Top News:
Associated Press:
Morton, Altuve lead Astros over Mariners 9-2 — SEATTLE (AP) — Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve had a three-run double and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 on Thursday after Evan Gattis hit into a bizarre 5-4-3 triple play in the fourth inning.
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Associated Press:
Betts, Benintendi lead sizzling Red Sox past Angels, 8-2 — ANAHEIM, Calif. — With a homer-happy lineup and a lights-out pitching staff, the Boston Red Sox have been mowing down their opposition since the day after opening day. — Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels were the latest contenders …
Associated Press:
Plate umpire Jerry Layne struck by foul ball, exits in first inning — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Plate umpire Jerry Layne has left the Los Angeles Angels' game against Boston after a foul ball from Mike Trout hit him on the right arm. — Layne went to the locker room in the bottom of the first inning Thursday night.
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
A's hope to build on hot streak vs. torrid Red Sox — OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics take a step up in class when they attempt to improve upon their four-game winning streak Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Will Larkin / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox trade Tyler Saladino to Brewers, pick up Trayce Thompson from Athletics
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Greg Beacham / MLB Baseball News, Scores …:
Betts, Benintendi lead sizzling Red Sox past Angels, 8-2
Discussion:
Over the Monster and Associated Press
ESPN:
Giants ace Madison Bumgarner has pins removed from broken finger — Madison Bumgarner had pins removed from the broken pinkie on his pitching hand Thursday, and the San Francisco Giants are hopeful that their ace can start playing catch in the next two weeks.
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Associated Press:
Greinke, D-backs beat Giants 3-1 to win 6th straight series — PHOENIX — A 10-inning loss on Wednesday night stung the Arizona Diamondbacks. They let too many opportunities slip away and put their run of series victories in jeopardy. — A dominant performance by Zack Greinke and clutch hitting kept the streak going.
Dan Arritt / UPI:
Angels aim to rebound in matchup with Giants — The Los Angeles Angels will host the San Francisco Giants for the first time in nearly six years beginning Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Angel Stadium. — Both teams are looking to turn things around in their first interleague series …
Jeff Miller / Kansas City Star:
Boston whips out the broom against Angels — ANAHEIM, Calif.-Here it is Friday, and the Angels' best day at the ballpark so far this week came when it was so cold that the infield frosted over and the game wasn't even played. — That was Sunday, back in 18-degree-wind-chilled Kansas City …
Kerry Crowley / Mercury News:
Belt's homer not enough, Giants lose third straight series
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit and McCovey Chronicles
Darren RovellESPN Senior / ESPN:
Pitcher goes from working at Miller Brewery to facing the Brewers — When the Florida Marlins take the field Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the man who will take the mound is the same guy who, 15 months ago, was selling trinkets in the MillerCoors gift shop two miles away.
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Frank Pastor / Tampa Bay Times:
Wall Street Journal: Baseball in Florida ‘has been a disaster’ — The Rays and Miami Marlins “are at a moment of reckoning” after histories of low attendance and an offseason in which they sold off many of their top players and were singled out by the MLB Players Association for failing …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal
Andrew Wagner / UPI:
Potent lineup brewing for Brewers vs. Marlins — MILWAUKEE — Craig Counsell wouldn't admit it, but he was pretty excited to write both Lorenzo Cain's and Christian Yelich's names atop his lineup card Thursday night. — And with good reason, too as Milwaukee's offense, powered by Cain and Yelich …
Andre C. Fernandez / miamiherald:
Trading places: Brinson, Yelich experiencing Miami-Milwaukee reunions this week
Discussion:
Brew Crew Ball, MLB Baseball News … and Fish Stripes
Matt Ehalt / USA Today:
Mets' Matt Harvey bristles over job security question: 'I'm a starting pitcher' — ATLANTA — Five years ago Thursday, Matt Harvey had the Citi Field faithful chanting “Harvey's better” as the young right-hander outdueled Washington's Stephen Strasburg. — Harvey is no longer that caliber of pitcher …
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Dan Gelston / Associated Press:
Jake Arrieta strikes out 10, allows 1 hit in 7 innings to move to 2-0 — Jake Arrieta flashed the All-Star form that made Philadelphia covet the free-agent ace, striking out 10 and tossing one-hit ball over seven innings to lead the Phillies to a 7-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Phillies Nation
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Arizona Republic:
Link between Alex Rodriguez, kidnapping victim questioned — Norberto Susini has told people that he was Alex Rodriguez's nephew for years - a familial link that was called into question after Susini was abducted Wednesday. — Susini allegedly was held hostage by two men after a deal to sell a Lamborghini went bad.
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Preview: Cardinals vs. Cincinnati — • Interim Cincinnati manager Jim Riggleman, who took over from Bryan Price Thursday, is a former Cards farmhand, minor league manager, big-league coach and director of player development. He has managed with San Diego, the Cubs …
Discussion:
Red Reporter
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Jake Seiner / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Robertson 'doesn't blink' in jam to lift Yanks over Jays — Toronto Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernandez, left, scores on a base hit by Curtis Granderson as New York Yankees pitcher David Robertson (30) look to back up a throw home during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 19, 2018, in New York.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bluebird Banter
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Heather Tucker / Associated Press:
New York Yankees make anti-bullying video inspired by 10-year-old girl
Discussion:
New York Daily News, New York Post and Pinstripe Alley
Jeff Gordon / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Who's hot (Gyorko), who's not (Fowler) for Cards — TRENDING UP — Jedd Gyorko, INF: He reached base four times Thursday with two singles and two walks in the 8-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. While Gyorko is still scraping off some fielding rust after his stint on the disabled list …
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
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Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Clayton Kershaw vs. Max Scherzer: Showdown in L.A. highlights a dying breed of ace — They won't be taken out of the game just because the opposing lineup is about to get a third crack at them. — That's one of the certainties of Friday night's scintillating matchup between three …
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Bradford DoolittleESPN / ESPN:
The case for 154 games, Fenway's quest and MLB's next big thing — Baseball needs to shorten the regular-season schedule. — Pausing. — Pausing. — OK, I guess I can't just leave it at that because that declarative statement is far from self-evident. Allow me to explain.
Associated Press:
Taylor leads Modesto to 13-6 win over San Jose — SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Logan Taylor had two hits and three RBI, as the Modesto Nuts exploded for a season-high in runs in a 13-6 win over the San Jose Giants on Thursday. — Modesto had a pair of big innings in the blowout victory …
