Cardinals cut seven, give Schafer a chance to make call on pitching  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • What began as a long shot because the Cardinals and Jordan Schafer weren't sure exactly how a player could be both a lefty specialist and an outfielder got even tougher when Schafer's elbow gave way …

What happened  —  The Detroit Tigers lost to the Washington Nationals, 6-2. ...  Alex Wilson started and pitched well before the third inning, when he allowed four straight men to reach with two outs. ...  Jim Adduci recorded two hits. ...  Jeimer Candelario delivered another opposite-field extra-base hit. ...

As Shohei Ohtani attempts to make history, a hand from Albert Pujols would help  —  SportsPulse: The Houston Astros looked primed to repeat as World Series champs.  Recent history suggests otherwise.  USA TODAY Sports  —  CONNECT  —  TEMPE, Ariz. - It hasn't been done in 99 years …

Athletics designate Brandon Moss for assignment, claim Jairo Labourt off waivers from Reds  —  The Oakland Athletics designated outfielder Brandon Moss for assignment on Sunday and claimed left-hander Jairo Labourt off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.  —  Moss, 34, was acquired by the A's …

Carson Fulmer starts for White Sox vs. Padres; left-hander Robbie Ross signs  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Carson Fulmer will make his second start of the spring when the White Sox face the Padres in Cactus League play Sunday at Camelback Ranch.  —  The right-hander was roughed up in his first outing …

Mets' Steven Matz has allowed five runs in both spring training starts  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The saying goes that results don't matter in spring training, but Steven Matz isn't shrugging off his pair of five-run outings to start camp.  —  Matz yielded five runs in 2/3 innings …

Ex-Orioles pitcher Sammy Stewart, who fell on hard times, dies at 63  —  Former Baltimore pitcher Sammy Stewart, who helped the Orioles win the 1983 World Series before falling into a life of crack cocaine addiction and arrests, has died.  He was 63.  —  The Henderson County Sheriff's Office …

Returning from second TJ surgery would be one impressive feat for Eovaldi  —  TAMPA - There's no question what kind of physical shape Rays pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is in as he works his way back to the majors after a second Tommy John surgery.  —  “He comes from the Nolan Ryan school of baseball …

One pitch leads to three unlikely paths to Phillies' bullpen  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Mark Leiter Jr. was in the middle of a college start, a long way from the major leagues, when he first decided to throw his splitter.  Hector Neris fired his first splitter just before the Phillies signed him to a contract he thought he'd never see.

Rotation candidate Gabriel Ynoa was neither lucky nor good in 10-8 O's victory over Red Sox  —  Orioles fifth starter candidate Gabriel Ynoa drew the short straw on Sunday afternoon.  —  Ynoa is competing for a spot in the Orioles regular season starting rotation and he was pitching at Ed Smith Stadium …

Troy Tulowitzki unlikely to be healthy enough for opener  —  Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day because of a bone spur on his right heel, manager John Gibbons said Sunday.  —  “I don't expect he'll be ready.

Sore elbow will sideline Orioles' Chris Davis 3-5 days  —  An MRI on Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis' right elbow and forearm revealed no structural damage, manager Buck Showalter said Saturday.  —  Davis underwent the MRI after feeling more soreness in the flexor mass on Saturday …

Noah Syndergaard proves he's got more than just heat in second spring outing for Mets  —  JUPITER, Fla. - Noah Syndergaard is not just a thrower.  The Mets' fireballing right hander is growing up to be more of a pitcher.  —  While he debuted this spring by letting loose with a hellacious fastball …

Cole Hamels reveals his thoughts on six-man rotation: 'It's not part of baseball'  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Manager Jeff Banister must be an effective pitchman to get the Rangers' top starter to buy into working in a six-man rotation.  —  Cole Hamels, the No. 1 starter, made it clear on Saturday that a six-man plan is not for him.