Top News:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks fall to Chicago Cubs 5-1 in chilly afternoon game — CHICAGO - Kyle Hendricks struck out a season-high 11 over seven scoreless innings in his first win, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Friday. — Hendricks (1-3) became the third consecutive Cubs starter …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Will walk-happy Yu Darvish get things under control? Cubs manager Joe Maddon isn't concerned — Photos from the Cubs' 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon, April 19, 2019 at Wrigley Field. — Chicago Tribune — Yu Darvish ranked last in the majors Friday with 7.6 walks per 9 innings …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon dislikes bat flips — a ‘generational thing’ — but lets his Cubs players do what they want
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Kyle Hendricks looks to get out of rut as Cubs face Diamondbacks at windy Wrigley Field
Kyle Hendricks looks to get out of rut as Cubs face Diamondbacks at windy Wrigley Field
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Diamondbacks land versatile Blake Swihart in trade with Red Sox, won't use him at catcher right away — CHICAGO - In acquiring Blake Swihart from the Boston Red Sox on Friday afternoon, the Diamondbacks added a catcher whom they don't plan on using behind the plate - at least not right away, according to General Manager Mike Hazen.
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Justin Leger / NBCSports.com:
Red Sox trade catcher Blake Swihart to Diamondbacks
Red Sox trade catcher Blake Swihart to Diamondbacks
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, AZ Snake Pit and NESN.com
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker one of the best in MLB in late-inning production
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:
NESN.com, MLB Baseball News …, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Trade Rumors and NBCSports.com
Stu Durando / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mets chase Wainwright in fourth, lead Cardinals 4-1 — The New York Mets chased Adam Wainwright from the game in the fourth inning as they scored four runs off the Cardinals starter and missed out on an opportunity to blow the game open. — Wainwright allowed eight hits and walked three while throwing 86 pitches.
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Stu Durando / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mets score twice in first inning against Wainwright — The New York Mets scored twice on three hits in the first inning at Busch Stadium after Adam Wainwright retired the first two batters. — Robinson Cano started things with a double over right fielder Jose Martinez's head.
Jordan McPherson / Miami Herald:
Marlins hold on to defeat Nationals after another strong performance from Caleb Smith — The Miami Marlins hoped that their off day came at the right time. After enduring a 15 game stretch that included five shutout losses and just two wins, maybe a 24-hour respite would be enough for the team …
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Greg Joyce / New York Post:
Jacob deGrom going for elbow MRI in Mets' catastrophe — ST. LOUIS — Turns out strep throat was the least of Jacob deGrom's concerns. — The Mets ace won't make his pushed-back start on Saturday, after all. Instead, deGrom flew to New York on Friday and will undergo an MRI Saturday on his right elbow …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Amazin' Avenue and baseballmusings.com
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Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Off-season talk with an ex coach who died two weeks later fueled this lefty's turnaround — Every player who comes to the major leagues for the first time has a story to tell, and left-hander Brett Martin is no different. — Recalled for the first time Friday from Triple A Nashville …
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:
Pinstripe Alley and Royals Review
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Ken Davidoff / New York Post:
Yankees need to fatten up against bad teams before it's too late
Yankees need to fatten up against bad teams before it's too late
Discussion:
River Avenue Blues
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 …
Bobby Nightengale / Cincinnati.com:
Despite record, Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation has exceeded expectations — SAN DIEGO - During the offseason, the Reds made improving their starting pitching their top priority. They added three starters, Tanner Roark, Sonny Gray and Alex Wood, and hoped that their young starters would improve with more competition around them.
Discussion:
Red Reporter and Gaslamp Ball
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Joe Jimenez takes struggles in stride: 'It's not going to last' — With a bit of distance, Joe Jimenez was able to process things as he ran his left foot over a vibrating massage ball. — The back-to-back bad outings? In the past. The temporary demotion from his setup spot in the Detroit Tigers bullpen?
Brendan Kuty / New Jersey Online:
WATCH: Yankees' Clint Frazier hits 95 mph with incredible throw … NEW YORK — In the video above, watch Yankees right fielder Clint Frazier unleash an impressive throw from right field to throw out Royals catcher Martin Maldonado in the third inning of a game at Yankee Stadium on Friday night.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays add pitcher Casey Sadler to bullpen, put Mike Zunino on paternity list in series of moves — Pitcher Emilio Pagan optioned to Triple-A, catcher Nick Ciuffo called up. — ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays added right-hander Casey Sadler to their bullpen and placed catcher Mike Zunino on the paternity list in a series of moves.
Discussion:
DRaysBay and MLB Trade Rumors
New York Daily News:
White Sox' Tim Anderson hit with 1-game ban for crime of getting beaned while black … What exactly did Tim Anderson do to deserve a one-game ban? — The White Sox shortstop was the victim of a fastball to the butt in retaliation for the high baseball crime of celebrating a home run earlier this week.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bless You Boys and South Side Sox
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
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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