Top News:
Associated Press:
Yankees-Red Sox fight fallout: Kelly, Austin suspended; Ramirez leaves after being hit by pitch — Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly and the Yankees' Tyler Austin have been suspended for their roles in the brawl between the American League East rivals at Fenway Park.
RELATED:
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Why MLB will continue to have bench-clearing brawls — Major League Baseball issued suspensions and fines for Wednesday's bench-clearing brawl between the Red Sox and Yankees, with Boston pitcher Joe Kelly and New York first baseman Tyler Austin getting banished six and five games, respectively.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees coach Phil Nevin: Alex Cora's gesture was ‘unprofessional’ — BOSTON - So, Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin and Red Sox manager Alex Cora probably won't be exchanging Christmas cards this year. — In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday night's Yankees-Sox brawl at Fenway Park …
John Harper / New York Daily News:
Alex Cora's ‘bush-league’ gesture toward Yankees third base coach may have stung more than Joe Kelly's fastball — If there's a carryover to the latest Fenway Park brawl, it might have more to do with Red Sox manager Alex Cora's dismissive gesturing toward Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, NBCSports.com, CBS Boston, Over the Monster and NESN.com
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Benches clear twice in Red Sox-Yankees; 3 players, 1 coach ejected — BOSTON — The bad blood is back in baseball's most intense rivalry. — The benches cleared twice in Wednesday night's game at Fenway Park between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and Yankees designated hitter Tyler Austin was in the middle of everything.
David SchoenfieldESPN Senior / ESPN:
Real or Not? Bad blood brewing after Wednesday's bevy of brawls
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe and New York Daily News
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
MLB batters getting hit by pitches at a historic rate - and tensions are high
Discussion:
Over the Monster
Stephen Hawkins / Toronto Sun:
Ohtani RBI and pickoff in Angels' 7-2 win for sweep at Texas — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Shohei Ohtani never saw such a quick pickoff move by Chris Martin when they were teammates in Japan. — Ohtani had an RBI single in the second inning that put the Los Angeles Angels ahead to stay …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Lone Star Ball
RELATED:
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Looking back at the pitch that injured Elvis Andrus and where the Rangers go from here — I had a column written Wednesday night and about ready to send to the paper - we still print, after all - with two outs in the ninth inning. It was about how bad the start of the season has been for the Rangers …
Discussion:
Whittier Daily News
Alan Eskew / UPI:
Angels' Ohtani takes his show to Kansas City
Discussion:
Royals Review, Minor League Ball and Halos Heaven
ESPN:
Dual threat Shohei Ohtani ‘would like to play more’ for Angels
Discussion:
Associated Press and Deadspin
Detroit Free Press:
Next Slide — What happened: The Detroit Tigers lost to the Cleveland Indians, 9-3, on Thursday night. ... The Tigers were swept in the four-game series. ... The Indians scored two runs in the first inning, four in the second and three more in the fourth. ...
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe
RELATED:
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Chris Bosio will be away for few weeks (health issue)
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Daniel Norris is confident velocity will increase
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers prospect Mike Gerber finds power, aims for consistency
Jim Ingraham / UPI:
Indians aim to keep streak going vs. Tigers
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bless You Boys
Associated Press:
Pirates manager Hurdle criticizes Javier Baez for bat flip — CHICAGO (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle criticized Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez on Thursday for his bat flip on a popup, and the young slugger brushed off the comments by the former major leaguer.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
RELATED:
Tom Musick / UPI:
Cubs look to hand Pirates first series loss
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bucs Dugout and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Joe Maddon loves response from Cubs players to Javier Baez's lack of hustle
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Darren RovellESPN Senior / ESPN:
Empty Jeet seats: Marlins outdrawn by Double-A affiliate — The Miami Marlins, who lost 4-1 to the New York Mets on Wednesday night, were outdrawn that day by their Double-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. — The Marlins drew 6,150 fans. The Jacksonville team brought in 6,960 for its home opener Wednesday night.
Discussion:
The Comeback and USA Today
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants … Through two weeks, the Diamondbacks have received limited-to-no production from Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Lamb and Steven Souza Jr., the three hitters expected to comprise the heart of their order. They have managed to win nine of their first 12 games anyway.
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Game Day: Arizona Diamondbacks open series against Los Angeles Dodgers — The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Los Angeles first time in 2018 to take on the rival Dodgers. Stay with this page for updates and scores throughout the series. — PREGAME READ: Diamondbacks pitching carrying the load early during hot start
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Bryan Price is not managing the Cincinnati Reds like a man on the hot seat — Reds manager Bryan Price made out his lineup Thursday night like a guy not on the hot seat. If you're worried about your job, do you sit Joey Votto for the night? — No. — But Price did.
RELATED:
Jim Owczarski / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds notes: Joey Votto gets first off day since 2016
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Valerio's homer leads Bradenton to 5-4 win over Lakeland — LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Adrian Valerio hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to give the Bradenton Marauders a 5-4 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Thursday. — Mike Wallace struck Jose Azocar out with a runner on second …
Tom Schad / USA Today:
Fourth-grader skips school for Cubs game — and runs into his principal — An Illinois fourth-grade student skipped school earlier this week to attend the Chicago Cubs' home opener, arriving at Wrigley Field with a sign that read: “Skipping school... Shh! Don't tell Principal Versluis.”
Discussion:
New York Post
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
Lucas Giolito tries to help White Sox start winning streak against Twins — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox will attempt to win just their second game in a week when they open a four-game series Thursday against the Twins at Target Field. — Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito will look …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
Yankees activate outfielder Aaron Hicks from disabled list — BOSTON — Aaron Hicks is back. — The Yankees activated Hicks from the disabled list for Thursday's game against the Red Sox. Hicks is hitting sixth and serving as the DH. — Hicks had been on the DL due to a Grade I strain of his intercostal muscle.
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
