Mr. Comeback: Brantley leads Indians to 3-2 win over Royals  —  Michael Brantley has perfected the comeback season.  Now he has to master completing one.  —  Brantley singled home two runs on the first pitch of his first at-bat this season, and  —  Carlos Carrasco worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning, leading the

Corey Knebel injury will be early challenge for Brewers' hopes to contend  —  Chicago Tribune  —  With closer Corey Knebel expected to miss four to six weeks with a left hamstring strain, the Brewers will find out whether their bullpen can help keep them in the National League Central race.

Detroit Tigers' top prospect Alex Faedo makes pro debut  —  Alex Faedo has made his much-awaited professional debut.  —  The Tigers' right-handed pitching prospect, selected with the No. 18 pick in last year's MLB Draft, began his season on Friday evening with Class A Lakeland.

Next Slide  —  Atlanta's loss turned out to be Milwaukee's half-century gain, and maybe a nightclub incident had something to do with it.  Or was it a nightclub act?  —  It's been 50 years since the moment that essentially marked the end of Bob Uecker's playing career …

Pittsburgh Pirates pound Cincinnati Reds 14-3 under relentless rain  —  PITTSBURGH, Pa. - As a soft, miserable mist watched unrelentingly at PNC Park Friday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates piled on the Cincinnati Reds 14-3.  —  The Pirates had 15 hits and the Reds had 13 …

Hot-hitting Braves spoil home opener in frigid conditions at Coors  —  DENVER — While his teammates shivered and the mercury plummeted, Brandon McCarthy embraced Colorado's wintry weather.  —  “Yeah, it felt like high school baseball.  I don't mind pitching in cold.  I got used to it growing up,” McCarthy said.

Aaron Boone is already more impressed with Gary Sanchez's defense than Joe Girardi ever was  —  Aaron Boone knows a few opponents eventually are going to pay for Gary Sanchez's opening-week offensive slump, but the first-year manager also firmly believes the work his All-Star catcher continues …

Blue Jays digging Solarte's exuberance  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - From such sadness comes such joy.  —  Kevin Pillar was lying on the couch in the Blue Jays clubhouse watching TV a couple of days ago when he was asked about his new teammate Yangervis Solarte.  —  “I think he's going to be a …

Tyler Wade, Brandon Drury leave game for Yankees, injuries unclear  —  It seems the Yankees just cannot avoid bad luck so far this season.  —  After CC Sabathia left Friday's game with the Orioles with right hip soreness, Brandon Drury and Tyler Wade also exited, although the reasons for the latter two is unclear.

Photos: Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals … In the second inning on Opening Day, Jarrod Dyson hit a routine chopper to second.  The Rockies' D.J. LeMahieu gloved it, wasted no time unloading it and narrowly beat Dyson to first.  In the scouts' section behind home plate …

Knizner, Adolis Garcia and Schrock all sock homers as Cardinals' farm teams open  —  Max Schrock had two days.  —  Both took the swings they flashed during spring training into their openers Thursday as Cardinals' affiliates and minor-league baseball began their seasons around the country.

Mariners' James Paxton unfazed by eagle encounter, but other players were terrified  —  Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher James Paxton and opposing Twins players had different instincts when a bald eagle landed on Paxton on Thursday in Minneapolis, instead of soaring to the mound to reach its handlers.

Rangers trade minor league catcher to Padres  —  ARLINGTON  —  Triple A catcher Brett Nicholas was traded to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash considerations on Friday morning.  —  Nicholas was assigned to the Padres' Triple A affiliate in El Paso.