Groin strain may cost Zimmerman a week  —  Nationals won't rush third baseman; Pudge also sidelined  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and catcher Ivan Rodriguez were scheduled to be in the starting lineup against the Mets on Tuesday night …

Spring training 2011: Daisuke Matsuzaka rebounds with 5 shutout innings for Boston Red Sox … LAKELAND, Fla. — Daisuke Matsuzaka said his pitching coach, Curt Young, “advised” him to throw more strikes Tuesday.  Well, he got the memo.  —  Dice-K rescued his spring from the Grapefruit League crisis watch …

Mets disagree on who will start at 2B: Luis Castillo, Brad Emaus, Justin Turner or Luis Hernandez  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - It began with the promise of spring training intrigue, but has since fizzled into an uninspiring question for Terry Collins and the Mets, best asked with a sigh: Who will be the starting second baseman?

Tickets went on sale at Citi Field, but few fans showed up  —  NEW YORK — The guilt has begun to eat at Chuck Licastri, conflicted by the misery he plans to pass down to his little boy.  —  He has lived the painful life of a Mets' fan, suffering through the “heartbreaking” past few years.

Giants' GM turns out to be a ringer  —  The ring is thick and heavy, and it's yellow gold.  It lives on the right ring finger of Giants general manager Brian Sabean, the man who made the World Series championship team happen.  —  You would understandably conclude that Sabean wears the 2010 World Championship ring.

Out of spotlight, Yastrzemski stays in game his way  —  (Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff/File 2008)  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — He is the lion in winter, wheeling into the shabby minor league complex at the dead end of Edison Road every morning before 8.  Fifty years after his rookie season …

Diamondbacks tap Kennedy as opening-day starter  —  SCOTTSDALE Ariz. (AP) — Ian Kennedy has been picked to start on opening day for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  —  Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said Tuesday that Kennedy will pitch April 1 at Colorado.  —  The right-hander went 9-10 with a 3.80 ERA …

A's Closer Andrew Bailey Has Strained Forearm  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Tests reveal that Oakland closer Andrew Bailey has a strained forearm, news that comes as a relief to the Athletics after they feared he had a serious elbow injury.  —  Bailey will resume throwing once the discomfort subsides.

Duda an Enticing Option for Mets  —  His Big Bat Has Manager Seriously Considering Him if an Ailing Beltran Can't Play Right Field  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—Something about Lucas Duda makes Mets managers weak in the knees.  —  For Jerry Manuel, the team's manager last year …

Postgame notes: Banuelos holds his own  —  Joe Girardi was asked tonight whether he knew many 20-year-olds who would be willing to throw a 3-2 changeup to Kevin Youkilis.  When he said no, Girardi was asked if he knew many 30-year-olds who would be willing to throw a 3-2 changeup to Youkilis.