Armed with advice from Brock and Furcal, Wong aims for more bunts and steals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Former shortstop Rafael Furcal, a member of the 2011 Cardinals' World Series championship club, dressed out for a Cardinals workout before a recent home exhibition game …

Tanaka?  Paxton?  Happ?  Keuchel?!  Handicapping the Yankees' Opening Day starter  —  TAMPA, Fla. — All winter, it was practically a foregone conclusion who'd be starting Opening Day for the New York Yankees.  —  Then, about 15 minutes prior to Tuesday's spring training game against the Braves …

Astros to roll with Verlander on Opening Day  —  Ace Justin Verlander will be the starting pitcher for the Houston Astros on Opening Day against the Tampa Bay Rays, manager AJ Hinch said Friday.  —  It will be the 11th Opening Day start for Verlander, who has a 3-1 record with a 4.03 ERA …

Boston Red Sox's Alex Cora on legal sports gambling: ‘We all have concerns’  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — In his second year as Red Sox manager, Alex Cora will see a slight change to his daily pregame routine.  —  As first reported by Peter Gammons of The Athletic on Wednesday …

Robot umps, shift ban coming to Atlantic League  —  Baseball's potential future will be showcased in the independent Atlantic League this year, and it includes robot umpires, a 62-foot, 6-inch distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate, and no infield shifting.

Marlins shut down catcher Alfaro (knee) again  —  JUPITER, Fla. — The return of inflammation to Jorge Alfaro's right knee is once again prompting the Miami Marlins to shut down their expected opening-day catcher for a few more days.  —  Alfaro re-aggravated the injury during Tuesday's game while sliding into second base.

Brodie Van Wagenen made a slick move naming Jessica Medoza and Al Leiter ‘special advisors’  —  Ultimately, Brodie Van Wagenen cannot control what the Mets do on the field, but has already showed the ability to manage the message surrounding his team.  —  Is anyone in the media …

Giants' Farhan Zaidi still pursuing outfielders  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With Bryce Harper in another division and on another coast, the Giants' contingency plan for their outfield is materializing, albeit slowly.  —  “With the kind of investment and duration in a guy like Harper …

Braves roll out regulars for Friday night  —  The Braves started an all-regular players lineup for the first time this spring against the Phillies in a Grapefruit League game Friday night.  —  Ender Inciarte got the nod at leadoff, with Ronald Acuna hitting cleanup behind Freddie Freeman.

Padres hit five homers in victory over Rangers  —  Manny Machado, right, and Ian Kinsler, left, walk off the field after playing in a spring training game.  (Ross D. Franklin / AP)  —  Score: Padres 11, Rangers 8  —  Batter's box: It was against a pitcher who has thrown five innings above Double-A …

Cincinnati Reds pitchers hit around in 11-3 spring training loss to Seattle Mariners  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Reds pitchers allowed 13 hits, five walks and two homers in an 11-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday at Goodyear Ballpark.  —  Lefty reliever Brandon Finnegan walked …

Column: White Sox outfield was among baseball's least productive last year — and its future looks shaky until Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert arrive  —  Photos of Eloy Jimenez, the White Sox outfielder and No. 4-ranked prospect by Baseball America.  —  Chicago Tribune