Top News:
Joon Lee / ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
Boston.com, Union-News, Call to the Pen, NBCSports.com and CBS Boston
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
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 …
Discussion:
Mercury News
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Max Scherzer ready to go for Mets debut in ‘crazy, wild atmosphere’ against Nationals — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Max Scherzer anticipated that his hamstring tightness would take just a few days to clear up, and this is Mets fans' first lesson that they should have no reason to doubt him.
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated and MLB Baseball News …
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
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.
Discussion:
Mercury News
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Stefan Bondy / New York Daily News:
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 …
Discussion:
NetsDaily
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Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets' resilience makes them contenders despite odds — The Nets play their best basketball with their backs against the wall. That's why their championship hopes are still alive in what looks like a lost season. — The Nets trailed by 17 points at the half and faced a deficit as large …
Discussion:
New York Post and Newsday
Coley Harvey / ESPN:
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 …
Discussion:
New York Post
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USA Today:
2022 MLB predictions: World Series and award picks for the baseball season
Discussion:
Associated Press and MLB Baseball News …
Jakegellerman / NBC Sports Pressbox:
PEACOCK BECOMES EXCLUSIVE HOME OF NEW SUNDAY MORNING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME PACKAGE, TO BE PRODUCED BY NBC SPORTS, BEGINNING IN MAY
Discussion:
Lookout Landing, Associated Press, Baseball America, Plain Dealer, Bleacher Nation, MLB Baseball News … and NBCSports.com
Ira Winderman / Sun-Sentinel:
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.
Discussion:
Boston Herald
ESPN:
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.
Howard Megdal / Sports Illustrated:
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 …
Discussion:
The Athletic
ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
New York Post, Sports Illustrated, Gaslamp Ball, DraftKings Nation and Call to the Pen
Alan Solomon / Chicago Tribune:
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.
Discussion:
Denver Post
Christina Hager / CBS Boston:
Milk Cartons Contaminated With Sanitizer Sent To Boston Public Schools — BOSTON (CBS) — Milk cartons sent to Boston Public Schools from Garelick Farms in Franklin were contaminated with sanitizer, WBZ-TV has learned. — The tainted milk was distributed to at least three schools in Boston …
Discussion:
Union-News, Boston.com and Boston Herald
Julia Poe / Chicago Tribune:
Lonzo Ball won't return to Chicago Bulls following setbacks after surgery: ‘He brings a different type of swagger to us’ — Lonzo Ball will not return this season after setbacks in his recovery from knee surgery, the Chicago Bulls announced Wednesday. — Ball underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee Jan. 28.
Discussion:
Pippen Ain't Easy
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