Top News:
Tim Bannon / Chicago Tribune:
White Sox in the minors: Top prospects Dylan Cease (2-0) and Luis Robert (.475) lead the way — Chicago Tribune — As the rebuilding White Sox come off an impressive series win over the Yankees, let's check with the team's prospects in the minors. — Dylan Cease, Triple-A Charlotte
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Phil Rosenthal / Chicago Tribune:
Column: Can the White Sox parlay their series win over the Yankees into something bigger? — Chicago Tribune — Even if the surreal wintry spring weather suggested Chicago's April calendar was nothing but a cosmic joke, there was in fact no time warp Sunday.
Daily Record:
Right time for The Rivalry to resume? Yankees hope to find a spark as Red Sox arrive — Yankees manager Aaron Boone on Masahiro Tanaka's loss on Sunday to the White Sox — NEW YORK - Aaron Judge led a super-confident group of Yankees out of Fenway Park, in the wee hours of last Oct. 7 …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
Lynn Worthy / Kansas City Star:
Royals-White Sox series preview, probable pitchers: Royals play Sox on their turf — Matchup: The Royals (5-10) begin a 10-game road trip with a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox (5-9) at Guaranteed Rate Field on Monday night. First pitch on Monday and Tuesday is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
James Paxton, Yankees have to mentally prepare for heightened pressure to defeat Red Sox — CC Sabathia looked out across the Yankee clubhouse. There were about 25 reporters scattered throughout the room, outnumbering the half a dozen players at their lockers. — He then looked back at the reporter and asked “You serious?
Dan Martin / New York Post:
Aaron Hicks speaks — without a timetable in sight
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley and New Jersey Online
Noah Trister / Boston Globe:
How the Tampa Bay Rays are leading the AL East midway through April — Now, this is an impressive opening for the Tampa Bay Rays. — Last year, the Rays pioneered the idea of an “opener” — a pitcher who would work an inning or two at the beginning of the game, facing some of the toughest hitters instead …
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Neil Greenberg / Chicago Tribune:
Chris Sale lost his fastball. Now the Red Sox could lose the AL East. — The Washington Post — The Boston Red Sox were supposed to contend with the New York Yankees for the American League East title. Instead, they are 6-10 and limping into a series against the Yankees beginning Tuesday evening.
Ian Harrison / seattlepi.com:
Heredia homers as Rays top Jays 8-4, win 5th straight series — TORONTO (AP) — Baseball anonymity doesn't bother the Tampa Bay Rays. — Pinch-hitter Guillermo Heredia homered to cap a five-run burst in the eighth inning and the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 Sunday for their fifth straight series victory to begin the season.
Discussion:
ABC News, Twinkie Town, Bluebird Banter and MLB Baseball News …
Jesse Yomtov / USA Today:
MLB power rankings: Is this the best team the Rays have ever had? — There's usually a legitimate reason to write off the Tampa Bay Rays. — This season feels different. — As hard as it is to believe, it's been 11 years since that Tampa reached the World Series and made the transformation …
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Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Cardinals notebook: Gallegos ‘super happy’ to get to play for hometown crowd
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
Associated Press:
LEADING OFF: MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day — A look at what's happening around the majors Monday: — JACKIE ROBINSON DAY — Major League Baseball observes Jackie Robinson Day at ballparks all over the country. Robinson broke baseball's color barrier when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, McCovey Chronicles, True Blue LA, Lone Star Ball and Bluebird Banter
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Richard Lapchick / ESPN:
The MLB Racial and Gender Report Card — There is nothing that better signals the end of a bitter winter and the beginning of spring like the start of another Major League Baseball season. Baseball has a special place on the mantel of American history. It gained its lore in the Roaring '20s …
Associated Press:
Baseball roundup: Marquez, Rockies end 8-loss skid — German Marquez pitched a one-hitter, nicked only by Evan Longoria's single with one out in the eighth, and the Colorado Rockies ended an eight-game losing streak by beating the hosting San Francisco Giants 4-0 Sunday.
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Daimon Eklund / Associated Press:
Cole strikes out 11, Diaz homers, Astros win 3-2 at Seattle — Hector Rondon, Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna each pitched a perfect inning in relief for Houston, with Osuna working the ninth for his seventh save. — SEATTLE — Gerrit Cole struck out 11 in six innings …
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David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Real or not? Astros are headed for another 100-win season
Discussion:
The Crawfish Boxes, MLB Baseball News … and Lookout Landing
Kevin Acee / Miami Herald:
Padres made winning choice bringing up Fernando Tatis Jr. at start of season — Can you imagine? — “I know,” Fernando Tatis Jr. said with a smile. “We would have missed a couple things already.” — The Padres decided against manipulating Tatis' service time, promoting …
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Teheran shows up deGrom, Braves split with Mets — The idea of matching Julio Teheran against Jacob deGrom didn't quiver excitement within the Braves' fan base. Cue the adage, “That's why they play the games.” — Teheran pitched his best game of the season — six innings, allowing one run …
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …
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Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Jacob deGrom scuffles in second straight outing raising cause for concern
Discussion:
NorthJersey.com, Newsday, New York Post, Amazin' Avenue and MLB Baseball News …
Arizona Republic:
Padres' Andy Green upset with umpires after Diamondbacks' Greg Holland throws behind Francisco Mejia — The Diamondbacks and Padres did not end their series on the best of terms Sunday. — After Diamondbacks closer Greg Holland threw two straight pitches behind Padres catcher Francisco Mejia's …
Discussion:
Arizona Sports
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Tommy Birch / Des Moines Register:
Meet the most productive hitter in the Cubs' organization — 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. — CONNECT
ESPN:
Power Rankings: Big tests coming for April's hot starters — Just one more week into the season, we're starting to see some stronger teams emerge. But we're also ready to crown a new No. 1, as the Astros rode their nine-game win streak to the top of rankings, earning three first-place votes to replace the Dodgers at the top slot.
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Cleveland Indians designate Brad Miller for assignment: 'Obviously, they don't want the best players up here' — KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Right now what's up is down and what's down is up for the Indians. — Confused? Imagine how Brad Miller feels? — Miller, one of the few Indians' players …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, NBCSports.com and Let's Go Tribe
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Why evolution of changeup could make or break Clayton Kershaw's season — LOS ANGELES — It was 10 years, three teams and one career ago, but Brad Ausmus remembers the game — May 17, 2010, on the road against the Florida Marlins. Clayton Kershaw carried a no-hitter through seven innings that night …
Jordan McPherson / Miami Herald:
Three top Marlins pitching prospects put up quality performances for Jupiter Hammerheads — The Jupiter Hammerheads' starting rotation is coming into its own early in the season, with three of the Marlins' top minor-league prospects dazzling over consecutive starts.
