Two Van Slyke homers give Marlins 6-4 win over Cardinals  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Outfielder Oscar Mercado, in his first game wearing a Cardinals uniform, singled twice, scored a run and made a strong catch in right field Friday although the Cardinals lost their exhibition baseball opener to the Miami Marlins 6-4.

Exclusive: Federal documents detail sweeping potential NCAA violations involving high-profile players, schools  —  Documents and bank records obtained in discovery during the federal investigation into the underbelly of college basketball detail in meticulous fashion the expenditures …

ST Daily: Dickerson Gets Dealt  —  Follow @nate_grimm and @Rotoworld_BB on Twitter.  —  When Corey Dickerson was designated for assignment by the Rays, there was likely a small bit of relief in getting out of an organization that has all but given up on contending in 2018.

Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees hyped on his debut: ‘There was definitely a buzz’  —  TAMPA - It was just a meaningless exhibition game, the first of 32 for the New York Yankees in a long spring training, but then again, this one felt different.  —  This day, on a gorgeous Friday afternoon …

While the rest of MLB goes young, the Giants are doubling down on players in their 30s  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The San Francisco Giants sold out 530 straight games before their streak ended in July, and they feel obliged to put a competitive product on the field for all those die-hard ticket holders by the bay.

Dominic Smith scratched from Mets lineup before first spring training game  —  PORT ST LUCIE — Dominic Smith was scratched from the lineup for the Mets' first spring training game Friday, and the first baseman says he wasn't given a reason why.  —  Smith added that he is not injured.

Anthony Rizzo on Cubs wearing Stoneman Douglas caps: ‘Amazing the power (people) have’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Many Cubs players broke in their Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School baseball caps Friday, and Anthony Rizzo appreciated the show of honor in the wake of the tragic Feb. 14 shooting at his Parkland, Fla. high school.

Lighter, stronger Morales craves bounce-back year with Blue Jays  —  DUNEDIN — Some Blue Jays are fan favorites: Kevin Pillar, Marcus Stroman, Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki ... it's a pretty big list.  —  Kendrys Morales is not on that list.  —  Not because he isn't a good guy, or anything like that.

Next Slide  —  Lakeland, Fla. — Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire did something after the game Thursday that he would very rarely do in the regular season.  He made a point of personally complimenting the home-plate umpire.  —  “Helluva job, very nice,” he said to Jen Pawol, one of two women umpiring in professional baseball.

Oakland found closer in Treinen, part of bullpen revamp  —  MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Oakland found its closer in Blake Treinen last summer, and its bullpen transformation continued when it acquired offseason targets Yusmeiro Petit and Ryan Buchter this winter.  —  For a team that had 25 blown saves …

Back tightness delays Carpenter's spring debut for Cards  —  JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Cardinals manager Mike Matheny isn't sure when first baseman Matt Carpenter will make his Grapefruit League debut.  —  Carpenter is battling back tightness.  For the time being, he is in the hands …

Cubs say keeping core of young position players intact ‘a big part of our identity’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  After raising the likelihood in October of a trade to acquire impact pitching, President Theo Epstein managed to keep a core of prized young players together that Cubs fans may treasure …

MLB pulls plug on runner-on-second rule for spring games  —  TAMPA, Fla. — A proposal collapsed that would have put a runner on second base to start the 10th inning of spring training games, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Rasmus makes new start with Orioles after baseball break  —  SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Colby Rasmus is making a new start with the Baltimore Orioles after taking an eight-month break from baseball.  —  Rasmus signed a minor league contract with the Orioles this week, after abruptly leaving the Tampa Bay Rays in midseason.

Reds 6, Indians 4  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Reds beat Cleveland Indians 6-4 in the spring training opener before a crowd of 4,094 at Goodyear Ballpark.  —  The game in three paragraphs:  —Right-hander Sal Romano had a solid first outing.  He went two innings and allowed one run on two hits.

Cardinals eager to see Martinez take ‘Bull’ by the horns  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • The message was taped to Carlos Martinez's locker in the Cardinals' clubhouse and it didn't contain a single word.  —  The piece of paper stuck there had two pictures, juxtaposed.