MLB

AP Sports WriterSpringer, World Series champ Astros top Texas 4-0 in openerBy STEPHEN HAWKINSARLINGTON, Texas (AP) World Series MVP George Springer hit a leadoff homer in the season opener for the second year in a row, Justin Verlander pitched six scoreless innings and the Houston Astros started their...

AP Baseball WriterMets beat Cardinals 9-4 in Callaway's debut as managerBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Mickey Callaway's first game as a manager with the Mets went exactly according to plan.Yoenis Cespedes drove in three runs and newcomer Adrian Gonzalez hit a go-ahead double to lead Noah Syndergaard and...

AP Sports WriterRoyals' Perez out 4-6 weeks after freak knee injuryBy DAVE SKRETTAKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Royals catcher Salvador Perez will miss up to six weeks after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee when he missed a step while carrying a suitcase up stairs in...

AP Sports WriterRays brace to see plenty of Red Sox in next 2 weeksBy FRED GOODALLST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Life in the AL East has never been easy for the Tampa Bay Rays, who will learn a lot about their revamped roster during a challenging season-opening stretch that...

Associated PressJudge and Stanton eager to get started as Yankees teammatesBy IAN HARRISONTORONTO (AP) After a winter of waiting, the New York Yankees are ready to roll with two of baseball's best sluggers.Aaron Judge and newcomer Giancarlo Stanton will bat second and third when the Yankees open against...

AP Sports WriterConfident Twins seek to maintain upward climb vs OriolesBy DAVID GINSBURGBALTIMORE (AP) There's a vastly different vibe in the Minnesota Twins clubhouse heading into opening day.A year ago, Minnesota was coming off a 59-103 season and just hoping to be good. Now, following their first playoff...

AP Sports WriterTraded aces: Verlander, Hamels start Astros-Rangers openerBy STEPHEN HAWKINSARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Justin Verlander and Cole Hamels were both acquired in midseason trades by teams looking for championships.Verlander and the Houston Astros needed only two months together last year before winning the World Series. The Texas Rangers...

AP Sports WriterRockies, D-backs return to scene of crazy wild-card gameBy BOB BAUMPHOENIX (AP) The last time the Colorado Rockies played at Chase Field was one wild October night.It was the National League wild-card game, and the Arizona Diamondbacks emerged with an 11-8 victory in a game that...

AP Baseball WriterTigers, Pirates must move on from last year's acesBy NOAH TRISTERDETROIT (AP) For a decade, opening day for the Detroit Tigers belonged almost exclusively to Justin Verlander.Times have changed.Verlander is with Houston now, and Detroit is set to start Jordan Zimmermann in Thursday's opener against the...

Rays' Eovaldi to have arthroscopic surgery on pitching elbowST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Tampa Bay pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has loose bodies in his pitching elbow and will undergo arthroscopic surgery.The 28-year-old right-hander, expected to be part of the Rays rotation after recovering from Tommy John surgery, was placed on...

Rays' Eovaldi to have arthroscopic surgery on pitching elbowST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Tampa Bay pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has loose bodies in his pitching elbow and will undergo arthroscopic surgery.The 28-year-old right-hander, expected to be part of the Rays rotation after recovering from Tommy John surgery, was placed on...

AP Sports WriterA contrast: Rebuilding Marlins open against formidable CubsBy STEVEN WINEMIAMI (AP) Starlin Castro will be in the Miami Marlins' lineup on opening day, standing out like an All-Star on a Triple-A team.Amid the tumult created by new CEO Derek Jeter's offseason salary dumping, the acquisition of...