FB to stream MLB

MLB and Facebook reached an agreement to stream games on the social media site this season, starting with Mets-Phillies on April 4. Facebook Watch will broadcast a total of 25 games this year, mostly on Wednesday afternoons, as part of MLB’s first digital-only broadcasts.

“This partnership with Facebook reflects the ongoing commitment of Major League Baseball and our Clubs to connect with people around the world,” Tony Petitti, Deputy Commissioner of Business and Media for MLB, said in a statement Friday.

First up will be the Mets and Phillies on the first Wednesday of the regular season. MLB will release the broadcast schedule a month at a time, to allow for more flexibility.

—Evan Grossman l Baseball players’ union head Tony Clark claims the Marlins’ rebuilding decision is different from the ones that led to World Series titles for the Cubs and Astros.

“Those teams didn’t tear themselves down,” Clark said Friday. “Those teams went through rough stretches. And then they added, too. When you start with a team that has a number of talented players and you tear that down, it’s a different conversation than starting from scratch and building up.”

The union filed a grievance two weeks ago against Miami, Pittsburgh, Oakland and Tampa Bay, accusing them of not properly using money received in revenue sharing.

l Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League’s Tijuana Toros. Ohtani struck out six and walked one. Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels on Dec. 10.