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3:30 PM ET, March 17, 2018

Ballbug

 Top News: 
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Smart baserunning from speedy Arozarena sends Cardinals ahead  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  • After watching four consecutive doughnuts hit the scoreboard Saturday, the Cardinals turned to speed.  —  Randy Arozarena delivered, sliding home headfirst in a cloud of chalk dust.
RELATED:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Ozuna sidesteps scare, Cardinals leave bases loaded  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  • The Cardinals loaded the bases but could not take advantage in the second inning of Saturday afternoon's Grapefruit League game against the Braves at Champion Stadium on the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Molina has two homers, a single and a double  —  • Along about the fourth inning of Friday's exhibition game, acting Cardinals manager Mike Shildt asked catcher Yadier Molina if he wanted to come out of the game when starter Michael Wacha exited.  Wacha whipped through six innings in 65 pitches …
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Final push for roster spots continues as Voit, Pena head to Disney  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  • With a little more than a week remaining in Florida before the Cardinals head to Canada and their gateway to the regular season, there are few questions remaining on the roster.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:   Bader races headlong after Cardinals bench spot
Mark Gonzales / Sacramento Bee:
Cubs starters set sights on surpassing ‘outstanding’ 2016 results  —  MESA, ARIZ.  —  To top the Cubs starting pitchers of 2016 to become manager Joe Maddon's best rotation, the current crop at least must match that group's 81 victories while compiling a 2.96 ERA.
RELATED:
Dylan Hernandez / Sacramento Bee:
Extending Dodgers manager Dave Roberts should be a no-brainer
Discussion: True Blue LA
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Yu Darvish gets a taste of hitting and baserunning against White Sox
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
Jorge Soler has gone unnoticed in outfield this spring.  Here's why that's a good thing  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  The work took place in blocks, long before the first pitch of a Cactus League ballgame here was ever played this spring.  —  Before the demotion to Class AAA Omaha …
RELATED:
Maria Torres / Kansas City Star:
In first spring game, Royals' Moustakas felt weird facing Hosmer but good at plate  —  On a Sunday five months ago — a picture-perfect, early fall day at Kauffman Stadium — third baseman Mike Moustakas played what he thought was his last game in a Royals uniform.
Discussion: MLB Daily Dish
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets' Yoenis Cespedes to test sore right wrist in minor-league game Saturday  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Yoenis Cespedes will take at-bats in a minor league game Saturday.  —  The Mets outfielder had not played in several days because of a sore right wrist.  He had a cortisone shot in the wrist Tuesday.
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Mets don't think Jason Vargas will ready for start of season after suffering hand injury
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:   Mets say Jason Vargas day-to-day, X-rays negative after lefty hit in glove hand
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees name Luis Severino Opening Day starter, Jordan Montgomery to start home opener  —  LAKELAND — It's Sevy's time.  —  Luis Severino will start for the Yankees on Opening Day against the Blue Jays, Aaron Boone announced Saturday.  The Bombers open the 2018 season in Rogers Centre on March 29.
RELATED:
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Jacoby Ellsbury isn't likely to be ready for Yankees opener, Clint Frazier progressing
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:   Yankees may have a dangerous lineup, but their rotation has nothing on the Astros'
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Altuve, Astros add $151 million to contract  —  A person familiar with the negotiations says American League MVP Jose Altuve and the World Series champion Houston Astros have agreed to a contract that guarantees him an additional $151 million over five seasons from 2020-24.
RELATED:
Jon Heyman / FanRag Sports:
Altuve agrees to extension with Astros
Thomas Lott / Sporting News:
Jose Altuve reportedly to sign huge 5-year extension with Astros
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Batting second for your Texas Rangers ... Joey Gallo?  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  Joey Gallo is 6-foot-5, and within his 255 pounds are layers of muscle that help contribute to his jaw-dropping power and home runs that frequently land 450 feet away.  —  Now, take that image …
Discussion: Lone Star Ball
Todd Rosiak / JSOnline:
Brewers prospect Trent Grisham changes name, seeks to write a new chapter in 2018  —  PHOENIX — The 2018 season will serve as a fresh start for Milwaukee Brewers prospect Trent Grisham in a couple ways.  —  First and most obvious is the last name.  He was known as Trent Clark when the Brewers …
ESPN:
Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman expects to make April 1 start  —  Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman, who has been slowed this spring by a shoulder injury, said Saturday he expects to make his regular-season debut in Toronto's fourth game of the season on April 1.  —  The Blue Jays announced Monday that Stroman …
Bill Plunkett / Daily News:
Cody Bellinger homers but Dodgers lose to Diamondbacks 4-1  —  THE GAME: Cody Bellinger hit his second home run of the spring but the Dodgers lost 4-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon at Salt River Fields.  —  PITCHING REPORT: RHP Walker Buehler retired six of the seven batters …
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
Detroit Free Press:
Photos: Tigers vs. Yankees in exhibition  —  Tigers outfielder Mikie Mahtook (8) talks with catcher Derek Norris (33) as they work out before to the game against the Yankees at Publix Field at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Saturday, March, 17, 2018.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Right-hander Zack Greinke's next step as he works his way back from a right groin strain remains unclear.  What seems more evident, however, is that Greinke's injury does not appear to be particularly significant.
Discussion: Bleacher Report
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
Andre C. Fernandez / miamiherald:
This prospect could make the Marlins deeper at second base even without Dee Gordon.  Here's why.  —  JUPITER  —  For now, they are only snapshots.  —  An opposite-field home run off Michael Wacha; a well-struck single off Matt Harvey; the well-executed catch, turn and throw to first on a double play ball hit by Todd Frazier.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
CBSSports.com:
Red Sox's Craig Kimbrel: Season opener in jeopardy? … Kimbrel's (personal) availability for Opening Day is up in the air, Scott Lauber of ESPN.com reports.  —  Kimbrel is away from the team in order to be with his daughter as she undergoes a heart procedure.
Discussion: Over the Monster
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs like the way their bullpen is coming together  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Pedro Strop glanced in the direction of the lockers Hector Rondon and Justin Grimm once occupied and assessed their departures.  —  “It's not easy, but I also know it's a business and this is the way it goes,” Strop said Friday.
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:   Cubs send reliever Dillon Maples, outfielder Mark Zagunis to Triple A
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Daniel Norris solid in latest pitch for rotation spot  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Daniel Norris isn't thinking about how the Tigers' starting rotation is going to shake out because if he did, he would be up all night thinking about it.  —  Honestly, he said, he has no idea.
RELATED:
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Daniel Norris just OK; Detroit Tigers tie Phillies in spring training
 
