Top News:
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 …
Discussion:
Daily Record and MLB on Yahoo! Sports
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Jason Vargas may join Mets as soon as next weekend — ATLANTA — Jason Vargas will see a doctor on Saturday to be cleared for his minor league rehab start. The veteran left hander is expected to make a start Monday for Triple-A Las Vegas, Mets manager Mickey Callaway said before the Mets game against the Braves at SunTrust Park.
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:
Mets have used strong throwers like Tomas Nido with Noah Syndergaard — Mets Asst. GM John Ricco discusses Kevin Plawecki's injury — ATLANTA — For the second straight start, Tomas Nido caught Noah Syndergaard. — “I like the combination a little bit,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said before Friday's game.
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Mickey Callaway is the perfect person to try and fix Matt Harvey if Mets send former ace to bullpen — ATLANTA — Mickey Callaway said he has not made a decision about Matt Harvey's future, but Friday afternoon it sure sounded like the Mets manager is leaning towards putting the one-time ace into the bullpen.
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 …
Discussion:
True Blue LA and Federal Baseball
Scott Boeck / Detroit Free Press:
5 astonishing facts from the Red Sox's historic 16-2 start — The red-hot Boston Red Sox, who own a MLB-best 16-2 record, are off to a historic start. — Their record after 18 games is the best in franchise history and they are the first team to win 16 of its first 18 games since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers started 17-1.
RELATED:
Daniel Popper / New York Daily News:
Aaron Boone: It's ‘hard not to notice’ how great the Red Sox are playing — Yes, it's still April. And yes, analyzing the standings this early in the season is typically a useless endeavor. — But it is nonetheless hard to ignore what the Red Sox have done to open this 2018 campaign …
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
A's hope to build on hot streak vs. torrid Red Sox
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
George Sipple / Detroit Free Press:
Mike Gerber has emotional day after first call-up by Tigers — David Gerber heard the emotion in his older brother's voice. They talk nearly every other day during the baseball season, but he quickly sensed this phone call was different. — Mike Gerber, a left-handed hitting outfield prospect …
RELATED:
Chris McCosky / Detroit News:
Another walk-off! Tigers' JaCoby Jones homers in 10th
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News … and Bless You Boys
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.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
RELATED:
Jeff Miller / Kansas City Star:
Boston whips out the broom against Angels
Discussion:
Lookout Landing and McCovey Chronicles
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
New Cincinnati Reds pitching coach Danny Darwin's theory: First observe the pitches, then get them to throw inside — ST. LOUIS - Danny Darwin, tasked with turning around the Reds pitching staff, will start by just watching. — “The first few days, just kind of touch and feel, see what these guys are going through,” Darwin said.
RELATED:
Steve Buffery / Toronto Sun:
Struggling Blue Jays outfielder Grichuk finally shown the bench — NEW YORK — Blue Jays right-fielder Randal Grichuk is hitting so poorly, the American Astronomical Society is apparently thinking of naming a black hole after him. — In 18 games, Grichuk's .088 batting average is the second-lowest in MLB …
RELATED:
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.
RELATED:
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox are 1st MLB team to ditch single-use plastic straws — Photos from a tour of the White Sox's Guaranteed Rate Field before the 2018 home opener. — Chicago Tribune — The White Sox are ditching straws this season as part of the Shedd Aquarium's “Shedd the Straw” initiative.
RELATED:
Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox's Carlos Rodon to begin pitching in Arizona games — Who does what for the White Sox? A look at their organizational flowchart. — Chicago Tribune — Carlos Rodon walked into Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday and briefly was taken aback at the reminder of what it feels like to be in a major-league ballpark again.
Peter Botte / New York Daily News:
A few Yankees say they'd be in favor of shorter MLB season, but it will all come down to money — Rob Manfred believes it is “realistic” to shorten the regular season by as many as eight games, but the MLB commissioner stated the obvious on Friday that the Players Association would have to be on board …
RELATED:
Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Iowan Jeremy Hellickson committed to winning, focused on the present — When it came to finding a new team, Jeremy Hellickson was willing to sacrifice better contract offers for a better chance to win. — The Des Moines native was so intent on playing meaningful baseball …
Scott Lauber / Philly.com:
Phillies, Rhys Hoskins don't panic with two strikes — Rhys Hoskins kickstarted the Phillies' five-run second inning Thursday night by crushing a pitch through a stiff wind and over the left-field fence at Citizens Bank Park. — But it didn't happen until Hoskins was in a two-strike count.
Jeff Wilson / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
A broken elbow broke his spirit, but Rangers' Andrus says he's improving — ARLINGTON — One road trip away from the Texas Rangers was one too many. — Elvis Andrus isn't staying home again, no matter how little he will be able to do while he waits for his broke right elbow to heal.
