Top News:
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB making small changes to pitch clock rules, memo says — Major League Baseball is making slight changes to its new pitch clock rules but will not alter the most significant portions of the mandates that have shaved 25 minutes off game times this spring, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
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Evan Drellich / The Athletic:
MLB could tweak new rules before Opening Day: Sources — Members of MLB's competition committee on Monday discussed tweaks to baseball's new rules, people briefed on the meeting told The Athletic, opening the door to potential rule modifications for Opening Day.
Gary Phillips / New York Daily News:
Luis Severino rebounds with sharp slider, recommends pitch clock tweaks
Luis Severino rebounds with sharp slider, recommends pitch clock tweaks
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Miami Herald, New Jersey Online, Pinstripe Alley, New York Post and MLB Baseball News …
Alden Gonzalez / ESPN:
Japan plates 2 in ninth, ousts Mexico in World Baseball Classic — MIAMI — Munetaka Murakami, a Japanese Triple Crown winner who, at 23, is already among the best hitters in the world, thought about bunting. — It was the ninth inning, two runners occupied first and second base with nobody out …
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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout as Japan edges Team USA for World Baseball Classic title — Ohtani whiffs his Angels teammate on a full-count slider for the final out in a matchup so many wanted to see, giving Japan a 3-2 victory over the defending champs for its first WBC crown since 2009
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ESPN, New York Daily News, Orange County Register, Miami Herald, Reuters, San Bernardino Sun, NBCSports.com, MLB | NBC Sports, The Athletic, New York Post, Bucs Dugout, MLB Baseball News …, Bleacher Nation, Covering the Corner, The Crawfish Boxes, Amazin' Avenue, Arizona Sports, USA Today, Mercury News, True Blue LA, MLB, Associated Press, Japan Times, Call to the Pen and PHNX
USA Today:
World Baseball Classic final recap: Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout to close out Japan win over USA
World Baseball Classic final recap: Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout to close out Japan win over USA
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Chicago Cubs 3B prospect James Triantos undergoes knee surgery and will miss at least 6-8 weeks, sources say — ExpandAutoplay — 1 of 53 — Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ, pitcher Kyle Hendricks, pitcher Marcus Stroman and right fielder Seiya Suzuki.
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Bleacher Nation
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Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
After watching from afar as Team Japan won the World Baseball Classic, Chicago Cubs RF Seiya Suzuki is focused on rehab — ExpandAutoplay — 1 of 53 — Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ, pitcher Kyle Hendricks, pitcher Marcus Stroman and right fielder Seiya Suzuki.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun-Times, Mercury News, Cubs News, NBCSports.com and Bleed Cubbie Blue
Meghan Montemurro / Chicago Tribune:
Nazier Mulé, a 2-way prospect the Chicago Cubs drafted last year, will undergo Tommy John surgery
Nazier Mulé, a 2-way prospect the Chicago Cubs drafted last year, will undergo Tommy John surgery
Discussion:
Cubs News, Cubs Insider and Bleacher Nation
Apple:
“Friday Night Baseball” resumes on Apple TV+ on April 7 — Weekly doubleheaders begin with the Texas Rangers at the Chicago Cubs, and the San Diego Padres at the Atlanta Braves — Today Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that “Friday Night Baseball,” a weekly doubleheader …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Royals Review, Battery Power, Phillies Nation, Cubs Insider, CNBC and The Athletic
Tim Healey / Newsday:
Brett Baty's spring training epiphany: There's no rush at third base — PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — At the start of spring training, the story on Brett Baty was straightforward. Nobody doubted his ability to hit. There were plenty of questions about his defense.
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The Athletic
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Mike Puma / New York Post:
Eduardo Escobar's Mets return comes with Brett Baty competition at third
Eduardo Escobar's Mets return comes with Brett Baty competition at third
Discussion:
MLB Baseball News …, New Jersey Online and Newsday
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
A Scoreless Wonder and a Master of the Sinker — Among the National League's most promising young pitchers, Arizona's Zac Gallen and San Francisco's Logan Webb stand out as Cy Young Award candidates. — SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Zac Gallen had just been promoted to Class AA …
Associated Press:
UCF steps into unknown territory with NIT matchup at Oregon — The Knights try to keep their season alive today in Eugene when they play the Ducks for the first time. — UCF (19-14) has had an up-and-down season but can salvage the disappointment of not qualifying for the NCAA Tournament …
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Mercury News
Kristian Winfield / New York Daily News:
Nets lose 4th in a row; rally late and fall short to Cavs, 115-109 — No wonder the Cavaliers want the Nets in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs this season. — If that hypothetical series goes anything like the Nets' 115-109 loss to the Cavaliers on Tuesday, Cleveland may as well own a first-round bye.
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DraftKings Nation, Bleacher Nation, The Athletic, New York Post and Denver Post
Mike Lupica / New York Daily News:
Willis Reed was the beating heart of the champion Knicks — It couldn't have happened without all of them, without Clyde who played the game of his life in that Game 7 against the Lakers that May night in 1970, the night at Madison Square Garden when the Knicks finally won it all, 36 points from him and 19 assists and seven rebounds.
Discussion:
New York Post, The Athletic, Daily News, Associated Press and New Jersey Online