Column On Vin Scully's first opening day in retirement, he engaged in ‘that other national pastime, paying bills’  —  Shaking the sleep out of their old ballpark, awakening their urgency to end a title drought, the Dodgers majestically opened the 2017 baseball season Monday afternoon with a perfect two-part greeting.

Noah Syndergaard exits with blister, Mets unload in seventh inning to shut out Braves 6-0 on Opening Day  —  In six innings Monday, Noah Syndergaard gave the Mets fans hope and then reminded them just how fragile that hope can be.  The ace threw six scoreless innings before he was forced …

The 65-win Cubs?!?  Tales from MLB's 2017 alternative timelines  —  You probably saw Theo Epstein's quote after Fortune named him the world's greatest leader: “The whole thing is patently ridiculous.  It's baseball — a pastime involving a lot of chance.  If Zobrist's ball is three inches farther off …

Sources: Romo To Land With CBS; Could Replace Simms As Top Analyst … Tony Romo will be a TV analyst with CBS next season, according to sources.  A deal has yet to be signed, but CBS and Romo have reached a verbal agreement.  The Cowboys QB is expected to replace Phil Simms as the net's top game analyst …

Trumbo's 11th-inning homer lifts Orioles over Blue Jays 3-2 … BALTIMORE — Five months later, the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays reprised their winner-take-all postseason showdown.  —  The stakes weren't as high, yet the drama was palpable and the game was eerily similar.

Mets' Steven Matz says he has strained flexor tendon in left elbow  —  The official reason for Steven Matz's latest stint on the disabled list is “left elbow inflammation.”  But the Mets lefthander said doctors have diagnosed him with a strained flexor tendon in his elbow.

Paul DePodesta: The Brain Behind the Browns Rebuild  —  Cleveland's crafty chief strategy officer plays coy when pressed on how he plans to help the franchise return to relevancy.  But here are a few clues into the Browns' draft strategy.  Plus items on Adrian Peterson visiting the Pats …

Games of the Day  —  The Pirates visit Fenway Park as Gerrit Cole takes on the Red Sox and reigning Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello.  Cole is coming off a down year in which injuries limited his playing time and led to his walk and home run rates going up.

Jake Odorizzi: Rays' best pitcher of 2016 looks to another season of consistency  —  ST. PETERSBURG — A dozen or so reporters and cameramen crowded around Chris Archer's locker Friday, a throng so thick it spilled to the adjoining locker, which belongs to Jake Odorizzi.

Reds could live or die by rookie pitchers in 2017 … CONNECT  —  The 2017 rotation was looked a lot different in January.  It looked more veteran.  —  Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani were supposed to be healthy, not felled until June with elbow problems.