Top News:
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Flu knocks Kershaw out of Dodgers' opener — SAN DIEGO — Dodgers Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw was removed from his Opening Day start in the fourth inning on Thursday against the Padres with the stomach flu. — Kershaw, appearing stiff and struggling to reach 90 mph with his fastball …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
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Associated Press:
Volquez Walks in 2 Runs, Loses Padres Debut — SAN DIEGO (AP) — It wasn't a great day for starting pitchers at Petco Park, especially for San Diego's Edinson Volquez. — Volquez walked in the Los Angeles Dodgers' first two runs and the Padres went on to a 5-3 loss on Thursday.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Michael Baron / MetsBlog.com:
Kirk Nieuwenhuis expected to join Mets — Kirk Nieuwenhuis is expected to join the Mets when Andres Torres is placed on the disabled list on Saturday, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. — Torres strained his calf muscle chasing a ball in the right-centerfield gap during today's game, forcing him to exit early.
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Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Notes: Bard, Lester, Padilla — The last time the Red Sox played a regular season game, they lost to the Orioles and the 2011 season ended in heart-breaking fashion. They'll look to start the 2012 season off with a win when they take on the defending AL Central champions in Detroit this afternoon.
Discussion:
Detroit Free Press, Boston Globe, Surviving Grady, Over the Monster and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Peter Schworm / Boston Globe:
Sox fans hope for a team they can love
Sox fans hope for a team they can love
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Over the Monster, Yahoo! Sports, DRaysBay and Surviving Grady
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Choice words — Valentine settles on Aceves as closer in Bailey's absence
Choice words — Valentine settles on Aceves as closer in Bailey's absence
Discussion:
The Soxaholix
Will Graves / Associated Press:
Halladay cruises, Phillies beat Pirates 1-0 — PITTSBURGH—If only Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies had gotten this 1-0 win last October. — Halladay was nearly flawless for eight innings Thursday and the Phillies showed off their pitching from the start, opening a new season by edging the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Discussion:
Blogging Baseball
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Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Host of Pirates experience first Opening Day — PITTSBURGH — Every Opening Day stirs everyone's butterflies and emotions, because the first game of a season comes only once. But if it is your first Opening Day — one can only imagine the buzz. — Nearly one-third of the Pirates …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
Joe Kay / Associated Press:
Cueto leads Reds over Marlins 4-0 — CINCINNATI—Jay Bruce homered and drove in a pair of runs, and Johnny Cueto dominated in his first opening-day start, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday before one of their biggest crowds.
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and Yahoo! Sports
Globe and Mail:
Blue Jays triumph in longest opening day game in baseball history — J.P. Arencibia's three-run homer in the 16th inning sent the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday in the longest opening-day game in major league history. — Arencibia was for 6 …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
Larry Granillo / Baseball Prospectus:
It's Groundhog Day, Bob. Who're You Gonna Call? — Look for an “Opening Day(s)” Tater Trot Tracker post this weekend. Before I get a chance at that, though, I couldn't pass up the brilliance that occurred this afternoon at Wrigley Field. — As is fairly typical for the first game of the season …
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wainwright impressed by Cain's deal — Image — MIAMI • Adam Wainwright was preparing to hit a drive Monday afternoon when he paused to scan a text message from his brother, Trey. — The text was rather matter of fact: The San Francisco Giants had just signed righthanded starting …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Bill Chastain / MLB.com:
Rays place Farnsworth on disabled list — ST. PETERSBURG — As expected, the Rays placed right-hander Kyle Farnsworth on the disabled list Thursday with a strained right elbow. — To take Farnsworth's place, Tampa Bay recalled right-hander Josh Lueke from Triple-A Durham.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Rest of baseball catching up with big spenders — NEW YORK—The rest of baseball is starting to catch up with the big spenders. — The Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels all had hefty boosts in payroll during the offseason along with the Tampa Bay Rays …
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated