Cardinals decide Hicks is ready now, promote power pitcher for opening day  —  MONTREAL  • The conversation started Sunday after hotshot rookie Jordan Hicks blistered through the Washington Nationals lineup in a sudden appearance no one expected him to make as recently as last week.

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.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon enthused about defensive improvement for 2018  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs' hopes for a return to the World Series isn't limited solely to rebound seasons from players on an offense that barely changed its personnel from 2017.  —  They anticipate their defense …

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.

2018 Detroit Tigers: Scout's opinion on every player on the roster  —  With Opening Day approaching fast, Free Press sports writer Anthony Fenech breaks down the Detroit Tigers' roster with the help of a pro scout:  —  Rotation  —  LHP Matthew Boyd  —  Age: 27  —  Vitals: 6-3, 215 pounds

Dodger Stadium sewage leak cuts short final spring training game  —  SportsPulse: The Dodgers have won their division five years in a row.  Are they a lock to do it again?  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  A sewage leak at Dodger Stadium led to a half-hour delay and forced the cancellation …

Braves top prospect Acuna's SunTrust debut only a tease  —  Atlanta Braves prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. points to the first base umpire for the call and was called out on strikes during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves in a baseball exhibition game Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Atlanta.

ST Daily: Giant Issues  —  Follow @drewsilv and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.  —  Something's definitely up with Mark Melancon.  —  The veteran closer was scratched from a scheduled appearance in an exhibition game Tuesday night against the A's because — as Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area put it …

Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland says starters need to perform consistently  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —Dave Eiland marveled at the Mets pitching staff during the World Series in 2015 while he instructed Kansas City's hurlers.  —  Now, as the Mets' pitching coach, Eiland is equally as impressed …

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.

Twins putting RHP Phil Hughes on DL to begin season  —  WASHINGTON — Minnesota Twins right-hander Phil Hughes is beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique.  —  Twins manager Paul Molitor said before an exhibition game against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday …

M's Scott Servais: Ichiro (calf) ‘not quite at 100 percent yet’  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners are monitoring Ichiro Suzuki's strained right calf to determine whether he'll be on the opening day roster or the disabled list.  —  Suzuki, 44, went -for-3 with a walk …

How Ketel Marte's contract extension with Arizona Diamondbacks came to be  —  You don't see many baseball players under the age of 25 signing lengthy contract extensions.  In the age of free agency, locking up talented, young players has become increasingly difficult for MLB teams.

Despite trade speculation, Domingo Santana remains with Brewers and is happy about it  —  HOUSTON - When the Milwaukee Brewers finished their exhibition season Tuesday and headed for San Diego to open the season, Domingo Santana was still on the team.  —  How many people predicted that wouldn't happen?

Nationals put 2B Daniel Murphy, RHP Joaquin Benoit on DL  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals have put second baseman Daniel Murphy and right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit on the 10-day disabled list.  —  The Nationals also put righty Koda Glover on the 60-day DL and selected …