Tigers Overcome Valverde Slip, Beat Red Sox 3-2  —  DETROIT (AP) — Jose Valverde figured this day was coming.  At some point, the jovial closer was finally going to blow a save and end a streak that dated to 2010.  —  When he gave up a ninth-inning lead Thursday in Detroit's season opener against Boston …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.