Injuries may force Yanks to use ‘opener’ in '19  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The “opener,” the phenomenon that swept through major league pitching staffs last season, might finally take hold in the Bronx later this spring.  —  With injuries already ravaging the upper echelon of his starting rotation …

From water boy to MVP: Mookie Betts is amazing at everything  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — My ESPN colleague Tim Kurkjian likes to say that baseball players are the best athletes in the world — or at least the most underrated.  I agree.  Of course, Tim and I are baseball fans and absolutely biased in this regard, but we are also right.

Gant stares down the Bronx ‘bullies’ as he searches for changeup, efficiency  —  • A quick scan of the Yankees lineup he'd face Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field told John Gant about the test awaiting him.  —  “They sent the bullies out,” he said.

Royals' Perez undergoes successful TJ surgery  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez underwent successful Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow Wednesday, keeping the six-time All-Star off the field for the entire 2019 season.

Roberts: Kershaw's Opening Day status still in air  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw has not yet been ruled out for Opening Day by the Los Angeles Dodgers despite all the time he has missed at spring training with a sore left shoulder.  —  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that …

We Got Our Hands on 73,000 Never-Before-Seen MLB Scouting Reports.  Here's What We Learned.  —  All this week, The Ringer will break down its findings from the massive database of reports spanning 1991 to 2003 given to us by a former member of the Cincinnati Reds front office.

3 takeways from Cubs spring training, including Ben Zobrist defying age and Jose Quintana's strong start  —  Cubs manager Joe Maddon discusses how he adjusts playing time during the season for veteran Ben Zobrist on March 6, 2019, at spring training in Mesa, Ariz.  —  Chicago Tribune

Diamondbacks prospect Jazz Chisholm trying to refine his plate discipline  —  Diamondbacks prospect Jazz Chisholm is known for his smooth left-handed swing, a swing he's usually not shy about unleashing early in his at-bats.  But so far in spring training he has taken a different approach to his trips to the plate.

Angels' Harvey goes 3 innings in first spring start  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Matt Harvey has spent six years in the major leagues and will turn 30 years old on March 27, but the Los Angeles Angels pitcher said he felt as if he was making his first big league start on Wednesday.

Sources: MLB All-Star ‘Election Day’ planned  —  The first Tuesday in November isn't going to be the only annual Election Day in the United States.  —  As part of sweeping changes to the collective bargaining agreement, which is increasingly likely to be ratified by Major League Baseball …

NY Mets have key roster decisions to make before spring training ends  —  The New York Mets are past the halfway point of camp, and the Opening Day matchup that will likely feature Jacob deGrom opposing Washington's Max Scherzer is about three weeks away.  —  Here are five takeaways from the first three-plus weeks of camp:

Morales proud to return the father figure favour to Vlad Guerrero Jr.  —  DUNEDIN — Kendrys Morales will never forget when he first met the Guerrero family and the profound and lasting effect the encounter would have on his baseball life.  —  The year was 2004 and Morales had just defected …

Blue Jays finalize minors deal with Bud Norris  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — Right-hander Bud Norris and the Toronto Blue Jays have finalized a minor league contract, and he will report to major league spring training.  —  Norris, who turned 34 on Saturday, had 47 saves over the past two seasons …

Yankees desperately need Luis Severino, who is hopeful for quick return  —  SportsPulse: Now that Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have signed we can finally look ahead to actual baseball.  Here are the storylines that will define the MLB in 2019.  —  CONNECT