Top News:
ESPN:
MLB Weekend Watch: Predictions, questions for all the top games — The defending champion Red Sox head to Tampa still mired in a season-long slump. Fresh off an onslaught of the Cardinals, Christian Yelich leads the Brewers against the Dodgers in a rematch of last week's series.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
RELATED:
ESPN:
Red Sox's Pedroia (knee) placed on injured list
Red Sox's Pedroia (knee) placed on injured list
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors and Associated Press
Chris Cotillo / Union-News:
Boston Red Sox sign lefty reliever Jeremy Bleich to minor-league deal
Boston Red Sox sign lefty reliever Jeremy Bleich to minor-league deal
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, NESN.com and NBCSports.com
Dick Scanlon / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Rickard's RBI double in 11th lifts Rays past Orioles 6-5
Rickard's RBI double in 11th lifts Rays past Orioles 6-5
Discussion:
Camden Chat
David Ginsburg / scores.nbcsportsbayarea.com:
MLB Headlines — WASHINGTON (AP) Now this is what the Washington Nationals were looking for when they plunked down $140 million to add Patrick Corbin to the rotation. — Corbin took a one-hitter into the eighth inning to earn his first win with Washington, and the Nationals beat …
Discussion:
Associated Press, NBC Bay Area, NBCSports.com and Marin Independent Journal
RELATED:
Alex Pavlovic / NBCSports.com:
Giants pitchers dig too deep a hole for hitters in loss to Nationals
Giants pitchers dig too deep a hole for hitters in loss to Nationals
Discussion:
Federal Baseball, NBC Bay Area, MLB Baseball News … and scores.nbcsportsbayarea.com
ESPN:
Indians prospect Benson hits 4 HRs in A-ball — Cleveland Indians prospect Will Benson hit four home runs for Class-A Lake County on Thursday night. — He's the first minor leaguer to hit four homers in a game since 2014, when Yankees prospect Mike Ford hit four for Class-A Charleston …
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Tucker Barnhart says 'it's just a matter of time' before the Cincinnati Reds break out offensively — SAN DIEGO - Looking around the clubhouse, Reds hitters feel like they can break out of their offensive struggles at any time. They feel like they have too many proven hitters to stay in a funk.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Gaslamp Ball and Red Reporter
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Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Robert Stephenson, pitching well out of Cincinnati Reds' bullpen, lets go of expectations
Robert Stephenson, pitching well out of Cincinnati Reds' bullpen, lets go of expectations
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and New York Post
Bill Madden / New York Daily News:
The Rays are once again out ahead of baseball — and the AL East — ST. PETERSBURG - This isn't funny anymore. — For the past couple of years, we've been making fun of the Tampa Bay Rays for trying to re-invent the game with all their unconventional analytic gimmickry …
ESPN:
Sources: A's slugger Davis gets $33.5M extension — Oakland Athletics slugger Khris Davis has signed a two-year extension that will keep him under contract through the 2021 season, the team announced Thursday. — The A's did not disclose financial terms, but sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan that the deal is for $33.5 million.
RELATED:
Dieter Kurtenbach / Mercury News:
Extending Khris Davis was the first step the A's needed to make
Extending Khris Davis was the first step the A's needed to make
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees need to light a spark against Royals this weekend — NEW YORK — Suddenly, the New York Yankees are searching for a new spark, with CC Sabathia set to make his second start of the season Friday night. — Sabathia is scheduled to oppose Kansas City Royals right-hander Jakob Junis …
Discussion:
Royals Review
Associated Press:
Rangers option lefty Bird to Triple-A Nashville — ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have optioned left-hander Kyle Bird to Triple-A Nashville after his second stint in the majors this season. — Bird has a 6.75 ERA with a save in five relief appearances for the Rangers in his first big league action.
RELATED:
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Pete Alonso would love to get a crack at Home Run Derby in Cleveland — If they asked, the Mets' rookie first baseman “absolutely” would like to be involved and said doing the Derby is something he has long thought about. — PHILADELPHIA — The question was going to come eventually, so mid-April seems as good a time as any.
Discussion:
SNY and Beyond the Box Score
David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Real or not? World Series hangovers are a bunch of nonsense — Last spring training, after the Astros had won the World Series, then-Houston starter Dallas Keuchel was asked about the possibility of a World Series hangover. Keuchel's response: “We're not the Cubs.”
Joe Totoraitis / Associated Press:
Bellinger, Muncy, Urias lead Dodgers past Brewers 3-1 — Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich chatted in the outfield after batting practice ended. Once Thursday's game started, the bats of the National League home run co-leaders kept the exchange going. — Bellinger hit his 10th home run …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Charles Odum / ABC News:
Walker's 2-run HR helps Diamondbacks sweep Braves, 4-1 — Christian Walker continues late-innings magic with 2-run homer as Diamondbacks beat Braves 4-1 to complete 3-game sweep — Christian Walker had no reason to panic when he struck out in his first three at-bats.
Discussion:
Talking Chop
Mike Sheets / ESPN:
Fantasy baseball daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Saturday — Saturday brings us plenty of aces, with Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Nola and Trevor Bauer all taking the mound. In the next tier, we have Jameson Taillon, Luis Castillo, Charlie Morton, Zack Greinke …
Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune:
Ryan Burr and Josh Osich represent two extremes of the White Sox bullpen — Chicago Tribune — White Sox relievers Josh Osich and Ryan Burr suit up next to each other in the clubhouse — but there situations couldn't be more different. — Burr, 24, was a late-summer call-up last season …
Nick Friar / WEEI:
Red Sox Farm Report: Bryan Mata hasn't given up an earned run since his first start — Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata hasn't made too many mistakes on the mound in his three starts for Class-A Advanced Salem this season. He has given up one earned run (0.54 ERA), three walks and 11 hits (0.90 WHIP) over 16 2/3 innings.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Pete Grathoff / Kansas City Star:
Two Royals players want to race The Freeze during series in Atlanta — The Royals' schedule this year includes games against the National League East teams, so they'll be in Atlanta for a two-game series in July. — That will give the team a chance to watch Nigel Talton do his thing.
Discussion:
Bleacher Report and Royals Review
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Yankees To Sign Logan Morrison — 11:16am: ESPN's Jeff Passan tweets that Morrison's deal comes with a July 1 opt-out and a $1MM base salary at the MLB level (though that salary would presumably be pro-rated). — 11:06am: The Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, New York Post and River Avenue Blues