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.

Mets say Jason Vargas day-to-day, X-rays negative after lefty hit in glove hand  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Jason Vargas left a minor league game Friday after being hit on his glove hand by a comebacker and is now considered “day-to-day.”  The team said the lefty's X-rays were negative.

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.

Scott Schebler looking to expand role in his second full season with Cincinnati Reds  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Scott Schebler had a historic first full season in the Major Leagues in 2017.  Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price said he sees no reason not to expect more of the same from the 27-year-old outfielder this season.

Yankees trade Jake Cave to Twins, acquire pitcher Luis Gil  —  The Yankees made a small trade Friday, acquiring minor-league righty Luis Gil from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for outfielder Jake Cave.  —  Gil is a 19-year-old out of the Domincan Republic who has a small body of work with the Twins' Dominican Summer League squad.

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.

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.

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.