Top News:
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Mookie Betts rarely swings and misses. What happens when he faces Shohei Ohtani? — Shohei Ohtani on Tuesday night faces what may be his most potent competition this season - a Boston Red Sox lineup that's only been outpaced by his Los Angeles Angels so far.
RELATED:
Jon Wertheim / Sports Illustrated:
While Shohei Ohtani Mesmerizes Major League Baseball, His Legend Grows in Japan — Created with Sketch. — Shohei Ohtani is captivating the American public with his two-way play. In Japan, he's become a deity. — In 2002, Hideki Matsui hit 50 home runs for his Japan League baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants.
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Shohei Ohtani's biggest challenge yet: Battling the AL-best Red Sox
Shohei Ohtani's biggest challenge yet: Battling the AL-best Red Sox
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Jesse RogersESPN / ESPN:
Anthony Rizzo OK with taking pay cut for fewer games: ‘We play too much baseball’ — CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is advocating for a shorter season, even if that means a smaller paycheck for players. — “I think we play too much baseball,” Rizzo said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on ESPN 1000.
Discussion:
ABC News
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Anthony Rizzo returns to Cubs lineup vs. Cardinals; Ben Zobrist in leadoff spot — Chicago Tribune — Anthony Rizzo will bat third Tuesday night in his return to the Cubs lineup against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. — The Cubs were 4-4 while Rizzo was on the disabled list with tightness in his lower back.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Wrigley looms as huge roadblock on Cards' path to contention
Jeff Arnold / UPI:
Whether or not Cardinals, Cubs play depends on weather
Whether or not Cardinals, Cubs play depends on weather
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Todd Milles / Associated Press:
Paxton, Mariners win 2-1, snap six-game skid vs Houston — SEATTLE — James Paxton delivered six strong innings, Nelson Cruz took Dallas Keuchel deep and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 2-1 on Monday night to end a six-game skid against the defending World Series champions.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
RELATED:
Steve Habel / UPI:
Tough-luck Astros look to rebound vs. Mariners — Don't expect to see the Houston Astros panic, even though their 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Monday at Safeco Field was their fifth defeat in their past six games and their vaunted offensive attack has been stymied for much of the first three weeks of the season.
Associated Press:
Grandal's slam, Kemp's 3-run HR send Dodgers past Pads 10-3 — SAN DIEGO (AP) — Yasmani Grandal hit a grand slam, Matt Kemp had a three-run homer and Hyun-Jin Ryu struck out nine in six strong innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat the San Diego Padres 10-3 Monday night.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
RELATED:
Mike Vaccaro / New York Post:
Mets can't let one awful inning be season's defining moment — Can one calamitous inning undo 2 ½ brilliant weeks? — We are about to find out. — “We can't let this put us into a tailspin,” Mickey Callaway said. — But if one inning can be that perilous, that ruinous …
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Federal Baseball
RELATED:
Daniel Popper / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom looks like his Cy Young-caliber self despite disappointing loss
Jacob deGrom looks like his Cy Young-caliber self despite disappointing loss
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Ben Walker / Toronto Sun:
Shear Power! Bryce Harper breaks bat in two on long home run — NEW YORK (AP) This was shear power by Bryce Harper. — In a startling display, the Washington Nationals slugger shattered his bat into two pieces, yet still hit a long home run Monday night in an 8-6 win over the New York Mets.
RELATED:
Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times:
Watch Nationals' Bryce Harper break his bat while smashing a home run against the Mets
Alex Butler / UPI:
Nationals' Bryce Harper hits homer while snapping his bat
Nationals' Bryce Harper hits homer while snapping his bat
Discussion:
Washington Post, ESPN and CBSSports.com
ESPN:
MLBRank 100-51: Impressive young stars move up the rankings — Who are the best players going to be in Major League Baseball for the 2018 season? To determine this, ESPN formed a panel of MLB writers, analysts, contributors and Insiders to rank the top 100.
Discussion:
Detroit News and Arizona Sports
RELATED:
ESPN:
MLBRank roundtable: Answering the biggest questions for Nos. 100-51 — We're starting out 2018 MLBRank with Nos. 100-51. Which young stars will rocket up the rankings? Who deserved a spot in the top 100? We asked our experts to give their thoughts on some of the biggest questions that came out of the bottom 50.
Rotoworld.com:
Daily Dose: Blackmon Bashing — Follow @Rotoworld_BB and @RyanPBoyer on Twitter. — Charlie Blackmon missed four games last week with right quad tightness. He's trying to make up for lost time. — The two-time All-Star has now homered in each of his three contests since returning to action after going deep Monday in Pittsburgh.
RELATED:
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Would a free ticket giveaway work for the White Sox? — Chicago Tribune — The Tribune's Paul Sullivan answers your questions (or, this week, question). Ask Sully your question here. — Why don't the Sox stage a free ticket giveaway like the A's? They would at least sell a lot of beer …
Discussion:
South Side Sox, Athletics Nation, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Associated Press
RELATED:
John Hickey / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox excited to wear throwback uniforms for free game against Athletics on Tuesday
White Sox excited to wear throwback uniforms for free game against Athletics on Tuesday
Discussion:
South Side Sox and Athletics Nation
Greg Auman / UPI:
Struggling Rays hope for another win over Rangers — ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays haven't had much to cheer for early in the 2018 season, but a promising day against a left-handed starter Monday could bring about more of the same on Tuesday. — “It was good to see guys break …
Discussion:
DRaysBay
RELATED:
Marc Topkin / Tampa Bay Times:
It's Yonny Chirinos day for Rays
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mets call up hard-throwing Gerson Bautista, option Hansel Robles to Triple A — After their bullpen imploded Monday night, the Mets made an interesting move Tuesday. They called up fireballing righthander Gerson Bautista from Double-A Binghamton. The Mets optioned erratic reliever Hansel Robles to make room in the bullpen.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Baseball notebook: Indians,Twins to open series in Puerto Rico — Cleveland star Francisco Lindor held a baseball in his hand, ready to pitch, and asked the young boy standing at home plate if he knew how to swing a bat. — The kid said no. The kid might have been fibbing.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
Jack Magruder / UPI:
Diamondbacks prepare to attack Giants — The Arizona Diamondbacks are celebrating their 20th anniversary this season with a jump-start to remember. — San Francisco, meanwhile, is simply hoping to stay close to the pack until its top pitchers return after an offseason reboot …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
RELATED:
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Brendan Kuty / New Jersey Online:
Yankees legend Don Mattingly questions if Giancarlo Stanton can handle boos — NEW YORK — Don Mattingly knows what it's like to be loved wearing pinstripes in the Bronx. — He also knows what it's like to face harsh boos, like the ones his former star Giancarlo Stanton earned …
Discussion:
Bleacher Report
RELATED:
Craig Davis / Orlando Sentinel:
Marlins pounded by Yankees, but keep Stanton in check
Marlins pounded by Yankees, but keep Stanton in check
Discussion:
Fish Stripes
Associated Press:
Back-to-back homers by Seferina, Chinea fuel Springfield win — SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Darren Seferina and Chris Chinea connected on back-to-back homers in the second inning to help lead the Springfield Cardinals to a 7-5 victory over Frisco RoughRiders on Tuesday. The Cardinals swept the three-game series with the win.