Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Davidson gave opening day quite a jolt.A new baseball season began with a bang Thursday when Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs homered on the very first pitch.World Series MVP George Springer connected , Adam Jones and Nick Markakis hit walkoff winners and Anthony Rizzo delivered the most emotional drive of the day.Shohei Ohtani also got off to a nice start with a hit in his first at-bat .But a year after big leaguers launched a record 6,105 longballs, Stanton and Davidson staged their own long-distance home run derby.Stanton hit two hard homers and doubled in his debut with the New York Yankees during a 6-1 victory at Toronto. The reigning NL MVP led the majors with 59 home runs last year, then was traded from Miami to the Bronx."You want to get the first one out of the way and then you can relax," Stanton said.Davidson did even better, hitting three home runs for the Chicago White Sox in a 14-7 romp at Kansas City. He became the fourth player with a three-homer performance... [More]

Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Davidson gave opening day quite a jolt.A new baseball season began with a bang Thursday when Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs homered on the very first pitch.World Series MVP George Springer connected , Adam Jones and Nick Markakis hit walkoff winners and Anthony Rizzo delivered the most emotional drive of the day.Shohei Ohtani also got off to a nice start with a hit in his first at-bat .But a year after big leaguers launched a record 6,105 longballs, Stanton and Davidson staged their own long-distance home run derby.Stanton hit two hard homers and doubled in his debut with the New York Yankees during a 6-1 victory at Toronto. The reigning NL MVP led the majors with 59 home runs last year, then was traded from Miami to the Bronx."You want to get the first one out of the way and then you can relax," Stanton said.Davidson did even better, hitting three home runs for the Chicago White Sox in a 14-7 romp at Kansas City. He became the fourth player with a three-homer performance... [More]

Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Davidson gave opening day quite a jolt.A new baseball season began with a bang Thursday when Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs homered on the very first pitch.World Series MVP George Springer connected , Adam Jones and Nick Markakis hit walkoff winners and Anthony Rizzo delivered the most emotional drive of the day.Shohei Ohtani also got off to a nice start with a hit in his first at-bat .But a year after big leaguers launched a record 6,105 longballs, Stanton and Davidson staged their own long-distance home run derby.Stanton hit two hard homers and doubled in his debut with the New York Yankees during a 6-1 victory at Toronto. The reigning NL MVP led the majors with 59 home runs last year, then was traded from Miami to the Bronx."You want to get the first one out of the way and then you can relax," Stanton said.Davidson did even better, hitting three home runs for the Chicago White Sox in a 14-7 romp at Kansas City. He became the fourth player with a three-homer performance... [More]

Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Davidson gave opening day quite a jolt.A new baseball season began with a bang Thursday when Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs homered on the very first pitch.World Series MVP George Springer connected , Adam Jones and Nick Markakis hit walkoff winners and Anthony Rizzo delivered the most emotional drive of the day.Shohei Ohtani also got off to a nice start with a hit in his first at-bat .But a year after big leaguers launched a record 6,105 longballs, Stanton and Davidson staged their own long-distance home run derby.Stanton hit two hard homers and doubled in his debut with the New York Yankees during a 6-1 victory at Toronto. The reigning NL MVP led the majors with 59 home runs last year, then was traded from Miami to the Bronx."You want to get the first one out of the way and then you can relax," Stanton said.Davidson did even better, hitting three home runs for the Chicago White Sox in a 14-7 romp at Kansas City. He became the fourth player with a three-homer performance... [More]

Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [More]

