Noah Syndergaard ‘super jacked’ to pitch Mets' opener  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard tried to put his second straight Opening Day start in perspective but let his emotion show.  —  “I'm super jacked for it,” he said Thursday.

Cubs' Yu Darvish to face White Sox on Friday  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Yu Darvish will take the mound Friday in what could be his final Cactus League start for the Cubs.  —  Darvish and his teammates will travel to Glendale to face the rival White Sox at Camelback Ranch.

Mikolas, Wacha will pitch today — and hit  —  In a split-squad doubleheader, Miles Mikolas will swing the bat for the first time as a Cardinal at West Palm Beach against the Washington Nationals and, also sans designated hitter, Michael Wacha will hit here against Miami.

Ed Charles, Infield Sage of the Miracle Mets, Is Dead at 84  —  Ed Charles, the heart and soul of the Miracle Mets of 1969, died on Thursday at his home in East Elmhurst, Queens.  He was 84.  —  His daughter-in-law, Tomika Charles, confirmed the death, saying he had been ill for several years.

Camp report: Lefty Brent Suter scuffles with fielding and command vs. Texas  —  On the field: Left-hander Brent Suter had his roughest outing of the spring, allowing seven hits and four runs over four innings against Texas.  A couple of poor fielding plays on his part that made things tougher.

David Price looks good in spring training debut  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Making his first Grapefruit League start — and first start of any kind in a competitive environment since last July 22 — Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price gave up one hit and one walk in four innings Thursday …

Column: If the old Wrigley Field dugout walls could talk, the stories they would tell  —  Chicago Tribune  —  The Cubs eased concerns of a repeat of the start of the 2015 season when they announced the latest Wrigley Field renovations will be completed in time for the April 9 home opener.

By showing restraint, MLB teams positioned themselves to go dumpster diving thanks to diminished value of free agents  —  TAMPA — Much to the further dismay of the Players Association and in particular Scott Boras, whose clients have ended up with about $300 million less than he promised them …

MLB tells Judge recruiting Machado against rules  —  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Major League Baseball has told New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge his comments attempting to recruit Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado violate the sport's tampering rules, and Judge says he has learned the lesson.

Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Sitting at his locker on Thursday morning, David Peralta turned his right palm upward and clenched his fist.  The difference, he says, is tangible.  And it's the reason he can envision this year being far more productive for him than last.

How the Rays' C.J. Cron spent his summer vacation  —  PORT CHARLOTTE — Afternoons were spent shagging baseballs during batting practice, chasing line drives that hopped to the wall and ground balls that skipped through the infield.  Nights were spent in the batting cage, hitting balls off a tee.

Gary Sanchez drives in 5, but Aaron Boone touts his defensive work at Yankees camp  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Gary Sanchez had a five-RBI day on Thursday, another reminder that a guy with third billing - behind the Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge pairing - is just as dangerous.

Detroit Tigers great Alan Trammell visits Hall of Fame as first step for induction  —  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — At the end of a three-hour tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Thursday, Alan Trammell was guided to one last stop.  His stop.  —  He stood before a piece of Corian solid surface mounted …

Phillies pitcher Jerad Eickhoff out six to eight weeks  —  Jerad Eickhoff will start the season on the disabled list, as he will be sidelined for six to eight weeks because of a strained back muscle.  —  The Phillies likely will fill Eickhoff's rotation spot with Ben Lively or Zach Eflin.

Joe Maddon's restaurant to make late splash in Wrigleyville area  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Cubs fans will be treated to many new restaurants in the Wrigleyville area, including Smoke Daddy, Big Star Tacos, West Town Bakery and Tap and Jeni's Ice Cream.  —  Those establishments will open …

Rangers likely done with free agent market this spring  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Rangers' expedition into the slow-moving free agent market appears to be over.  —  General manager Jon Daniels said Thursday he doesn't expect the team will pursue a free agent left fielder or a relief pitcher from the remaining pool of talent.

Mets' Michael Conforto to take first at-bats since dislocating shoulder last season  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Michael Conforto will take at-bats in a minor-league game Friday.  The All-Star outfielder has not hit in a game since he dislocated his shoulder and tore his anterior capsule while swinging at a pitch last August.