The first weekend of the regular season concludes today with a full slate of games, featuring a number of exceptional starting pitching matchups.

The Royals, the last team in the Majors to hit a homer, erupted for three to back the strong season debut by right-hander Ian Kennedy in a 7-0 victory over the winless Twins on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.

The Giants officially announced their agreement with first baseman Brandon Belt on a five-year contract extension through the 2021 season. Financial terms were not immediately available.

We all need a little help from time to time.

Dexter Fowler’s right hip still hurts from colliding with Kyle Schwarber Thursday night, but it hasn’t stopped the Cubs’ leadoff man from continuing to get on base.

Charlie Culberson, a former Giants farmhand, laced an RBI double to snap a 10th-inning tie Saturday and lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-2 decision over San Francisco.

Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner proved Saturday that his power remained intact, as he connected off Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw for his first home run of the season and 12th of his career.

Right-hander Raisel Iglesias threw 5 1/3 strong innings, Eugenio Suarez homered and the Reds ended the Pirates’ season-opening four-game winning streak with a 5-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

Dodgers left fielder Scott Van Slyke, starting for the injured Carl Crawford, was removed from Saturday’s game against the Giants in the third inning with lower back tightness.

If baseball is played, but no one is there to see it, was it really played?

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish is ready to face some hitters. Darvish threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session on Saturday in Arlington and all went well, according to pitching coach Doug Brocail.

Every Bartolo start is a precious gift.

Saturday’s game between the Orioles and Rays has been postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up at a later date.

The consensus in the Astros’ clubhouse a day after their ninth-inning comeback against the Brewers was foiled by Major League Baseball’s new slide rule is that the rule should be changed to allow some interpretation of intent.

Dissatisfied with the results — three earned runs allowed over six innings — from his Opening Day start, Adam Wainwright utilized video and a mirror this week to correct his mechanics ahead of his next start. What he discovered surprised even him.

Trevor Story hasn’t just made an impression on opposing pitching — but he’s won over his teammates, who are blown away by what they’ve seen from him so far.

“Play Ball,” MLB Network’s new weekly show, hosted by Harold Reynolds and geared toward kids, debuted today at 10 a.m. ET.