddle in their own town. — Monday night, the Clippers paid him back …
Discussion:
New York Times and Whittier Daily News
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Mirjam Swanson / Orange County Register:
Clippers-Lakers game Monday comes with motivation aplenty
Discussion:
Daily Breeze and Daily News
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Al Leiter realizes another Mets dream — PORT ST. LUCIE — Al Leiter is ditching the Yankees TV booth for a seat within Brodie Van Wagenen's cabinet. — Leiter, who suited up for both New York teams during his near two decades in the big leagues, will serve as a baseball operations advisor for the Mets, the team announced on Monday.
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Mets notes: Steven Matz is finally ‘growing up’ — Steven Matz looked like a pro in his second start of spring Monday, but his final pitching line wouldn't show it. Matz allowed four earned runs on five hits (one home run) with two walks and two strikeouts over 2.2 innings during the Mets' 9-3 loss to Boston.
Associated Press:
Twins tap All-Star Berrios to start on opening day — FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jose Berrios will be Minnesota's Opening Day starter, the first such assignment for the 24-year-old right-hander. — Twins manager Rocco Baldelli announced the decision to reporters on Monday, a natural honor for the team's only All-Star last season.
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Snapshots from the first half of new-look Blue Jays spring training — DUNEDIN - Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, always glad to chat about his two kids, shared a conversation he had with his 11-year-old son Alex the other day. — The update from his off-season home centred around …
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Daily Record:
Amed Rosario hit by pitch on hand, but X-ray brings good news — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The Mets seemingly have avoided a major concern as X-rays taken on Amed Rosario's left hand came back negative. — Rosario left Monday's 9-3 loss to the Red Sox after being hit by a pitch.
Associated Press:
Hanley Ramirez 0-for-3 in Indians' spring training debut — PEORIA, Ariz. — Hanley Ramirez had a low-key start to spring training with the Cleveland Indians. — The 35-year-old flied out twice and grounded into a double play during Monday's 8-0 loss to San Diego. — “Slowly getting my timing back,” he said.
J.P. Hoornstra / Whittier Daily News:
Kaleb Cowart's grand slam helps Angels tie White Sox — THE GAME: The Angels (7-3-1) played to a 6-6 tie with the Chicago White Sox (3-6-1) on Monday afternoon in a nine-inning game played before 3,796 at Camelback Ranch. — HITTING REPORT: Jarrett Parker, who is battling for the fourth outfielder's job …
Discussion:
Orange County Register and South Side Sox
Patrick Mooney / The Athletic:
Sources: Cubs restructure Brad Brach's contract, but 'everything's fine' after long free-agency process — MESA, Ariz. - In the end, Brad Brach is happy to be here. — This is a chance to close games, return to the playoffs and maybe earn a World Series ring.
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue, MLB Baseball News …, MLB Trade Rumors and Bleacher Nation
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks' Rubby De La Rosa dominates in latest spring outing, but could open season in minors — Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa's two outings thus far this spring rank among the more electric of any Diamondbacks pitcher so far in camp. Still, the odds might not be in De La Rosa's favor …
Chad Jennings / The Athletic:
Red Sox don't have a closer, and they appear to have a plan to keep it that way — FORT MYERS, Fla. — When it became apparent in early December that the Red Sox had no intention of re-signing Craig Kimbrel, the natural question became: Who will replace a potential Hall of Famer as the team's closer?
Discussion:
NBCSports.com and NESN.com
Marlowe Alter / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers live chat: Talk baseball with Anthony Fenech at 10 a.m. — Welcome to our Detroit Tigers live chat Tuesday at 10 a.m., with our Tigers beat writer Anthony Fenech. — If you have a question about spring training, the 2019 season or baseball in general, leave it below.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Bubba thump: Rangers prospect makes most of time in big-league spring game with homer — Bubba Thompson won't be in the major leagues this season, and there's a pretty good chance he won't be making his big-league debut in 2020 in the first season of Globe Life Field.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Volquez ‘great’ after two spring starts, but why does he think stadium radar gun is ailing? — The lineup the Colorado Rockies hauled out to Surprise Stadium on Monday won't be confused with the Blake Street Bombers from the mid-1990s and early 2000s. — The Rockies, in fact …
