Top News:
Andy McCullough / Sacramento Bee:
Dodgers extend win streak to four with sweep over Padres — SAN DIEGO — When he arrived at the ballpark Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knew who his closer was. The unsteady April of Kenley Jansen was not enough to dislodge him from the position he earned with half a decade of excellence.
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Associated Press:
Muncy homers, Maeda fans 10 in Dodgers' 13-4 win over Padres — SAN DIEGO — The Los Angeles Dodgers roughed up the San Diego Padres in sweeping a three-game series, and newcomer Max Muncy got in on the action in a big way. — Muncy homered for the first time since 2016 …
Andy McCullough / The Charlotte Observer:
Cracked fingernail puts Dodgers' Hill on the DL — SAN DIEGO — Rich Hill whirled around and faced a group of reporters at his locker. A sour look spread across his face. — “Cracked fingernail,” he said. “Precautionary.” — A stint on the 10-day disabled list is nothing new for Hill, who was shut down Wednesday afternoon.
Chris Iseman / Daily Record:
Steven Matz pitches with conviction to overcome rough 1st inning in NY Mets win over Nats — NEW YORK — For Steven Matz, it was all about conviction. — The Mets left-hander got off to a bad start on Wednesday night, surrendering a three-run home run to Ryan Zimmerman that put his team in an early hole.
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Chris Iseman / NorthJersey.com:
Yoenis Cespedes grand slam caps big 8th inning as Mets blow out Nationals, avoid sweep
Daniel Popper / New York Daily News:
Yoenis Cespedes hopes grand slam in Mets' win over Nats is the hit that will finally end early-season slump
Charles Odum / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Braves beat Phillies, await word on Freeman's status — Philadelphia Phillies' Vince Velasquez singles during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland) — Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Knapp scores …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Bob Brookover / Philly.com:
Phillies flattened by Ryan Flaherty | Extra Innings
Phillies flattened by Ryan Flaherty | Extra Innings
Discussion:
Philly.com
Tim Reynolds / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
LaMarre's single lifts Twins over Indians 2-1 in 16 innings — Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios throws in the fourth inning of the final game of a two-game Mayor League Series against the Cleveland Indians at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018.
Discussion:
Associated Press
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Associated Press:
Twins beat Indians 2-1 in 16 innings in Puerto Rico — SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Eddie Rosario scored the winning run in his homeland in the 16th inning, coming around on Ryan LaMarre's single to lift the Minnesota Twins over the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Wednesday night for a split of their two-game series in Puerto Rico.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jose M. Romero / Associated Press:
Belt homers as Giants beat Diamondbacks 4-3 — PHOENIX (AP) — Brandon Belt hit a two-run homer with two out in the 10th inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Wednesday night to stop a four-game slide. — Andrew McCutchen opened the 14th with a leadoff single against Brad Boxberger.
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit, MLB Baseball News … and McCovey Chronicles
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Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants … Brandon Belt's drive cleared the right-field fence in the 10th inning, the deciding blow in a 4-3 victory for the San Francisco Giants. And yet it was not the reason the Diamondbacks lost. They lost because they were beaten in one situational at-bat after another on Wednesday night.
Nick Piecoro / Arizona Republic:
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
Tom Schad / USA Today:
With baseball's worst record, Cincinnati Reds fire manager Bryan Price — The Cincinnati Reds announced Thursday morning that they have fired Bryan Price after four-plus seasons as manager. — Cincinnati has started the 2018 season 3-15, the worst record in baseball.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Bleed Cubbie Blue, Redleg Nation and Red Reporter
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Todd Milles / Associated Press:
Houston's big seventh inning dooms Mariners — SEATTLE (AP) - Gerrit Cole pitched seven strong innings and the Houston Astros scored six runs in the seventh to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-1 on Wednesday night. — Cole (2-0) struck out five, ending a string of double-digit strikeout games at three.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and sports.MyNorthwest.com
John Hickey / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox rotation stumbling in early going of season — Photos from the White Sox-Athletics game at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. — Chicago Tribune — Just 15 games into the 162-game season, the White Sox have issues with their starting pitching …
Discussion:
Chicago Tribune
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John Hickey / Chicago Tribune:
Athletics sweep White Sox with bases-loaded single in 14th inning for 12-11 victory
Athletics sweep White Sox with bases-loaded single in 14th inning for 12-11 victory
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
After flexing his power at Memphis, slugger O'Neill joins Cardinals at Wrigley — CHICAGO • By the time he got to Wrigley Field from the airport Wednesday morning, outfielder Tyler O'Neill was operating, he guessed, on about 30 minutes of sleep. — “I'll tell you what,” he said.
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Jeff Arnold / UPI:
Cubs-Cards try to beat weather again
Dan Greenspan / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Red Sox continue best-ever start with 9-0 win over Angels — Rafael Devers hit his first career grand slam, — Rick Porcello threw six scoreless innings and the — Boston Red Sox extended their best start in franchise history with a 9-0 win over the — Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Halos Heaven
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Alden GonzalezESPN / ESPN:
J.D. Martinez: ‘Way too early’ to call Red Sox best team in majors
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Brewers' Christian Yelich faces former team, Marlins — Christian Yelich thought he was going to be part of the group that led the Miami Marlins back to relevance in the National League. — Then new ownership, led by future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, orchestrated yet another rebuilding project …
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American League / Associated Press:
Baseball roundup: Yelich, Davies lead Brewers past Reds
Baseball roundup: Yelich, Davies lead Brewers past Reds
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Associated Press:
MLB: Bautista, Braves agree to a deal — Six-time All-Star Jose Bautista agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. — Bautista, 37, would receive a $1-million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man major league roster. He will report to the Braves' extended …
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Associated Press:
Yankees sign 1B/OF Lind to minor league deal — NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have signed first baseman/outfielder Adam Lind to a minor league deal. — The Yankees announced the contract on Wednesday. Lind will report to the team's complex in Tampa, Florida, for extended spring training.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Mahtook battling through demotion: ‘Gut punch for sure’ — TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo Mud Hens manager Doug Mientkiewicz said he began to understand some of Mikie Mahtook's issues over an initial 45-minute conversation. — “I didn't ask one thing about his swing,” Mientkiewicz said Tuesday afternoon at Fifth Third Field.
Discussion:
Bless You Boys
Will Graves / Pueblo Chiefton:
Pirates avoid sweep, pound Rockies 10-2 … Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chad Bettis delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) — GENE J. PUSKAR
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Associated Press
Jerry CrasnickESPN Senior / ESPN:
Inside Albert Pujols' path to 3,000 hits — ALBERT PUJOLS' THREE MVP awards, 10 All-Star Games and abundance of Baseball-Reference black ink ensure him a place in Cooperstown and the right to take an occasional breather from the concept of every pitcher-batter confrontation as a life-or-death experience.
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Memphis pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon struck by line drive to make return to Principal Park — Daniel Poncedeleon has kept all the letters, the cards and even a poster a school of kids sent to him last year. — They all came pouring in to the Memphis Redbirds pitcher after he was struck …