Jordan Montgomery nails down the No. 5 spot in Yankees rotation  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jordan Montgomery has taken the fifth.  —  The second-year lefty was the presumptive favorite to round out the Yankees' starting rotation to open 2018, but manager Aaron Boone made it official …

Detroit Tigers' Michael Fulmer strong in return, no say on Opening Day  —  The Detroit Tigers started Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, with individual pictures, followed by practice.  First rounder pitcher Alex Faedo faced major-league hitters for the first time, too.  Video by Kirthmon F. Dozier/DFP Wochit

Steven Matz finally pitches himself into Mets rotation battle with four scoreless innings  —  LAKELAND, Fla. - Steven Matz has finally found some confidence in his fastball.  —  The conviction that the Mets lefty was lacking his first two starts of spring, came back to him Friday.

Report: A's sign catcher Eustis native Jonathan Lucroy  —  East Bay Times  —  The A's dipped into free agency to grab All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who reportedly will sign a one-year deal with Oakland.  —  MLB.com's Jane Lee reported the A's are bringing in the 31-year-old to help solve …

Shohei Ohtani admits ‘adjustments need to be made’ after rough start  —  Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani gave up six runs in a shaky three-inning start Friday in a “B” game against the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros.  —  Ohtani, 23, was scheduled for 60 pitches in four innings, but he reached 64 pitches after only three.

Astros downplay potential World Series hangover, say they're ‘not the Cubs’  —  No team ever thinks that they'll succumb to the dreaded World Series hangover.  They know the risks, they managed the offseason, everything is fine.  —  The Houston Astros aren't the Cubs, but they have Chicago's post-World Series arrogance down.

Mikolas gives Cardinals what they had hoped to see  —  • If there was an at-bat where Miles Mikolas' spring was going to pivot in the direction he and the Cardinals insisted or plunge anew into anxiety, it came Friday against one of the best players in the game at one of the biggest moments in the game.

Column: After all these years, longtime Cubs broadcaster Pat Hughes still gets butterflies  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Getting ready for his first Cactus League broadcast of the season recently at Sloan Park, Cubs radio broadcaster Pat Hughes insisted he had butterflies.

NEW YORK  • Facebook is getting deeper into the professional sports streaming game, partnering with Major League Baseball to air 25 weekday afternoon games, including a Cardinals game in April, in an exclusive deal.  —  The games will be available to Facebook users in the U.S. on Facebook Watch …

Column: Coming attractions a mixed bag at White Sox camp  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The three most important players at White Sox camp had a difficult 24-hour stretch leading into Friday's Cactus League game against the Padres.  —  Top prospect Eloy Jimenez was out with left knee tendinitis …

Trevor Bauer thinks Major League Baseball trying to silence him on Twitter  —  Trevor Bauer appears to be a little sour toward Major League Baseball.  —  The Indians pitcher tweeted Thursday that someone was attempting to silence him when it came to sharing his beliefs on Twitter.

Cubs counting on new coach Will Venable being able to relate to players  —  Chicago Tribune  —  As Will Venable shifts from the spacious batting cages to a crowd of young outfielders, the nights of cramming for an anthropology exam or guarding the likes of Kirk Hinrich, J.J. Redick and Steve Blake seem so distant.

Royals back talking to Moustakas about possible return  —  Bovada releases odds for unsigned free agents  —  Inside Baseball |  MLB's winter winners and losers  —  Inside Baseball MLB Notes |  Twins could still use starter  —  Heyman |  Could Padres be in play for Jake Arrieta?