Munoz makes Cardinals; Voit, Bader go to Memphis  —  • Now that the Cardinals have solidified their position-player alignment for opening day by optioning outfielder Harrison Bader and first baseman Luke Voit to Memphis and telling utilityman Yairo Munoz and catcher Francisco Pena they were on the club …

Giants' Madison Bumgarner breaks pitching hand on line drive in final spring start  —  San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner is hurt for the second straight year, breaking a bone in his pitching hand when hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Whit Merrifield during a spring training game on Friday.

Red Sox sign Christian Vazquez to three-year extension  —  The Boston Red Sox have signed catcher Christian Vazquez to a three-year extension through the 2021 season, it was announced Saturday.  —  EDITOR'S PICKS  —  Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright will not appeal a 15-game suspension for an offseason domestic violence arrest.

Yankees new third baseman Brandon Drury says he'll be ready for Opening Day  —  TAMPA — The Yankees should have their starting third baseman on Opening Day.  —  “I'll be ready Thursday for sure,” Brandon Drury said.  —  Drury was struck on the left elbow with a pitch Friday and left …

Surprise Five: Rangers might have found their opening for ‘Big Sexy’  —  Not that anyone wants to leave Arizona, but the Texas Rangers will do just that Saturday afternoon following what should be their quickest Cactus League game.  —  It will be getaway day from spring training …

Mets' Michael Conforto on track to return before target date  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Michael Conforto had already left First Data Field on Thursday night when his manager called to ask him a question that the outfielder had been hoping he would hear before the Mets break camp Monday.

Detroit Tigers release utility man Alexi Amarista; 27 players remain  —  Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch spoke to reporters on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Lakeland, Fla. Video by George Sipple/DFP  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — It appears that Niko Goodrum and JaCoby Jones are going to make the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day roster.

Media Views: Cards to be prominent on revamped ‘Sunday Night Baseball’  —  ESPN hasn't gone all-in yet with the Cardinals, but the Redbirds again are expected to be a prime component of the network's significantly retooled “Sunday Night Baseball” package, which includes Alex Rodriguez as an analyst.

Christian Yelich's outfielder talents could lift Brewers while Dodgers miss out … The summer afternoons were the best ones.  —  Play ball — in a tournament, perhaps, or in a youth all-star game.  Then pile into a car with your friends to go see the big leaguers play.

Madison Bumgarner suffers fracture, out indefinitely  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.- With six days remaining until the start of the regular season, the Giants' pitching rotation is suddenly in shambles.  —  The latest blow came Friday, and it was the biggest.  —  Madison Bumgarner …

Camp report: Brandon Woodruff has one rough inning in a Brewers' 4-3 loss to the Cubs  —  On the field: Rookie right-hander Brandon Woodruff made his final statement for a spot in the rotation with a five-inning stint against the Cubs, a game the Brewers dropped, 4-3, at Sloan Park in Mesa.

BASEBALL 2018: Beastly teams, Ohtani and make way for MVs  —  Just the thought of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge in the same lineup sent fans into a frenzy.  Come opening day, all of baseball will see which teams really have the muscle.  —  A season of haves and have-nots begins March 29 …

Tom Jones' Two Cents on the upcoming baseball season  —  Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones gives his Two Cents preview of the Major League Baseball season:  —  AL team that won't be as good as you think  —  Not many are expecting much from the Royals, but look for this franchise …

Ichiro Suzuki hit in helmet by pitch, exits spring training game  —  Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki took a pitch off the helmet in a minor league appearance on Friday in Peoria, Arizona, and had to leave the game.  —  He was helped to his feet by trainers but walked off the field on his own.

Will the ‘World Series hangover’ haunt the Houston Astros? … You hate to pin your pennant chances on a concept that is more abstract than absolute, that is difficult to quantify and impossible to predict, but for American League teams trying to topple the juggernaut that is the Houston Astros, it may be their only hope.

Numbers game forcing Peter Bourjos to look elsewhere after leaving Cubs  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Outfielder Peter Bourjos' short stint with the Cubs at least had a memorable ending.  —  Bourjos hit a game-tying single Friday in the fifth inning of a 4-3 victory over the Brewers, only to be pulled for pinch-runner DJ Wilson.