Actresses Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman, college coaches — including USC, UCLA — accused in admissions bribery scheme  —  A prominent senior athletic official and several coaches at USC, as well as another coach at UCLA, are among several charged in a sweeping admissions bribery case unsealed …

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton putting in the work to try and avoid another slow start  —  TAMPA — It was a good reminder that he was here.  Giancarlo Stanton hit his first home run of spring Friday night out of George M. Steinbrenner Field.  Until that point, the giant slugger had been quietly building up through spring training.

Jason Vargas quietly turning into pitcher Mets thought they had  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - All the attention these days is given to the top of the Mets' rotation, but the ballclub's No. 5 starter is quietly constructing an impressive spring.  —  Jason Vargas made his third start of camp Monday …

CC Sabathia throws live batting practice for first time this spring  —  TAMPA — CC Sabathia faced hitters for the first time Tuesday.  The big lefthander threw 20 pitches of live batting practice on the back field during the Yankees team workouts.  —  Sabathia is expected to begin the season …

10 prospects who are likely to see playing time with the Iowa Cubs in 2019  —  Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982.  Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time.  —  CONNECT

Ohtani receives modest raise after winning ROY  —  TEMPE, Ariz. — Shohei Ohtani got a modest raise from the Los Angeles Angels after winning the American League Rookie of the Year award, agreeing to a one-year contract that boosts his pay to $650,000 from last year's minimum of $545,000.

Why Willson Contreras' makeover might hold key to Cubs' season  —  MESA, Ariz. — This year, Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras is going to let his play do the talking.  Not long ago, the sometimes boisterous backstop was arguably on his way to becoming the best in the game at his position when …

Back in his hometown, Arizona Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly regains ‘wits’ after rough start  —  After four seasons pitching in Korea, right-hander Merrill Kelly secured a multi-year contract with a major league team, a deal that gives him the opportunity to play in his hometown and be surrounded by friends and family.

Predicting every MLB team's 2019 season - in one sentence  —  SportsPulse: Now that Bryce Harper and Manny Machado have signed we can finally look ahead to actual baseball.  Here are the storylines that will define the MLB in 2019.  —  CONNECT  —  As the calendar gets deeper into March …

Let's find homes for Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel  —  Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel remain unsigned.  They are fine ballplayers.  Either one could help any of the 30 teams, though the price those teams are willing to pay for their services has obviously remained a barrier …

Rain is altering Rangers, Cactus League schedule  —  Heavy rains have descended upon the Phoenix area forcing the cancellation of at least two Tuesday spring training games already.  —  The Texas Rangers are scheduled to play the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale at 8:40 p.m. (central time)Tuesday night.

A.J. Minter to resume throwing Saturday  —  The Braves are still optimistic reliever A.J. Minter will be ready for opening day, despite the left-hander not having pitched since March 1.  —  Minter, 25, has been shelved during spring training because of shoulder soreness he attributed to a car accident.

Team Offense, Toronto Blue Jays  —  The 2019 series on team offense continues with the Toronto Blue Jays.  The Jays finished seventeenth in the majors and tenth in the American League in 2018 with 4.38 runs scored per game.  —  I am using RotoChamp as a source of default lineups.

Cincinnati Reds outfielders Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp both homer in tie against Cleveland Indians  —  GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp both homered as the Reds played to a 5-5 tie against the Cleveland Indians on Monday at Goodyear Ballpark.  —  Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani allowed …