Capsules of National League West teams, listed in order of finish last year:___Los Angeles Dodgers2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Manager: Dave Roberts (third season).He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler, LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Henry Owens.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Brandon Morrow, RHP Brandon McCarthy, LHP Tony Watson, LHP Luis Avilan, LHP Scott Kazmir, LHP Adam Liberatore, OF Andre Ethier, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, LHP Grant Dayton, OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Josh Ravin.Projected Lineup: CF Chris Taylor (.288, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs, 17 SBs), SS Corey Seager (.295, 22, 77), 3B Justin Turner (.322, 21, 71, will start season on DL with broken left wrist), 1B Cody Bellinger (.267, 39, 97, 10 SBs), RF Yasiel Puig (.263, 28, 74), LF Matt Kemp (.276, 19, 64 in 115 games with Braves) or Joc Pederson (.212, 11, 35 in 102 games), C Austin Barnes (.289, 8, 38) or Yasmani Grandal (.247, 22, 58), 2B Logan Forsythe (.224, 6,... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan McMahon is moving closer to opening the regular season as the Colorado Rockies' first baseman.The 23-year-old entered Thursday hitting .387 with a team-leading 12 hits in 31 at-bats."The numbers might be OK, but numbers don't really mean much in spring training," McMahon said. "You're just trying to find your swing and get ready for the season. Trying to find the swing that I want and just enjoying it."Mark Reynolds, who remains a free agent, was the primary first baseman last season and had 30 homers and 97 RBIs. McMahon made his major league debut Aug. 12 and hit .158 (3 for 19) in 17 games."It's good to see that he's feeling comfortable," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "This has been a gradual progression for him this year and last year getting to the big leagues, and these are all steps that you take to become a big leaguer. He still has some boxes to check off, but he's doing very well."McMahon has long gotten past the wow factor of being in the same... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Los Angeles DodgersManager: Dave Roberts (third season).2017: 104-58, first place, lost to Houston in World Series.Training Town: Glendale, Arizona.Park: Camelback Ranch.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: OF Matt Kemp, RHP Tom Koehler.He's Outta Here: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Brandon McCarthy, INF Charlie Culberson, OF Curtis Granderson, 2B Chase Utley, OF Andre Ethier.Going campin': The Dodgers returned to the World Series for the first time since winning it in 1988, only to lose to Houston in seven games. They topped 100 wins while earning a fifth straight NL West title. Clayton Kershaw is one of the elite pitchers in the game, a seven-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. He begins the season with 144 career victories, 21 shy of Sandy... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado didn't travel home with the team after the Colorado Rockies lost at Arizona in last October's wild-card game.He needed some time to himself, to reflect on a season in which the Rockies made it back to the postseason for the first time since 2009 only to have the run abruptly end with an 11-8 loss to the Diamondbacks.The Gold Glove third baseman played some golf, went to a concert all by himself — Post Malone — and then made a vow to work even harder .This from a player who hit 37 homers and drove in 130 runs a season ago."A little depression after that wild-card game," Arenado said. "I was so upset. I wanted to play more baseball.Colorado went 87-75 in manager Bud Black's first season and was looking for a deeper playoff run."It hurt, but it can only make us better. I talked to some of the guys, and they still talk about it to this day. It's like, 'Dang, what happened? How did that game go crazy like that?" Arenado said. "That's a good thing to have. It makes... [More]

1B Mark Reynolds hit his 30th home run, giving him four seasons with at least 30 homers and his first since 2011 with Baltimore. Reynolds ended a homerless drought of 44 at-bats since he last homered Sept. 10 and joined Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon, each with 37 homers, as the third Rockies player with at least 30 homers. It's the sixth time in franchise history the Rockies have had three players hit 30 or more homers and first time since 2004 when Jeremy Burnitz, Todd Helton and Vinny Castilla did it.

1B Mark Reynolds delivered his fifth career grand slam Sunday, a deep shot to left-center field at Dodger Stadium that help seal a four-game sweep for the Rockies. It was Reynolds' 29th home run of the season. With the bases loaded this season, Reynolds is 6-for-10 with one home run and 15 RBIs.

1B Mark Reynolds did not play. He is hitless in his past 11 at-bats and has five hits in his past 33 at-bats. That slide has dropped Reynolds' average to a season-low .270.

1B Mark Reynolds went 0-for-3 with one RBI. He is hitless in his past 11 at-bats and has five hits in his past 33 at-bats. That slide has dropped Reynolds' average to a season-low .270

1B Mark Reynolds hit his 28th homer on Sunday. The two-run shot put him over the 800-RBI mark for his career. It was his second home run of the series. He has hit safely in seven of his last 10 games.

1B Mark Reynolds homered in his third straight start against the Braves, blasting his 27th of the season in the seventh inning Friday. He also had a double in a 2-for-3 game. The home run total is the most for Reynolds since he hit 37 for Baltimore in 2011.

1B Mark Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. He hit a sacrifice fly in the first, hit his 26th homer in the eighth and singled home a run in the ninth. Reynolds has hit three homers in his past five starts.

1B Mark Reynolds was not in the starting lineup Wednesday because of a bruised left hand. Reynolds jammed the hand into 3B Jose Ramirez during a close play at first base in the sixth inning Tuesday in which Reynolds and Ramirez, both diving for the base from different angles, collided. Reynolds entered Wednesday's game in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-2.

1B Mark Reynolds, who turned 34 on Thursday, hit his 23rd home run and 17th at Coors Field. It is Reynolds' highest home run total since he hit 23 homers with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. Nineteen of his 23 homers have come against right-handed pitchers,

1B Mark Reynolds tripled in the eighth inning when his drive went beyond right fielder Alen Hanson, hit the wall and came far enough back toward the infield to allow Reynolds to easily reach thrid base with his first triple since July 8, 2015 at the Chicago Cubs. He now has three career triples. The other was against the White Sox in Chicago on July 1, 2015,

1B Mark Reynolds went 2-for-4 with singles on his final two at-bats in the sixth and the eighth. The sixth-inning hit ended a 0-for-18 skid for Reynolds.