Yamamoto, Ohtani deliver in return to Japan, Dodgers beat the Cubs 4-1 in season opener  —  Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw five strong innings, Shohei Ohtani had two hits and scored twice, and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Tuesday …

Yankees ‘surprised’ Alex Verdugo remains a free agent  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Several New York Yankees are curious as to why former teammate Alex Verdugo hasn't signed with a team yet.  —  “I am surprised,” right fielder Aaron Judge said.  “He's such a great player.  He brings so much value and versatility to a team.”

Mookie Betts returns to U.S. to recuperate from illness, will miss 2 games in Japan  —  TOKYO — Shortstop Mookie Betts has returned to Los Angeles to continue recovering from an illness that will cause him to miss the Dodgers' first two games of the regular season at the Tokyo Dome.

In Red Sox roster battles, Kristian Campbell and Aroldis Chapman pull ahead  —  TAMPA, Fla. — The Red Sox' Opening Day roster is coming into focus, and a large number of cuts Wednesday will bring Boston much closer to a final 26-man product.  —  As of Tuesday, the Red Sox still have 51 players in camp …

Rangers sign veteran lefty Patrick Corbin to plug gap in injury-thinned starting rotation  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers signed free-agent left-hander Patrick Corbin to a one-year contract on Tuesday, plugging a durable veteran into their injury-addled starting rotation.

Cincinnati Reds LHP Alex Young to be examined for elbow injury, possible surgery  —  GOODYEAR, Arizona - Cincinnati Reds left-hander Alex Young, who was in camp on a minor-league free agent deal, was sent to Cincinnati over the weekend to be seen by the team orthopedist because of an elbow injury he's dealt with much of camp.

Twins' Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring  —  Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis will miss the start of the season due to a strained left hamstring.  An MRI revealed a moderate sprain after Lewis hurt himself running out a grounder in the Twins' Grapefruit …

Legendary Yankees manager Joe Torre makes pitching change on the mound during spring game  —  NorthJersey.com Digital DeskNorthJersey.com  —  It's a routine move made within a game by any manager, but on Tuesday afternoon, it turned into a special moment for the New York Yankees.

New Yankees ace says he ‘definitely considered’ Red Sox in free agency  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Max Fried got his first (exhibition) taste of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry Tuesday, tossing 4 ⅓ scoreless innings for New York at Steinbrenner Field.  In an alternate universe, he would have been on the other side of things.

Red Sox' hometown kid ‘in hunt’ for starting rotation spot; ‘It feels good’  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Hometown kid Sean Newcomb is “in the hunt” for one of the final two Red Sox starting rotation spots, manager Alex Cora said Monday.  —  The Brockton native who pitched at Middleborough High …

Joey Gallo is planning to try pitching after he was released by the White Sox  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. — Joey Gallo is planning to try pitching after he was released by the Chicago White Sox.  —  Gallo went 2 for 20 in nine Cactus League games with Chicago in spring training, striking out 11 times.