Molina has two homers, a single and a double  —  • Along about the fourth inning of Friday's exhibition game, acting Cardinals manager Mike Shildt asked catcher Yadier Molina if he wanted to come out of the game when starter Michael Wacha exited.  Wacha whipped through six innings in 65 pitches …

Mets' Yoenis Cespedes to test sore right wrist in minor-league game Saturday  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Yoenis Cespedes will take at-bats in a minor league game Saturday.  —  The Mets outfielder had not played in several days because of a sore right wrist.  He had a cortisone shot in the wrist Tuesday.

Cubs starters set sights on surpassing ‘outstanding’ 2016 results  —  MESA, ARIZ.  —  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.

Yankees name Luis Severino Opening Day starter, Jordan Montgomery to start home opener  —  LAKELAND — It's Sevy's time.  —  Luis Severino will start for the Yankees on Opening Day against the Blue Jays, Aaron Boone announced Saturday.  The Bombers open the 2018 season in Rogers Centre on March 29.

Jorge Soler has gone unnoticed in outfield this spring.  Here's why that's a good thing  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.  —  The work took place in blocks, long before the first pitch of a Cactus League ballgame here was ever played this spring.  —  Before the demotion to Class AAA Omaha …

Baseball notebook: Altuve, Astros add $151 million to contract  —  A person familiar with the negotiations says American League MVP Jose Altuve and the World Series champion Houston Astros have agreed to a contract that guarantees him an additional $151 million over five seasons from 2020-24.

Brewers prospect Trent Grisham changes name, seeks to write a new chapter in 2018  —  PHOENIX — The 2018 season will serve as a fresh start for Milwaukee Brewers prospect Trent Grisham in a couple ways.  —  First and most obvious is the last name.  He was known as Trent Clark when the Brewers …

Cody Bellinger homers but Dodgers lose to Diamondbacks 4-1  —  THE GAME: Cody Bellinger hit his second home run of the spring but the Dodgers lost 4-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon at Salt River Fields.  —  PITCHING REPORT: RHP Walker Buehler retired six of the seven batters …

Arizona Diamondbacks spring training - 2018 … Right-hander Zack Greinke's next step as he works his way back from a right groin strain remains unclear.  What seems more evident, however, is that Greinke's injury does not appear to be particularly significant.

Cubs like the way their bullpen is coming together  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Pedro Strop glanced in the direction of the lockers Hector Rondon and Justin Grimm once occupied and assessed their departures.  —  “It's not easy, but I also know it's a business and this is the way it goes,” Strop said Friday.

This prospect could make the Marlins deeper at second base even without Dee Gordon.  Here's why.  —  JUPITER  —  For now, they are only snapshots.  —  An opposite-field home run off Michael Wacha; a well-struck single off Matt Harvey; the well-executed catch, turn and throw to first on a double play ball hit by Todd Frazier.

Next step for Phillies' Jake Arrieta slightly altered  —  Of The Morning Call  —  Jake Arrieta said after throwing his first bullpen with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday that he expected to throw in a minor league game Saturday — the next step in ramping up for the regular season.

Detroit Tigers' Daniel Norris solid in latest pitch for rotation spot  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — Daniel Norris isn't thinking about how the Tigers' starting rotation is going to shake out because if he did, he would be up all night thinking about it.  —  Honestly, he said, he has no idea.

Red Sox's Craig Kimbrel: Season opener in jeopardy? … Kimbrel's (personal) availability for Opening Day is up in the air, Scott Lauber of ESPN.com reports.  —  Kimbrel is away from the team in order to be with his daughter as she undergoes a heart procedure.

Angels' Shohei Ohtani gives up 7 runs against Rockies  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani was rocked for seven runs over 1 1/3 innings in his second spring training start for the Los Angeles Angels, allowing long home runs to Colorado's Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado on Friday.

Orioles' Machado calls Judge tampering saga ‘blown out of proportion’ as hot spring continues  —  Orioles shortstop Manny Machado had been quiet for two days on the hoopla surrounding New York Yankees star Aaron Judge admitting and then being reprimanded for telling the free-agent-to-be that he'd look good in pinstripes.