Chicago Cubs win 5-4 on opening day — and Seiya Suzuki goes 1-for-2 in his MLB debut  —  Chicago Cubs manager David Ross burst through the door into postgame news-conference room, prepared to drop a question before facing his own.  —  “Who had Nico in the first-homer pool?” a beaming Ross asked.

Buck Showalter, all business, not ready to reflect on emotions of Opening Day just yet  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Buck Showalter on Thursday managed a game for the first time since Sept. 30, 2018.  A lot has changed in the 1,285 days between his last time in a major-league dugout …

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox remain at odds over contract ahead of season opener  —  NEW YORK — With shortstop Xander Bogaerts set to opt out of his contract after 2022, the question of whether he will be back with the Boston Red Sox next year looms over the team's season.

Yankees don't agree to extension with Aaron Judge, star will play 2022 on one-year deal  —  Even before Gerrit Cole threw the first pitch Friday, the Yankees took a loss.  Less than two hours before the start of the Bombers' 2022 season, Brian Cashman announced that the team had failed …

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. acknowledges rift with former teammate Freddie Freeman  —  MLB, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers  —  ATLANTA — Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. acknowledged an internal rift with former teammate Freddie Freeman during an interview late Wednesday …

Knicks blow 21-point lead in loss; Nets still control play-in destiny  —  Another game against the Nets, another collapse from the Knicks at MSG.  —  After leading by as many as 21 in the second half, the Knicks' offense completely deteriorated down the stretch and the Nets maintained control …

The inside story of how Miami Heat center Dewayne Dedmon became ‘The Mechanic’  —  MIAMI — The most remarkable part of how Dewayne Dedmon became “The Mechanic” might not be the way a social-media account created a nickname that went viral to the degree of formally being adopted by the Miami Heat.

Pittsburgh Pirates, 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes reportedly agree to eight-year, $70 million deal  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates are building around third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes.  —  The Pirates and Hayes, 25, have come to terms on a new eight-year, $70 million deal pending Hayes passing a physical, according to multiple reports.

How Kelsie Whitmore Became the Face of Women's Baseball Progress  —  The 23-year-old signed with the Atlantic League's Staten Island FerryHawks on Thursday.  She hopes she won't be the last.  —  View the original article to see embedded media.  —  The thing to understand …

April 4, 1989: With bases loaded, Chicago Cubs reliever Mitch Williams strikes out the side to preserve a win  —  This story originally ran in the Chicago Tribune on April 5, 1989.  —  The guy giggling the most, it turns out, wasn't Mitch Williams.  It wasn't Don Zimmer.  —  It was another pitcher, Paul Kilgus.

Sources: Minnesota Twins to acquire Chris Paddack in deal with San Diego Padres  —  MLB, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres  —  The Minnesota Twins have agreed to acquire right-handers Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan in a trade with the San Diego Padres, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Thursday.

‘It just sort of whispers to you’: How MLB players feel about the PitchCom device that could end sign-stealing  —  Watch Video: Is MLB Opening Day still special?  —  WASHINGTON — For his entire career, New York Mets catcher James McCann has dropped into his squat behind home plate …