José Peraza homers in Cincinnati Reds' 8-3 spring training loss to the Kansas City Royals  —  SURPRISE, Arizona - Home-plate umpire Mark Ripperger issued warnings to both dugouts after four players were hit by pitches in the Cincinnati Reds' 8-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday at Surprise Ballpark.

With plenty of time left in spring, switch-hitting Fowler trying to get right when possible  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • If he wants to get some extra swings from his second side of the plate, Dexter Fowler doesn't have to go far for those at-bats.  —  There's bound to be a live batting practice …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Mets past and present show love for Tom Terrific  —  WEST PALM - Mets manager Mickey Callaway stepped into the media huddle and began his daily postgame press conference with a somber statement.  —  Hall of Fame pitcher and legendary Met Tom Seaver has been diagnosed with dementia, the Seaver family announced on Thursday.

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.

Cooking too long gives Dodgers' Kelly sore back  —  Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said hard-throwing right-hander Joe Kelly, who was scratched from his scheduled appearance Wednesday night, will throw lightly on Friday and hopes to get in a game in a couple of days.

Orioles Acquire Dwight Smith, Designate Josh Osich  —  The Orioles have acquired outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. from the Blue Jays, the Baltimore organization announced.  International pool money will go to Toronto in return, with Scott Mitchell of TSN Sports tweeting the Jays will pick up half a million dollars in spending capacity.

Let's Find A Landing Spot For Craig Kimbrel  —  On its very surface, the fact that Craig Kimbrel remains unsigned sounds ridiculous.  He's on a Hall of Fame trajectory and leads all active relievers in saves (333).  The only pitcher in MLB history (min. 200 innings) with a higher strikeout percentage …

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

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 …