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 …

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.

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

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 …

Cards catcher Pena to miss only one week; Molina guns down 3 runners in squad game  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The forecast of Francisco Pena being out at least 10 to 15 days because of a strained left oblique has been shortened to only a week, according to a Cardinals official …

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.

Porcello's two key outs in ALDS set tone for entire postseason, Cora says  —  FORT MYERS—The Red Sox had several pivotal moments throughout the 2018 postseason, especially from their pitchers.  Joe Kelly re-emerged as a bullpen weapon when it seemed Boston had next to no options entering the playoffs.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

Detroit Tigers: Tyson Ross' struggles could be concerning.  Here's why  —  KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Tyson Ross sat in his locker, mixing a post-game recovery shake on the floor, when reporters approached with questions about his latest start.  —  “Just trying not to make a mess,” he said.

Could Bryce Harper's recruiting pitch to Mike Trout land him in hot water with MLB?  —  The Phillies' Bryce Harper works out at Spectrum Field on March 3, 2019, in Clearwater, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)  —  The Washington Post  —  At his introductory news conference Saturday in Clearwater …

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