Top News:
Tim Reynolds / Toronto Sun:
A homer at home: Lindor's shot helps Indians top Twins 6-1 — SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) A home run, at his homecoming. — Say this for Francisco Lindor: He clearly has a flair for the dramatic. — Playing as a big leaguer in his native Puerto Rico for the first time …
RELATED:
Tim Reynolds / Associated Press:
Mayor: Puerto Rico blackout won't affect Indians-Twins game — SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Major League Baseball is planning to play the finale of the Minnesota-Cleveland series in Puerto Rico as scheduled Wednesday night, despite an island-wide blackout.
Alex Butler / UPI:
Indians' Francisco Lindor clubs emotional homer in Puerto Rico homecoming — Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor drove the crowd into bedlam by smacking a home run against the Minnesota Twins in San Juan, Puerto Rico. — The blast came in the top of the fifth inning Tuesday at Hiram Birthorn Stadium.
Discussion:
Sporting News and Let's Go Tribe
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Francisco Lindor hits emotional home run in MLB's return to Puerto Rico
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Let's Go Tribe, Twinkie Town, MLB Baseball News …, The Comeback, Deadspin and WKYC-TV
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Francisco Lindor homers, Corey Kluber deals as Cleveland Indians top Minnesota Twins in Puerto Rico
Discussion:
USA Today, New York Times and NESN.com
John Marshall / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Belt's check-swing ruins Corbin's no-no, Dbacks 1-hit Giants — PHOENIX (AP) — Patrick Corbin had hitters chasing sliders in the dirt and made up a 65 mph pitch on the fly. Arizona's defense had a pair of spectacular plays behind him, the kind that end up in the highlight reel when history is made.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
RELATED:
ESPN:
Taijuan Walker has UCL injury; Diamondbacks unsure of severity — Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker has an injured ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, but the team is uncertain about the severity of the injury. — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Tuesday …
Bob McManaman / USA Today:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants … CONNECT — What began on a sour note for the Diamondbacks and their starting rotation Tuesday turned into a sensationally sweet performance by Patrick Corbin, who came within four outs of pitching the third no-hitter in franchise history.
Discussion:
Arizona Republic, AZ Snake Pit and baseballmusings.com
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Belt's infield single the only Giants hit, Cueto's brilliance wasted in 1-0 loss
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, MLB Baseball News … and McCovey Chronicles
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Shohei Ohtani's Angels tenure faces its first real taste of adversity vs. Red Sox — ANAHEIM — It was the biggest party the Los Angeles Angels ever hosted in the month of April. — They packed the joint Tuesday night, selling out the Big A, with their second-biggest crowd at Angel Stadium …
Discussion:
Sporting News and ESPN
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Noll's single leads Potomac to 9-5 win over Salem — SALEM, Va. (AP) — Jake Noll hit a run-scoring single in the first inning, leading the Potomac Nationals to a 9-5 win over the Salem Red Sox on Wednesday. — The single by Noll started the scoring in a five-run inning and gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
Bill Plaschke / The Charlotte Observer:
For Ohtani, his third start is charmless, but he's young, and it's early
Alden GonzalezESPN / ESPN:
Shohei Ohtani leaves with blister after two ineffective innings
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Greg Beacham / WFXT:
Angels' Ohtani lasts only 2 innings vs Boston in 3rd start
Discussion:
Beyond the Box Score, Over the Monster, Surviving Grady, MLB Baseball News … and Halos Heaven
ESPN:
MLBRank 50-1: Trout is clear No. 1, but who comes next? — Who are the best players in Major League Baseball going to be for the 2018 season? — EDITOR'S PICKS — Which ranking is the most head-scratching? What will the top five look like next year?
RELATED:
ESPN:
Who was too high or too low in MLBRank — Our yearly Top 100 rankings have hit the press, which means that in my semi-official capacity as the ombudsnerd, it's time to submit our list for a bit of a roast. What's the fun of a list if you don't disagree with it, after all? — EDITOR'S PICKS
ESPN:
Roundtable: Answering the biggest questions for Nos. 50-1 — We're finishing off our top 100 rankings. Who will drop out of the top 10? What will the top five look like next year? We asked our experts to give their thoughts on some of the biggest questions that came out of the top 50.
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cubs' lack of production from leadoff spot an early-season concern — Photos from the Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. — Chicago Tribune — After Ben Zobrist was scratched from the top of the lineup Tuesday night because of lower-back stiffness …
RELATED:
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals-Cubs game postponed with more cold, snow expected at Wrigley — CHICAGO • As much trouble as the Cardinals had at Wrigley Field last season, at least they were able to play games there. — The weather improved to 2-1 against them without throwing a pitch.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Carpenter warms up as Cardinals edge Cubs, 5-3, in chilly night at Wrigley
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue and Viva El Birdos
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Cold, wet spring has put a damper on Cubs' opening homestand
Discussion:
Bleed Cubbie Blue
Bill Center / UPI:
San Diego Padres' Luis Perdomo returns to face Los Angeles Dodgers — SAN DIEGO — The last time Luis Perdomo threw a pitch in anger was opening the third inning at Coors Field in Denver on April 11. — The right-hander threw it behind Nolan Arenado. A brawl ensued and Perdomo was hit with a five-game suspension.
RELATED:
ESPN:
Kenley Jansen confident after latest blown save: 'I can't let that get in my mind' — Los Angeles Dodgers star closer Kenley Jansen remains confident after another blown save, saying he refuses to let his early-season struggles “get in my mind.” — The Dodgers took a combined two-hitter …
Mike Mazzeo / New York Daily News:
5 things to fix these .500 Yankees — The 8-8 Yankees could use some fixing. — Here's a few fixes they could make: — Move Giancarlo Stanton to the No. 2 spot in the batting order — Aaron Boone's suggestion of possibly splitting Aaron Judge and Stanton up with lefty Didi Gregorius makes sense …
RELATED:
Pete Caldera / Daily Record:
Giancarlo Stanton's struggles. Defensive woes: Here are 5 points on a .500 Yankees club
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Aaron Boone ponders dropping struggling Giancarlo Stanton lower in lineup
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, MLB Baseball News …, Associated Press, Sporting News, Fish Stripes and New York Post
Alex Butler / UPI:
Atlanta Braves sign Jose Bautista to Minor League contract — The Atlanta Braves signed Jose Bautista to a Minor League contract on Wednesday. — Bautista, 37, has reported to Atlanta's extending spring training complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. He will play third base.
Discussion:
Deadspin, MLB Baseball News … and MLB Daily Dish
RELATED:
Associated Press:
McCullers strikes out 11 as Astros shut down Mariners — SEATTLE (AP) - Lance McCullers Jr. matched his career high with 11 strikeouts over seven innings of one-hit ball, Brian McCann hit a tiebreaking two-run home run and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes
Associated Press:
Cubs 1B Rizzo activated from 10-day DL — CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have activated first baseman Anthony Rizzo from the 10-day disabled list. — Rizzo had been sidelined by lower back tightness. He returned to the starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener against St. Louis.
RELATED:
Steve Gardner / USA Today:
Cubs' Anthony Rizzo willing to take pay cut for shorter regular season
Discussion:
Detroit Free Press, Deadspin, NESN.com, Bleacher Report, The Comeback and ESPN