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 More News: 
Martin Gallegos / Mercury News:
Why Frankie Montas has been kept out of action by A's
Discussion: Athletics Nation
Stephen Gross / Baltimore Sun:
Next step for Phillies' Jake Arrieta slightly altered
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Kevin Sherrington / The Charlotte Observer:
Why Jeff Banister is turning Rangers pitching staff into a radical guinea pig
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Reynaldo Lopez learning to pitch through rough patches
Keith Jenkins / Cincinnati.com:
Milwaukee Brewers 16, Cincinnati Reds 13
Discussion: Red Reporter
 Earlier Picks: 
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Casey Gillaspie among cuts as White Sox trim spring roster to 38
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
CTVNews:
Blue Jays pitching prospect Pannone suspended 80 games after positive test
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Des Moines native Jeremy Hellickson finds new team
Associated Press:
Angels' Shohei Ohtani gives up 7 runs against Rockies
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
Rays journal: Sigh of relief over Faria, roster cuts, injury news, Kiermaier-Purdue love
 

 
From WeSmirch:

Ryan Gajewski / The Hollywood Reporter:
Melissa Barrera on Getting Fired From ‘Scream’ and the Controversy That Followed

New York Times:
How to Be Real With Your Kids  —  Actor Penn Badgley reads the essay “Watching Them Watching Me” …

Daily Star:
Scene where Gogglebox's George Gilbey, 40, tragically died as police cordon area

 
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