Top News:
Jorge L. Ortiz / Arizona Republic:
MLB tanking: Nine teams that can wait 'til next year after a wretched first month — Much as baseball likes to tout its parity, a substantial number of teams entered the season with what seemed like virtually no shot at reaching the playoffs. — Now we have confirmation.
Discussion:
USA Today
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Associated Press:
Skaggs shuts down Astros; Angels win 2-0 after call reversed — HOUSTON (AP) — Yuli Gurriel was thrown out at third base by catcher Martin Maldonado to end the game after an original safe call was reversed on replay, giving the Los Angeles Angels a 2-0 win over Houston on Monday night that ended the Astros' six-game winning streak.
Discussion:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
MoiseKapenda Bower / UPI:
Ohtani gets fourth start as Angels take on Astros
Jorge L. Ortiz / USA Today:
Can Shohei Ohtani close the gap between Angels, Astros? We're about to find out
Can Shohei Ohtani close the gap between Angels, Astros? We're about to find out
Discussion:
New York Post and NESN.com
Buster OlneyESPN Senior / ESPN:
Olney: Giants should consider a Bumgarner blockbuster — The San Francisco Giants played according to the script of their front office on Monday night. Chris Stratton, who is quickly establishing himself as a reliable force in the rotation, threw well against the Nationals, and there was some power …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
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Associated Press:
Williamson 2-run homer highlights Giants' 4-2 win over Nats — SAN FRANCISCO — Mac Williamson remade his swing during the offseason to become a more consistent power hitter. He added a leg kick, lowered his hands, found better balance all in an effort to keep the bat in the zone longer and give himself more room for error.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Federal Baseball and McCovey Chronicles
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Dusty Baker ‘faces the music’ as Nationals come to town, but can't forget the sour notes — SAN FRANCISCO - Dusty Baker, standing behind the batter's cage wearing a purple sweater and black corduroy pants instead of a baseball uniform, looks over his right shoulder, and sees the Washington Nationals trickling out of the dugout.
Dave Del Grande / UPI:
Nationals' Roark looks to continue success vs. Giants
Coley HarveyESPN / ESPN:
Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres, Giancarlo Stanton star in Yanks' rout — NEW YORK — The Yankees' big bats had a breakout night Monday in the Bronx, headlined by a series of home runs from the likes of vets Giancarlo Stanton and Didi Gregorius and fresher faces such as Tyler Austin and Miguel Andujar.
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pham returns and bats second; Carpenter leads off, Fowler hits 6th — ST. LOUIS • The promised return of Tommy Pham came Tuesday, as planned, and he's right in the spot in the order manager Mike Matheny said he would be. — Pham, who has brought production to the top of the Cardinals' lineup …
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Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pham to return after brief absence
Pham to return after brief absence
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Preview: Cardinals vs. Mets
Bucky Dent / UPI:
Things get tougher for Cardinals, who are set to host Mets
Things get tougher for Cardinals, who are set to host Mets
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos and Amazin' Avenue
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox call up Daniel Palka to replace the injured Avisail Garcia — White Sox starter Carson Fulmer discusses the team's offensive outpouring and his outing against the Mariners on Monday, April 23, 2018. (Teddy Greenstein/Chicago Tribune) — Chicago Tribune
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
John Smoltz, former Braves pitcher, believes Matt Harvey may not be done just yet despite demotion to the bullpen — ST LOUIS — That July night in 2001, John Smoltz had already started 356 games and won 157 of them. The four-time all-star was as nervous as a rookie when he got ready for his first appearance out of the bullpen.
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Beth Harris / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Buehler! Top prospect shines in Dodgers' 2-1 win over Miami — Miami Marlins center fielder Lewis Brinson runs into the wall as fans catch a ball hit for a solo home run by Los Angeles Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, April 23, 2018, in Los Angeles.
RELATED:
Doug Padilla / UPI:
Marlins look for better outing vs. Dodgers
Dave Sheinin / Chicago Tribune:
The Indians' brilliant pitching staff is bidding for all-time greatness — The Washington Post — For a pitcher, a WHIP of 1.000 is a beautiful and mystical number, both aesthetically — with that perfect, indivisible integer on the left and those big, round zeros on the right — and as a delineation of sheer greatness.
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun
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Brett Bodner / New York Daily News:
Jenny Cavnar prepared for Rockies play-by-play duties by practicing with ‘MLB The Show’ — Fire up “The Show.” — Jenny Cavnar became the first woman to do TV play-by-play for a Major League Baseball game since 1993 when she called the Rockies-Padres game Monday night at Coors Field in Denver.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Purple Row and USA Today
Steve Adams / MLB Trade Rumors:
Rockies Select Contract Of Brooks Pounders, Designate Zach Jemiola — The Rockies announced on Tuesday that they've selected the contract of right-hander Brooks Pounders from Triple-A and cleared a spot on the 40-man roster by designating fellow righty Zach Jemiola for assignment.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, Mile High Sports and Purple Row
Matt Calkins / Sacramento Bee:
What are the Mariners thinking? Keeping Ichiro is purely illogical — So ... are the Mariners going to bring Griffey back again? Maybe sign Randy Johnson to strengthen the rotation? Hell, if the price is right, they can probably lure Russell Wilson away from the Yankees.
Discussion:
U.S.S. Mariner
Tim Heaney / ESPN:
Daily notes: Pitcher and hitter rankings for Wednesday — The fourth Wednesday of the 2018 regular season carries plenty of aces but also batting-practice machines, with little in between that can be used as a fun streamer. At least we're back to a full 15-game schedule, including the continuation of a Coors Field series.
Steve Habel / UPI:
A's hope to keep momentum going vs. Rangers — The Achilles' heel for the Texas Rangers through the first month of the 2018 season has been relief pitching. — That situation reared its ugly head again Monday when two relievers allowed six runs in the ninth inning to all but hand …
Associated Press:
Gibson's triple leads Lakeland to 2-1 win over Dunedin — LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Cam Gibson hit a run-scoring triple in the eighth inning, leading the Lakeland Flying Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Tuesday. — Isaac Paredes scored on the play after he reached base on a walk.