Source: Dice-K opting for Tommy John surgery  —  BOSTON — Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has elected to have Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow and intends to inform the team of his decision when he meets with club officials Thursday, according to a baseball source.

A-Rod's cousin and named steroid mule, Yuri Sucart, spotted at Yankees hotel; MLB says it's watching  —  BY MARK FEINSAND IN OAKLAND AND CHRISTIAN RED IN NEW YORK  —  Major League Baseball is once again investigating Alex Rodriguez's relationship with the cousin he admitted two years ago was his steroid mule.

Manger Terry Collins blows up at team after 9-3 loss to Pirates  —  NEW YORK - The same old Mets finally brought out the old Terry Collins.  —  Before the seventh inning transpired Wednesday night, Citi Field seemed poised for an eventual celebration for the home team …

Zimmerman plays three innings in Florida  —  WASHINGTON — Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman returned to action Wednesday, playing three innings in an extended Spring Training game in Viera, Fla.  —  Zimmerman, on the disabled list with an abdominal strain, planned on playing only three innings in the contest …

Padres plan to take advantage of extra picks  —  With five of the first 58 selections, Draft a big day for franchise  —  SAN DIEGO — It's one thing to have the benefit of additional Draft picks to use in the First-Year Player Draft, but it's something else to have the luxury of extra picks in what is considered a very deep Draft.

MLB will not let Joyce umpire Galarraga's games  —  NEW YORK — A day before the anniversary of the game in which umpire Jim Joyce botched a call at first base that cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game, Major League Baseball confirmed that Joyce is not allowed to umpire any series …

Bautista leads, but Yanks rack up All-Star votes  —  Six New Yorkers in position to start; Young in front at DH  —  Jose Bautista — who leads everyone in home runs — also leads everyone in votes, altruistic Rangers veteran Michael Young is in contention to earn a start at a third different position …

Schierholtz, Giants beat Cards 7-5 in 11 innings  —  ST. LOUIS—Nate Schierholtz hit a tying single with two outs in the ninth inning, then got the go-ahead hit in the 11th inning as the San Francisco Giants shook off a poor outing by Tim Lincecum to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 on Wednesday night.

Cubs have lots of fresh faces, but product remains stale  —  Men in Cubs uniforms are walking on the grass at Wrigley Field before Wednesday's game.  I have no earthly idea who some of them are.  They could be ballplayers, coaches, self-medicated fans who have wandered onto the diamond …

Must see: Adam Jones evokes Willie Mays with over-shoulder catch  —  It doesn't quite rhyme, but the Baltimore Orioles' outfielder made a defensive play Wednesday that was on par with the famous Willie Mays catch to rob Vic Wertz in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series.

Hanson's 6 Strong Innings Lead Braves Past Padres  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy Hanson went six strong innings on a sweltering night and center fielder Jordan Schafer made an outstanding catch for the final out, leading the Atlanta Braves past San Diego 4-3 Wednesday and preventing the Padres from sweeping the series.

Reds Rally Late to Beat Brewers 4-3  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Jay Bruce and Joey Votto hit two-run homers during Cincinnati's late comeback, and Francisco Cordero got his 300th career save Wednesday night, securing the Reds' 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.  —  The struggling Reds won …

World Baseball Classic expands to 28 teams  —  The field for the world's largest international baseball tournament is getting even bigger.  —  World Baseball Classic Inc. announced Wednesday the introduction of a play-in round to the 2013 installation of the World Baseball Classic …

Los Angeles Angels' Plane Makes Emergency Landing  —  The Los Angeles Angels were on a charter plane returning from Kansas City Wednesday night, when the airplane's hydraulics went out.  The plane, originally expected to land at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, had to make an emergency landing at LAX instead.

Bartolo Colon's treatments inject controversy into his comeback  —  The cynics, doubters and haters are speaking with one voice these days about Bartolo Colon.  It's a chorus: no man shaped like a watermelon should be throwing 96-mph on the black.  —  After all, just look at Colon …