Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson to miss six weeks because of oblique strain  —  Dyson is likely to start the season on the disabled list  —  He was to have been in a platoon in right field with Paulo Orlando  —  Manager Ned Yost said others will have chance to play in right  —  SUPRISE, ARIZ.

Brett Anderson To Undergo Back Surgery, Out 3 To 5 Months  —  Dodgers lefty Brett Anderson is set to undergo surgery today on a bulging disk in his back, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports (Twitter links).  Anderson is expected to miss three to five months.  —  The news comes as a major blow …

Mets need Wilmer Flores to handle new role as utility infielder ‘like a veteran’  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — All last spring Sandy Alderson kept repeating it like a mantra: Wilmer Flores is our shortstop.  The general manager answered every question about his infield with the line that Flores was the Mets' starting shortstop.

Teixeira Plays for First Time Since Injury, Yanks Top Tigers  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Mark Teixeira went 0 for 1 and walked in his first game since missing the final month last season with a right shin injury and the New York Yankees beat a Detroit Tigers split squad 10-9 Wednesday.

Encarnacion, Blue Jays held preliminary contract talks  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Toronto Blue Jays and the representatives for pending free-agent slugger Edwin Encarnacion held a preliminary meeting Wednesday.  —  It's unclear if there's a timeline for more substantive discussions toward …

Arencibia overcame anxiety to enjoy baseball again  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. - Opponents would see J.P. Arencibia and assume he was in the minor leagues on a rehab assignment.  Umpires would ask the former major-leaguer why he was toiling in triple A.  —  Arencibia played four seasons in the majors …

Players Prefer Presentation  —  The Chapman Precedent  —  Aroldis Chapman received a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Tuesday.  In some ways, his case is a lot like many other domestic violence cases: Witnesses gave conflicting statements; the details were alarming, but hard to parse.

Re-introducing Paintomatic  —  Red Sox fan: “The Red Sox just spent $217 million on David Price.  What kind of pitcher is he?”  —  Several years ago I introduced a visual called Paintomatic with the goal of answering questions like the one above.  Like my other visuals, the intention was to unlock insight that's hidden in the data.

Marvin Harrison rips T.O.: “My jacket's gold.  He can get his ass in whenever he gets in, if he gets in!”  —  Talk of Fame Network  —  Add Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison to the list of people sick of listening to Terrell Owens.  —  Harrison is quiet by nature and inclination …

Cardinals Extend Kolten Wong  —  The Cardinals have announced an extension with 25-year-old second baseman Kolten Wong.  Wong, a client of PSI Sports Management, will reportedly be guaranteed $25.5MM over five years, beginning in 2016.  The contract also includes a $12.5MM option …

Baker Wins in Debut, Nationals Beat Rays' Top Young Pitcher  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Dusty Baker wound up a winner in his debut as Washington's manager when the Nationals roughed up top Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Blake Snell for a 6-2 victory Wednesday.  —  Baker last managed with Cincinnati in 2013.

ESPN ‘addressing’ Curt Schilling's Hillary Clinton slam  —  ESPN baseball analyst Curt Schilling appeared to violate the network's guidelines when he told a radio station that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton should be “buried under a jail.”

The World's Greatest Batting Stance Imitator Just Wants to Go Pro  —  Can Gar Ryness turn “the least marketable skill in America” into a broadcasting career?  —  It's nearing midnight when San Diego Padres co-owner Tom Seidler turns his back on his own team.