Giancarlo Stanton says he's prepared for New York-level scrutiny  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Giancarlo Stanton said he is prepared for the scrutiny he will attract during his first season with the New York Yankees.  —  “The good times will be magnified and so will the bad,” the slugger said Wednesday.

Diamondbacks' Souza has strained right shoulder, to get MRI  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Steven Souza Jr. will get an MRI on Thursday after straining his right shoulder during a spring training game Wednesday night.  —  The team announced Souza's diagnosis following …

Wong finally feels a sense of belonging  —  • On the practice field nearest their clubhouse Wednesday morning, early enough that shadows still played tricks on the batters' eyes, two Cardinals stepped into the cage for swings against rookie Alex Reyes.  —  One was Tommy Pham, his game-ready intensity lit.

Michael Conforto impresses as he works way back from shoulder injury, most likely to start season around May 1  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — The ball had barely left Michael Conforto's bat when the chatter began.  The Mets outfielder had just taken a slider from the team's 2017 top draft pick …

Cubs' Darvish limits former club to 3 hits over 6 innings  —  SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Yu Darvish looked as if he would stumble on the mound, yet still managed to unleash a pitch that struck out Drew Robinson of the Rangers.  —  “I got off-balance,” Darvish said through a translator.

Notebook: Cobb wraps up deal with Orioles  —  Pitcher Cobb wraps up deal with Orioles  —  Alex Cobb's comfort and familiarity with the American League East was the deciding factor in his decision to sign with the Baltimore Orioles.  —  “They used the AL East and the success I've …

Mariners' David Phelps to have Tommy John surgery, season over  —  Mariners reliever David Phelps has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow and will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team said Thursday.  —  The right-hander is expected to be sidelined 12-15 months.

White Sox see better days approaching after 5 losing seasons  —  CHICAGO — For a franchise with five straight losing seasons and one playoff appearance since the 2005 World Series championship, the Chicago White Sox sure are an optimistic bunch.  —  They come into the year with a long line …

Ian Happ has earned large chunk of leadoff duties to start season for Cubs  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Switch-hitter Ian Happ has convinced manager Joe Maddon he can handle the leadoff duties for the Cubs, at least to start the start of the regular season.  —  “You'll probably see him there a bit,” Maddon said Wednesday.

Aaron Judge hits two HRs, hitting his stride as Yankees opener nears  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Aaron Judge is getting that let's-start-the-season-already feeling.  —  “I feel ready to go,” Judge said after belting two home runs in Wednesday night's 9-4 Yankees win against the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field.

Detroit Tigers lose to Braves, 3-2, in Francisco Liriano's up-and-down night … At Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  —  What happened: The Detroit Tigers lost, 3-2, to the Atlanta Braves. ....  The Tigers took a 1- lead in the first after Leonys Martin had a leadoff double and scored …

D-backs' Zack Greinke throws 60 pitches in return from groin injury  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — An even quieter than usual Zack Greinke declared his return to the mound Wednesday as simply “all right.”  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander threw 60 pitches in an intrasquad game on a back field at the team's spring training facility.

Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich boost Brewers with glove, bat  —  MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers' pitching could improve this year better because of two new bats in the lineup: Outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich are just as capable of changing games with their gloves, too.

Rays' catchers using wristbands amid rotation experiment  —  PORT CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Major League Baseball made game-calling more difficult for catchers this winter when it changed the rules governing mound visits.  For backstops with the Tampa Bay Rays, things got even trickier …

Minor League Ballplayers Will Lose Minimum Wage Rights As Part Of $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill  —  As part of a provision within the 2,232 page $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill that President Trump needs to sign before Friday to keep the government open, the Boys of Summer in the Minor Leagues …