The Marlins are the least valuable franchise in MLB, Forbes reports  —  Franchise values are up across MLB for all but one team: the Miami Marlins.  —  Forbes published its annual list of franchise valuations Wednesday, and the teams at the top and bottom are unsurprising.

Yankees hope return to the Bronx and getting CC Sabathia back helps right the ship after being swept by Astros … There is no place like home.  At least, that is what the Yankees were telling themselves as they left here Wednesday night.  —  After getting swept by the Astros in embarrassing fashion …

Kathy Weber used to be the only female team doctor in Major League Baseball.  Now, she's 1 of 3.  —  White Sox team doctor Kathy Weber at Guaranteed Rate Field for opening day on April 5, 2019.  (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Shortly after the White Sox won …

First strike: Sharks earn series-opening win over Golden Knights  —  (CLICK HERE, if you unable to view this photo gallery on your mobile device.)  —  SAN JOSE — Forget about the troubles they had near the end of the regular season.  The Sharks got the start and the end result …

MLB Inception!  Who wins baseball's rising pitcher-swap matchups?  —  During opening weekend, John Ryan Murphy, the Diamondbacks' third-string catcher, faced Brock Stewart, the Dodgers' mop-up reliever.  Stewart had the bat.  —  These ultra-rare matchups — between a position player pitching …

Ranking MLB's ballpark foods!  —  You Cannot Be Serious is ESPN The Magazine's satire page.  Because, you know, this whole sports thing?  It's meant to be fun!  —  Chicago Cubs Ivy Salad: Featuring leaves plucked fresh from the outfield wall, this salad is also the only offering in the stadium not drizzled in au jus.

Why Iowa reliever Dakota Mekkes may be knocking on the door of his first big-league promotion  —  Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982.  Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time.

Redbird food: Cardinals fans can flock to more than 20 nacho stands  —  St. Louis' signature dish is toasted ravioli, but a more prosaic offering is ubiquitous at Busch Stadium, and the Cardinals claim to hawk more of it than any other MLB team: nachos.  Specifically, nachos and meat.

Cardinals Sign Matt Carpenter to Two-Year Contract Extension Through 2021 Season  —  The extension will take Carpenter through the 2021 season.  —  The St. Louis Cardinals have signed All-Star leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter to a two-year contract extension, the team announced on Wednesday.

Dodgers To Activate Clayton Kershaw On Monday  —  Clayton Kershaw will come off the injured list to make his season debut on Monday when the Dodgers host the Reds, manager Dave Roberts revealed to reporters Thursday morning (Twitter link via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register).

Tigers Designate Mikie Mahtook For Assignment  —  The Tigers announced this morning that they've designated outfielder Mikie Mahtook for assignment.  His spot on the 25-man roster will go to fellow outfielder JaCoby Jones, who has been reinstated after opening the season on the injured list due to a shoulder sprain.

Wieters making first start among many lineup changes for Cards  —  Matt Wieters will make his first start behind the plate this season for the Cardinals, and is one of numerous lineup changes made by manager Mike Shildt for the final game of a four-game series with the Dodgers.

Umpire alleges MLB, Joe Torre discriminating against minorities  —  Umpire Angel Hernandez made a bevy of allegations against Major League Baseball and executive Joe Torre in a previously sealed list of items he's sought permission to speak about related to his federal racial discrimination lawsuit filed …