Red Sox at Orioles Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 2  —  Its Wednesday, April 2 and the Red Sox (1-4) take the field at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles (3-2) in Game 2 of their three-game series.

Jackson Merrill and Padres agree to 9-year, $135 million contract for 2026-34  —  SAN DIEGO — All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres agreed to a nine-year, $135 million contract covering 2026-34.  —  Merrill's deal includes a $30 million team option for 2035 …

Diamondbacks at Yankees Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends and stats for April 2  —  Its Wednesday, April 2 and the Diamondbacks (3-2) are in the Bronx to take on the Yankees (3-1) in Game 2 of this three-game series.  —  Zac Gallen is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Carlos Rodón for New York

Red Sox' surprise deal has different ‘risk;’ ‘Best days are ahead of him’  —  BALTIMORE — The Red Sox gave Garrett Crochet a six-year, $170 million extension despite him logging only 151 innings total as a major league starting pitcher to date.  —  Most contracts this lucrative are given based on past production.

Yankees bring back reliever Adam Ottavino on one-year deal  —  NEW YORK — Right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Yankees on Tuesday.  —  Ottavino, who pitched for the Yankees in 2019 and 2020, gets $1 million while in the major leagues and $150,000 while in the minors.

Jokes abound as Dodgers' Freddie Freeman misses 2nd game while recovering from shower slip and fall  —  LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman is hearing it after he slipped and fell in the shower, injuring his surgically repaired right ankle and missing his second straight game for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mets pitcher Sean Manaea shut down from throwing after setback in recovery from oblique injury  —  MIAMI — New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea had a setback in his recovery from a right oblique strain and won't throw for two weeks.  —  “He experienced some discomfort a couple of days ago …

MLB Uses Tech to Shorten Food Lines While Game Time Shrinks  —  Major League Baseball updated its rulebook in 2023 to increase the pace of action on the field.  But the changes put concessionaires on the clock, too.  —  Rishav Dash, senior director of analytics for Delaware North's sports business …

Val Kilmer, Film Star Who Played Batman and Jim Morrison, Dies at 65  —  A wide-ranging leading man who earned critical praise, he was known to be charismatic but unpredictable.  At one point he dropped out of Hollywood for a decade.  —  Val Kilmer, a homegrown Hollywood actor …

Lance Lynn, World Series champion and 2-time All-Star pitcher, says he's retiring  —  World Series champion and two-time All-Star pitcher Lance Lynn is retiring from Major League Baseball.  —  Lynn announced his decision on the “Dymin in the Rough” podcast.  —  He was 7-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 23 starts last season with St. Louis.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz has monster game using ‘torpedo bat’  —  It didn't take long for Elly De La Cruz to find his way with the much-talked-about “torpedo” bat.  —  The Cincinnati Reds star had a performance for the ages while using the new style of bat for the first time …

Athletics' Sacramento Era Begins With Minor-League Feel  —  WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Major League Baseball arrived at the California state capital area Monday night, and everyone was on their best behavior trying to deal with a less-than-ideal situation for the Athletics.