Top News:
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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Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Mets Merized Online and Amazin' Avenue
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
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:
Boston Globe, Detroit Free Press, Over the Monster and baseballmusings.com
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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, DRaysBay, Yahoo! Sports 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
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 …
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
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
Jordan Bastian / MLB.com:
Indians hope Sizemore can return in June — CLEVELAND — The Indians are holding out hope that Grady Sizemore will be able to help them at some point this summer. If the sidelined center fielder does return to the lineup, it will not be until the first week of June at the earliest.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe, Batter's Box Interactive …, HardballTalk and SI Tracking Blog
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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:
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