Community Picks: Colorado 0% vs Arizona 0%

A look at what's happening all around the majors Thursday: FIRST DEFENSE The Houston Astros begin the season as reigning World Series champions for the first time following their victory over the Dodgers last fall. AL Championship Series MVP Justin Verlander will make his first opening-day start with Houston after nine with Detroit. Verlander will face Texas ace Cole Hamels, who is making his fourth season-opening start, including his second with the Rangers. NEW FACES Giancarlo Stanton joins Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez in the Yankees' imposing lineup, while J.D. Martinez suits up for Boston and Eric Hosmer for San Diego after signing nine-figure deals in free agency. Five skippers — Washington's Continue to Article

March 28, 2018 11:15:pm EST

Before Mike Napoli ships off to Triple-A Columbus to open the season, the veteran slugger left a parting impression with the Cleveland Indians. Napoli homered in Cleveland's exhibition finale Tuesday, a 3-3 tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 12-year major league veteran was informed during spring training he wouldn't crack the Indians' opening day roster and has accepted a minor league assignment. Continue to Article

March 27, 2018 8:03:pm EST

Some exhibition games remain, however, and they’re being played in big league parks. As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the Diamondbacks have brought back that weird tradition of decades past, and last night at Chase Field we got to see it in action for the first time. Then again, a jogging reliever isn’t brought to you by a parcel delivery company, the official parcel delivery company of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and isn’t that what really matters? Continue to Article

March 27, 2018 6:34:am EST

Bird missed a substantial amount of time during the 2017 season due to an injury on the same right ankle. In the short-term, the Yankees plan to get by at first base with some combination of Neil Walker and/or Tyler Austin. Before getting injured, the 25-year-old had struggled in Grapefruit League play, slashing just .154/.267/.231 with one homer, four RBI and a 16/7 K/BB ratio in 60 plate appearances. Continue to Article

March 27, 2018 1:48:am EST

The Diamondbacks and Ketel Marte have agreed to a five-year, $24 million extension. The extension was first reported by Robert Murray of FanRag Sports. This deal covers all of those years, one year of potential free agency guaranteed and two additional free agent years if the options are picked up, making it a max seven-year, $46 million deal. Continue to Article

March 26, 2018 2:06:pm EST