Sporting News Updated at 2:14 p.m. ET Updated at 2:14 p.m. ET The 2018 MLB season is almost upon us, which means another long, winding season of the unexpected, the entertaining and the down-right confusing. Baseball is about as difficult to predict as the ending of a Christopher Nolan movie, but that won't stop us from trying. Below you'll find the SN MLB staff's predictions and Twitter handles, so you can laugh at us and tell us how wrong we are. MORE: Opening Day schedule for all 30 teams Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) American League East: YankeesCentral: ClevelandWest: Astros National League East: NationalsCentral: CubsWest: Dodgers Wild card AL: Red Sox, AngelsNL: Diamondbacks, Cardinals MVP AL: Mike Trout, AngelsNL: Kris Bryant, Cubs Cy Young AL: Corey Kluber, ClevelandNL: Noah Syndergaard, Mets Rookie of the Year AL: Dustin Fowler, A’sNL: Lewis Brinson, … [Read more...] about MLB Opening Day 2018: Sporting News offers predictions for the upcoming season
Mlb
Tweets, trolls and time: An inside look at what it’s like to run an MLB social media account
Jared Wyllys Contributor @jwyllys Published on Mar. 26, 2018 Mar. 26, 2018 For the last few innings of Game 7 of the World Series last fall, Danny Farris was huddled in the manager’s office of the visitors clubhouse at Dodger Stadium so he could tweet. Farris is the primary voice behind the Astros’ Twitter account, and a packed Dodger Stadium put a strain on the WiFi connection in the auxiliary press box, so he went to where he could get a stronger connection. That meant Farris sent out the tweets that marked Houston’s historic World Series championship while watching the final innings on a TV in a cramped office and high-fiving the clubhouse assistant. “When they clinched, I was sitting in that dark, dingy office,” Farris told Sporting News. “I couldn’t hear anything outside, so it definitely wasn’t the most exciting or glamorous thing.” … [Read more...] about Tweets, trolls and time: An inside look at what it’s like to run an MLB social media account
Seven MLB Teams With Interesting Preseason Playoff Odds
As Spring Training comes to a close, it’s impossible to not get excited about Opening Day, especially with all 30 teams playing on the same day for the first time since 1968. Whether an MLB team has their eyes set on rebuilding or contending in 2018, the slate is officially clean at the moment. Anything can happen once the games start counting – after all, the Minnesota Twins went from a 103-loss team to a playoff squad in the span of a year. Math can give us an idea of who has the best chance of getting to October baseball at this point in time, though. The below table shows each team’s playoff odds from best to worst heading into 2018, per FanGraphs (as of March 25th). Team Playoff Odds Houston Astros 98.5% Chicago Cubs 95.6% Cleveland Indians 95.2% Los Angeles Dodgers 93.5% New York Yankees 90.1% Washington Nationals 89.2% Boston Red Sox 82.7% St. Louis Cardinals 67.5% New York Mets 44.0% Toronto Blue Jays 39.6% Minnesota Twins 30.8% Los … [Read more...] about Seven MLB Teams With Interesting Preseason Playoff Odds
MLB Opening Day 2018: Schedule for all 30 teams
Gilbert McGregor @GMcGregor21 Updated at 9:23 a.m. ET Updated at 9:23 a.m. ET The 2018 Major League Baseball regular season will begin on March 29 — the earliest Opening Day in league history. In addition to the early start, all 30 MLB teams will be in action on Opening Day this year. The full slate of games begins on ESPN at 12:30 p.m., when the Miami Marlins host the Chicago Cubs. Here is all you need to know about Opening Day for each MLB team. MORE: Watch MLB action this season on fuboTV (7-day free trial) (All times Eastern.) MLB Opening Day 2018 Schedule Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Colorado Rockies, Thursday, March 29, 10:10 p.m. Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Thursday, March 29, 4:10 p.m. | fuboTV Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins, Thursday, March 29, 3:05 p.m. Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays, Thursday, March 29, 4:00 p.m. | fuboTV Chicago Cubs … [Read more...] about MLB Opening Day 2018: Schedule for all 30 teams
Mets’ Conforto to start MLB season on DL
Michael Conforto is on the sidelines, having underwent surgery for a torn capsule in his left shoulder in September. New York Mets All-Star Michael Conforto will not be on the field when the MLB season starts this week.Conforto suffered a torn capsule in his left shoulder in August and underwent surgery in September.The 2017 All-Star initially targeted an early-May return but he requires more time to rehabilitate.On Sunday, the Mets said the outfielder will start the campaign on the disabled list as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery."I am staying down here, I am opening the season on the disabled list, but it won't be long," Conforto said, with the Mets scheduled to face the St Louis Cardinals.He played five innings on Saturday for the first time this spring training, though Mets manager Mickey Callaway acknowledged he would not be ready in time for opening day after the game.Conforto, 25, batted .279 with 27 home runs and 68 … [Read more...] about Mets’ Conforto to start MLB season on DL