51s to kick off final season as Mets affiliate with home series

The 51s will begin the 2018 season by hosting El Paso for a five-game series, starting on April 5, the Pacific Coast League team announced.

The season, which will be Las Vegas’ last affiliated with the New York Mets, will end Sept. 3, the 51s’ last day at Cashman Field. The team is to move into a new Summerlin ballpark with a new Major Leauge Baseball affiliate in 2019.

The team will host its “Fireworks Extravaganza” on July 3 and will have its traditional promotions, including Budweiser Dollar Beer Nights, throughout the season. A full promotional slate will be released at a later date.

Tickets for individual games go on sale in March.

Phillies: Gabe Kapler, 42, a 12-year major league player with six teams, was hired as Philadelphia’s manager. He has served as the Los Angeles Dodgers director of player development since 2014. His lone managing experience came with Boston’s Class-a affiliate.

Athletics: Police said catcher Bruce Maxwell showed signs of intoxication when he was arrested following accusations that he pointed a handgun at the head of a woman in Scottsdale, Arizona, who had delivered food to his home Saturday. He was released Sunday on $10,000 bond.

Marlins: The team’s “preferred path” to cut payroll is to trade right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, second baseman Dee Gordon and third baseman Martin Prado, the Miami Herald reported.

Tigers: Joe Vavra, 57, who has served in several capacities with Minnesota since

2002, left the Twins to join new manager Ron Gardenhire in Detroit as bench coach.

Giants: San Francisco claimed utility player Micah Johnson, 26, off waivers from Cincinnati.