Phillies' Jake Arrieta says no soreness after second spring training start  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jake Arrieta felt fine after his second spring training start with the Philadelphia Phillies, and that was more important than the mediocre results.  —  Arrieta allowed 4 runs …

Dodgers designate OF Trayce Thompson for assignment  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) The Dodgers have cut outfielder Trayce Thompson, the brother of Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson.  —  Thompson was competing for a spot in a crowded Los Angeles outfield that includes Chris Taylor, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Joc Pederson and Andrew Toles.

First rain delay: Reds reschedule opener vs Nationals  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds have pushed back their season opener against the Washington Nationals by a day because rain is forecast for all day Thursday.  —  They'll open on Friday afternoon instead, taking advantage of what was a scheduled day off for both teams.

How the bobblehead became a beloved symbol of baseball season  —  There is probably no better indicator of how surprisingly good Justin Smoak was in 2017 than the fact he was selected to be a bobblehead this year  —  As he walked to work on a bright, subzero morning in Toronto last week …

Yankees run afoul of MLB over player images on beer at Yankee Stadium  —  Trouble might have been brewing for the Yankees over facial images of their players — including Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton — imprinted in beer sold at Yankee Stadium.  The images were displayed at a media event on Monday at the ballpark.

Tim Tebow starting season with Mets' Double-A team  —  Tim Tebow will start the season with the New York Met's Double-A affiliate in Binghamton, the team announced Wednesday.  —  Tebow, who is entering his second season in the Mets' organization, said in a statement that he is “excited” about the assignment to Binghamton.

Nationals' Bryce Harper is about to step into the storm that's been brewing his entire life  —  The Washington Post  —  One Sunday morning a few years ago, in the well-worn clubhouse at Turner Field, Bryce Harper sat on the edge of the black leather rolling chair at his locker and looked around the near-empty room.

Column: Smooth sailing ahead for the Cubs — at least until October  —  Chicago Tribune  —  From Jon Lester's wayward bounce throw to Tommy La Stella's pop-up bounce house, the Cubs got through another spring training with a healthy diet of hard work and comic relief.

Many prospects impressed Cardinals, but Knizner stood out  —  MONTREAL  • The Cardinals' front office and analytics group dropped a stack of statistics on manager Mike Matheny at the end of the team's play in the Grapefruit League, and he marveled at the types of numbers available to him from simple exhibition games.

Mike Francesa and Chris Russo reunite, take digs at WFAN: 'There'll be nobody on WFAN before you know it'  —  Mike and the Mad Dog poked fun at their struggling former employer Wednesday.  —  Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, appearing side-by-side on Russo's “High Heat” show on MLB Network …

Angels' Shohei Ohtani to make first start as pitcher Sunday versus Athletics  —  Despite a rocky spring on the mound, two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani will make his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday against the Athletics, manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday night.

A's prospect A.J. Puk hurts elbow; Tommy John recommended  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Oakland Athletics pitching prospect A.J. Puk has injured his pitching elbow, and Dr. James Andrews is recommending he have Tommy John surgery.  —  The left-handed Puk injured the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, the team said Tuesday.

AL DNA: Breaking down the analytics of each American League team for the 2018 MLB season  —  With each passing season, sabermetrics are becoming more and more ingrained in baseball.  —  Data is becoming increasingly available by the year — more recently with the advent of MLB's Statcast …

Victor Caratini builds bond with Cardinals pitcher seriously injured by his line drive  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Daniel Poncedeleon knows it might sound silly, but the competitor within him often emerges when he thinks about the moment that threatened his life.  —  Ask him about that terrifying afternoon last spring.