With stability and Goldschmidt, Cardinals, Carpenter out to strong-arm better infield defense  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  • The Cardinals had a big lead when Yadier Molina took over at first base late in a game last year and played a small joke on Matt Carpenter.

The Yankees should hand the ball to Masahiro Tanaka on Opening Day  —  TAMPA — Masahiro Tanaka made his case Friday night.  The Yankees right hander would seem to be the obvious choice to be the Opening Day starter, with the two other sensible choices now out of the picture.

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.

For Bryce Harper, a Philly survival guide presented by Pete Rose  —  Pete Rose heard that Bryce Harper wanted to meet him.  —  It was 2015, and Harper was having the best offensive season of the post-steroid era, one in which he would be crowned MVP of the National League.

King Felix won't start Opening Day for Mariners  —  PEORIA, Arizona - For the first time since 2008, the Seattle Mariners will have a new pitcher on the mound on Opening Day.  On Friday afternoon, manager Scott Servais told Felix Hernandez that he would not be the team's 2019 Opening Day starter.

Why Cy Young winner Blake Snell won't get much of a raise from the Rays  —  The pitcher will get his contract renewed for $573,700 in his final season before arbitration eligibility.  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — So much was right about Blake Snell winning the Cy Young award for his dazzling 2018 breakout season.

Blue Jays' Guerrero looking like a teenager with slow spring start  —  DUNEDIN, Fla. — It's easy to preach patience on a hot, lazy day under the Florida sun, when nobody is rushing to do anything.  —  That includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the top prospect in baseball who, numbers-wise …

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.

Detroit Tigers spring training observations: Daz Cameron making noise  —  TAMPA — With the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation seemingly set, it could be all for naught, but Spencer Turnbull is showing out this spring.  —  Turnbull, who is likely ticketed for Triple-A Toledo …

From ‘boo’ to ‘Yu’: Darvish wants to win over Cubs fans after rocky 2018 season  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Three takeaways from Cubs spring training Friday:  —  1. Yu Darvish is looking to be loved.  —  Darvish wants Cubs fans to embrace him this season and already has begun seeking their approval.

Mets utilityman McNeil to get reps at third base  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jeff McNeil will be exchanging the big glove he's been wearing this spring for the smaller one in his locker.  —  And soon.  —  The New York Mets utilityman — an infielder for most of his career …

Inside Mets' Tom Seaver plans that started years ago … PORT ST. LUCIE — Tom Seaver will be honored in multiple ways by the Mets, and one of those ways under consideration is a statue of Hall of Famer Tom Terrific.  —  The Mets have had conversations with the Seaver family and the Hall of Fame pitcher dating back a couple years.

Cleveland Indians bats go silent against San Francisco left-handers in 2-0 spring training loss to Giants  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio — After collecting a combined 29 hits in their last three games, Indians batters managed just four singles Friday against a pair of tough San Francisco left-handers …