Top News:
Neil Paine / FiveThirtyEight:
Can The Mets Possibly Be This Good? — A couple of weeks ago, it was anybody's guess as to which version of the New York Mets would show up for the 2018 season. Would it be something like the 2016 edition, a solid ballclub that reached the NL wild-card game on dominant pitching and a streaky offense?
Discussion:
Newsday and Amazin' Avenue
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Associated Press:
Righty Jeremy Hellickson joins Nationals, will start vs. Mets — NEW YORK — The Washington Nationals have added right-hander Jeremy Hellickson to the roster and will start him in the series opener against the New York Mets. — The Nationals purchased Hellickson's contract before Monday night's game at Citi Field.
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets have the chance to put Nationals in an even bigger hole this week
Mets have the chance to put Nationals in an even bigger hole this week
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
Matt Ehalt / NorthJersey.com:
Wilmer Flores hits walk-off homer in 3-2 Mets win over the Brewers
Wilmer Flores hits walk-off homer in 3-2 Mets win over the Brewers
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue, Brew Crew Ball and Daily Record
Jerry Beach / UPI:
Torrid start puts Mets in spot where Nationals expected to be
Torrid start puts Mets in spot where Nationals expected to be
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Federal Baseball and Amazin' Avenue
Joshua Koch / Associated Press:
Colon perfect into 8th, Rangers beat Astros 3-1 in 10 — HOUSTON (AP) Age is only a number and Bartolo Colon is evidence of that. — The 44-year-old pitcher carried a perfect game into the eighth and Robinson Chirinos drove in all three runs for the Texas Rangers during their 3-1 victory …
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Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Falling ice may force Blue Jays to postpone Monday's game, despite roof on Rogers Centre — After two of their weekend games at Cleveland were postponed due to poor weather, the Toronto Blue Jays returned to their climate-controlled home figuring the roof on Rogers Centre would shield them from the elements.
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Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Early start to season leaves MLB with options to deal with rash of postponements — As Major League Baseball endures one of its worst runs of weather in more than three decades, the historically early start to the 2018 season might turn out to be a blessing.
David Haugh / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Mother Nature must really hate baseball, America's national frost time — Chicago Tribune — April baseball constantly reinforces the risks involved in drawing conclusions based on small sample sizes, but we have seen enough snow and cold this month to know one thing for sure.
Gabe Lacques / Arizona Republic:
MLB power rankings: Red-hot Red Sox claim No. 1 spot — Grim weather conditions finally forced a postponement at Fenway Park on Monday, though that may do little to quell the Boston Red Sox's historic start. — The Red Sox are on a 13-1 roll, their best 14-game stretch since 2006 …
Discussion:
USA Today
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Maury Brown / Forbes:
MLB Pulls Cleveland Indians ‘Chief Wahoo’ Cap With Jackie Robinson Day Mark — Sunday marked the anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. It's something Major League Baseball takes great pride in as it marks Robinson breaking the color barrier and ushering in integration into the game.
Discussion:
Mercury News and MLB Baseball News …
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Dan Gartland / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
MLB Store Pulls Chief Wahoo Hats With Jackie Robinson Patch
MLB Store Pulls Chief Wahoo Hats With Jackie Robinson Patch
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball and USA Today
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:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals activate Gyorko, Gregerson, but weather clouds game vs. Cubs
John Minchillo / Bleacher Report:
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs: Odds, Analysis, MLB Betting Pick
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs: Odds, Analysis, MLB Betting Pick
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
ESPN:
Report: Rays' Kiermaier needs thumb surgery, expected to miss 8-12 weeks — Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
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Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Breaking down Cincinnati Reds' 2-13 start, and comparing to 1931 — The Cincinnati Reds' first 15 games of the season have produced just two wins - the team's worst start since the 1931 Reds started 2-17. — The hometown Enquirer was pretty rough on the team 87 years ago.
Discussion:
Minor League Ball
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Dave Clark / Cincinnati.com:
Snow greets Reds in Milwaukee — Milwaukee Weather for Monday, April 16, a.m. Wochit — The Reds arrived in Milwaukee to face the Brewers and were greeted by snow - much more than the flurries Cincinnati saw Monday afternoon. — Here are some of the better reactions via Twitter …
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Five points heading into the Yankees homestand — NEW YORK - After two solid days of rain in Detroit, the Yankees will attempt to play their first game since Friday at Comerica Park. — On Monday night, the Yankees begin a 10-game homestand against the Marlins (2 games), Blue Jays (4 games) …
Discussion:
Fish Stripes and Pinstripe Alley
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Randy Miller / New Jersey Online:
Why Marlins' Derek Jeter is stiffing Yankees this week, what ex-teammates are thinking
Why Marlins' Derek Jeter is stiffing Yankees this week, what ex-teammates are thinking
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Associated Press:
Kershaw sharp, Dodgers end 11-game skid vs Diamondbacks, 7-2 — LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw took care of the Los Angeles Dodgers' long drought against the Diamondbacks. — Kershaw struck out 12 and pitched two-hit ball over seven innings as the Dodgers ended an 11-game losing streak …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
Associated Press:
Pirates 2B Josh Harrison out 6 weeks with broken finger — PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison is out six weeks with a broken bone in his left hand. — The team says Harrison fractured his pinkie finger Sunday when he was hit with a pitch by Miami's Jose Urena …
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish and Bucs Dugout
ESPN:
Projecting paydays for next year's top free agents — While the 2017-18 offseason may long be notorious as one of the slowest baseball winters ever — at least when it came to free agents — the next one ought to be a good deal more exciting. Legitimate superstars will hit free agency …
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Could free tickets be the wave of baseball's future? — Chicago Tribune — Five thoughts from the third week of the baseball season: — 1. Don't charge people for tickets — Here's an idea no one's thought of before: — Instead of charging $30 for parking and anywhere from $30 …