After Mikolas exits, Nationals pounce on Cardinals relievers  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  • What happened after Miles Mikolas left the mound might have made the starter's five scoreless innings against the Nationals look better, but it didn't look great for the Cardinals.

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.

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.

Daniel Norris just OK; Detroit Tigers tie Phillies in spring training … CONNECT  —  At Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, Fla.  —  What happened: The Detroit Tigers tied with the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-6. ...  Daniel Norris made the start, throwing plenty - if not too many - strikes in four innings.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Mets send Jason Vargas for X-rays after lefty hit in glove hand  —  PORT ST. LUCIE - So maybe that rotation won't be too crowded.  —  Jason Vargas left a minor league game Friday after being hit on the glove hand by a comebacker.  The lefty was sent for X-rays, which Mickey Callaway said had not been read yet.

Pat Gillick dampens expectations for 2018 Phillies |  Marcus Hayes  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — One of the traits that earned Pat Gillick membership in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011 and a spot on the Phillies Wall of Fame this year is his chronic truth-telling.

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.

Dodgers Spring Training: Josh Fields On Board With Light Workload To Help Keep Fresh  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers relied on their bullpen last season perhaps more than any other club, which has factored into their plans this spring.  At the outset of camp, manager Dave Roberts made it clear …

Jharel Cotton seeks second opinion after MRI shows sprained UCL  —  Oakland Athletics right-hander Jharel Cotton has been diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow as well as a strained flexor muscle.  —  An MRI on Thursday showed the injuries.