Phillies' Eickhoff expected to miss 6-8 weeks  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — Two days after introducing Jake Arrieta as their new staff ace, the Philadelphia Phillies suffered a hit to the middle of their starting rotation.  —  The Phillies said Friday that starter Jerad Eickhoff is expected …

Gyorko homers; Mikolas scoreless through three  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  • There were back-to-back singles to start the game and a couple of high fly balls that became easy outs at the warning track, but so far, not one run.  —  Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas has allowed two hits …

Cubs starters set sights on surpassing ‘outstanding’ 2016 results  —  Chicago Tribune  —  To top the Cubs starting pitchers of 2016 to become manager Joe Maddon's best rotation, the current crop at least must match that group's 81 victories while compiling a 2.96 ERA.

Gregerson may pitch Sunday; Reyes won't appear in spring games  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • After he threw a 27-pitch batting practice session against Cardinals hitter and pitchers Friday and pending a normal recovery, Cardinals closer Luke Gregerson is in line to make his second exhibition appearance …

Former Mets standout and Gibbs High product Ed Charles dies at 84  —  Gibbs High graduate Ed Charles, a key member of the 1969 Mets championship team, died at his New York home on Thursday at age 84.  —  Charles was the third baseman and unofficial poet laureate of the popular Mets team.

Sources - Reds agree to extension with Eugenio Suarez  —  Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel is coming, but third baseman Eugenio Suarez isn't going anywhere.  —  Suarez, 26, has agreed to a 7-year deal guaranteeing him $66 million with an option that can bring the deal to $79 million …

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.

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.

Former MLB Star Kevin Millar Has Some Damn Fine Advice For Sports Dads  —  baseball has always been more than a game; it's been a way of life.  The former MLB player spent 12 years in the big leagues, playing first base for the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays.

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.

Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price lists who's in the starting rotation ... sort of  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Reds manager Bryan Price started to go there.  He seemed to be ready to say who was in the rotation.  —  Since the injuries to Anthony DeSclafani and Brandon Finnegan …

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop playing catch-up after injury and illness  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Time is winding down for Cubs reliever Pedro Strop, who believes he has enough time to be ready for the start of the regular season.  —  “It's not a secret we're a little behind,” said Strop …

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.

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 …

Will former No. 1 pick Dansby Swanson blossom into a star?  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — If Dansby Swanson ever wanted to retreat into anonymity and ease his burden as one of the most scrutinized players on the Atlanta Braves' roster, there's an easy solution: He can just pass himself off as Charlie Culberson.