The Indians Are Contenders.  But Could They Get Away With A Little Tanking?  —  It will come as no surprise to anyone following baseball that, when we ran an early preseason version of our 2019 MLB projections, the Cleveland Indians came out as heavy favorites to win the American League Central.

Why doing interviews in English is part of Yu Darvish's comeback plan  —  MESA — His Chicago Cubs teammates and manager knew he would pass his first test, but Yu Darvish wasn't as confident.  —  The challenge in front of him had nothing to do with a bullpen session or throwing program.

Roberts: Kershaw “didn't feel so great” after playing catch  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw felt more soreness in his left shoulder playing catch Monday, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says the three-time Cy Young Award winner “didn't feel so great.”

The time is now for Twins' Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton  —  The three men sat down at a table next to the water on the elegant beach restaurant's huge outdoor patio.  A waiter brought them plates full of freshly caught fish, cooked on a bed of rice and vegetables, and the diners dug in.

Down 15 pounds, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Finnegan looks to bounce back from ‘embarrassing’ season  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - As Reds pitchers begin playing catch before another spring training workout, Brandon Finnegan stands a few feet to the side of the field.

Injection means Carlos Martinez will be sidelined an extra week at Cardinals camp  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Carlos Martinez showed up in the Cardinals' clubhouse on Tuesday with his right arm in a sling.  But his latest setback will cost him only an additional week as the righthander tries …

Rockies offer Nolan Arenado a record-breaking contract for average annual salary  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The man soon may be making baseball history, going where no player has ever gone before.  —  He is one of baseball's greatest players, and soon may be the first to earn at least $35 million a season.

All eyes on Kikuchi during his spring debut for Mariners  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi felt the nerves Monday that would normally accompany taking the mound in front of tens of thousands of fans in a major ballpark, not the few thousand who showed up for a spring training game in the desert.

Tulowitzki hits homer then rips Jays team that 'told me I couldn't play anymore'  —  TAMPA — In the big picture of exhibition baseball it meant next to nothing, especially given we are still in the shaking off the rust portion of the program.  —  But for disgruntled Blue Jays fans …

Jimmy Nelson backs off from throwing with arm fatigue, but the Brewers say they're not worried  —  PHOENIX - Right-hander Jimmy Nelson was backed off from throwing over the weekend after experiencing what was called “arm fatigue,” a situation the Milwaukee Brewers' baseball bosses did not consider a noteworthy setback.

Would you rather have a team of 25-homer hitters or all Gold Glovers?  —  This debate was a topic of discussion on last week's Baseball Tonight podcast with Buster Olney: Would you rather have a lineup of eight 25-homer players or eight Gold Glovers?  Fun question.

Noah Syndergaard gets ‘goosebumps’ over endless Mets possibilities  —  WEST PALM BEACH - Noah Syndergaard didn't bother suppressing the heat in his Grapefruit League debut.  —  The flame-throwing right-hander clocked in at 98 mph on the first pitch and settled in the upper-90s across two shutout innings against the Astros on Monday.

Mets 3B Todd Frazier sidelined with left oblique injury  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets third baseman Todd Frazier injured his left oblique muscle and will return to New York for a cortisone injection, the second Mets infielder to get hurt at spring training after fellow infielder Jed Lowrie.

Jonathan Schoop was ‘heartbroken’ when he left Orioles, but now he's in a better place with Twins  —  Former Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is playing for his third major league team in the last seven months, but the Minnesota Twins seem like a perfect fit.