Cubs at Athletics Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 2  —  Its Wednesday, April 2 and the Cubs (4-4) are in Sacramento for the series finale against the Athletics (2-4).  —  Jameson Taillon is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Jeffrey Springs for Oakland

Padres Sign Jackson Merrill To Nine-Year Extension  —  The Padres announced that they have signed star outfielder Jackson Merrill to a nine-year contract extension that runs through 2034 with a club option for 2035.  Reportedly, it guarantees the star $135MM.

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 …

MLB's average salary tops $5 million for first time  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball's average salary broke the $5 million barrier on opening day for the first time, according to a study by The Associated Press.  —  The New York Mets, with Juan Soto's record $61.9 million pay …

After cheating death, Dodgers pitcher Dustin May makes his way back to the mound a changed man  —  LOS ANGELES — Dustin May took the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers a changed man.  —  Making his first major league start since May 17, 2023, he allowed just one hit and an unearned run …

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 …

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.