Top News:
Jerry Beach / UPI:
Torrid start puts Mets in spot where Nationals expected to be — During spring training, plenty of people would have found it plausible that six games would separate the New York Mets and Washington Nationals by April 16. But few would have expected the Mets to be the ones off to the fast start.
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
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John Harper / New York Daily News:
Mets have perfect chance to increase lead over Nationals after showing resolve in win over Brewers — By the late innings, after a rare questionable decision from the manager and then some shaky defense, this one had the feel of a game that was getting away from the Mets.
John Healy / New York Daily News:
Brandon Nimmo continues impressive start to season, goes 3-for-5 with a home run in Mets' win over Brewers — One of the Mets biggest problems right now might be trying to find more at-bats for Brandon Nimmo. — The right fielder continued to impress in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Brewers …
John Healy / New York Daily News:
Mickey Callaway explains questionable decision to pinch-hit Jay Bruce for catcher Tomas Nido with Noah Syndergaard on deck — At 12-2, Mickey Callaway has not had to face too much scrutiny yet as a rookie manager, but on Sunday he was forced to answer a questionable decision in the fifth inning …
Larry Fleisher / UPI:
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton faces Marlins for first time — NEW YORK — The last time Giancarlo Stanton appeared at Yankee Stadium, he was getting booed loudly for making the last out of a frustrating loss to the Baltimore Orioles by striking out for the fifth time.
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Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Yankees keeping an eye on Gleyber Torres' progress — DETROIT - Gleyber Torres keeps tearing it up, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone is aware. — “To see him playing well, healthy and off to a good start is something we certainly take notice of,” Boone said. “And we're watching closely.”
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
With Derek Jeter, Giancarlo Stanton says there's no bad blood on his part
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Martinez overwhelms Reds, sends Cardinals to rare sweep in Cincy — CINCINNATI • For a team looking to sweep a hapless opponent and flex the many, varied ways it needs to be able to win to contend it helped the Cardinals on Sunday to have a pitcher with many, varied, and downright wicked ways to get outs.
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Scott Springer / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds wrap up miserable home stand with 3-2 loss to St. Louis Cardinals — CINCINNATI - Two hours and 36 minutes after its scheduled start time, Jackie Robinson Day took place at Great American Ball Park between the Reds and Cardinals. Each player wore No. 42 in honor of Robinson …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Gyorko launches homer in rehab work, could return to Cardinals soon
Doug Stewart / FOX 61:
Red Sox extend best start in 118-year history, beat O's 3-1 — Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment Missing Attachment — BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi got three hits and the Boston Red Sox extended the best start …
Discussion:
Associated Press and Dan Shaughnessy Watch
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Bob Nightengale / Des Moines Register:
Shohei Ohtani's start postponed after MLB first planned to play through 30-degree weather
Shohei Ohtani's start postponed after MLB first planned to play through 30-degree weather
Discussion:
Royals Review, USA Today and MLB Baseball News …
Alan Eskew / UPI:
Ohtani on mound for Angels again vs. Royals
Ohtani on mound for Angels again vs. Royals
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, baseballmusings.com and Royals Review
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
McGee welcomes tributes to Robinson — St. Louis Cardinals instructor Willie McGee (center) talks with a group of players at a base sliding work station during St. Louis Cardinals spring training on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Jupiter, Fla. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Preview: Cardinals at Cubs — • The Cardinals were 1-8 at Wrigley Field last year but led or were tied in the sixth inning or later in every game but one. The one game the Cardinals won at Wrigley they actually trailed 3-2 going into the eighth before scoring nine runs.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs' Anthony Rizzo set to return in the cold against sizzling Cardinals — Chicago Tribune — Joe Maddon is renowned for knowing the psyche of his players. But the Cubs manager has his limits. — “Mind-reading,” he said, “is really difficult.” — So Maddon will count on Anthony Rizzo …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers … LOS ANGELES -Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker landed on the disabled list on Sunday, but the tone around the team continues to be more upbeat than normal as it relates to a pitcher dealing with an arm injury.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Baseball News …
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Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers … LOS ANGELES - Zack Godley's first inning on Sunday afternoon could hardly have gone better. He struck out two batters on three pitches each. He recorded the third out on a first-pitch ground ball. Seven pitches, seven strikes.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and MLB Baseball News …
Associated Press:
Rookies Lucchesi, Villanueva carry Padres past Giants 10-1 — SAN DIEGO (AP) - The rebuilding San Diego Padres have made up two spots in the NL West in two games, thanks largely to two rookies. — Joey Lucchesi struck out nine in six innings, Christian Villanueva homered …
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
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Bill Center / UPI:
Padres hold rare NL West lead entering series with Dodgers — There aren't any firsts happening at Petco Park on Monday when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres open a three-game series. — But there are a couple of things going on that haven't happened in so long that they qualify as near firsts.
Associated Press:
Baseball notebook: Brewers' Thames suffers leg injury — Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames winced after taking a pitch in the first inning Sunday, on the road against the Mets on a cold day, and was removed in the middle of the third after striking out for the second time in the game.
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Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Brewers eager to get indoors to face struggling Reds — It will be cold and still snowing Monday night when the Milwaukee Brewers begin a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. — Thanks to the roof over Miller Park, weather delays like the ones that plagued Cincinnati on Sunday will not be a concern.
Mark Didtler / Associated Press:
Rays keep sliding at home as Phillies roll to 10-4 win — Aaron Altherr hit a three-run homer, Scott Kingery had a three-run double and the Philadelphia Phillies won their sixth in a row, topping the Tampa Bay Rays 10-4 Sunday. — Kingery's two-out drive off the center field wall capped …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
Associated Press:
MLB notes: Six more games postponed because of inclement weather — Six more Major League Baseball games were wiped out Sunday, running this season's total number of postponements to 21 in only 2 1/2 weeks. It's baseball's highest number through the end of April since it had 26 in 2007 …
Associated Press:
A's snap Mariners' 4-game winning streak — SEATTLE (AP) - Sean Manaea pitched seven strong innings and Jed Lowrie hit an early two-run homer off Felix Hernandez to lead the Oakland Athletics over the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Sunday. — Oakland avoided a series sweep as Manaea (2-2) gave up just two hits and struck out four.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Associated Press, Athletics Nation and Lookout Landing
Associated Press:
Colon working on no-hitter in 8th for Rangers vs Astros — HOUSTON (AP) — Bartolo Colon has walked Carlos Correa leading off the eighth inning, the first baserunner allowed by the Texas Rangers right-hander against the World Series champion Houston Astros. — The 44-year-old Colon is still working on a no-hitter Sunday night.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Matt Breen / Philly.com:
Aaron Altherr's diving catch started with analytics — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Aaron Altherr did not intend to make a catch as he ran to his right on Sunday afternoon and locked his eyes on Denard Span's line drive. The ball was moving fast and Altherr figured he would corral it after it bounced off the turf.