Cardinals take squad of reserves to face Scherzer  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer will be surprised by the Cardinals' lineup he will face Saturday afternoon at West Palm Beach.  After many of the regulars played Friday night here, only Jose Martinez …

Willson Contreras scratched from Cubs' lineup; team cuts 15 players  —  Chicago Tribune  —  Catcher Willson Contreras was scratched from the Cubs' lineup Saturday against the Diamondbacks because of a sore right ring finger.  —  Contreras suffered the injury on a foul tip Thursday against the Rangers.

Yankees won't have Luis Severino back until May ‘at the earliest’  —  TAMPA — Forget missing Opening Day.  Luis Severino won't be back for the Yankees until May “at the earliest,” according to general manager Brian Cashman.  —  The right-hander isn't due to begin a throwing program until Wednesday …

Ichiro, 45, doesn't know when it'll be time to quit  —  TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki is enjoying it while he can.  —  He's back in Japan and sure to play at the Tokyo Dome when the Seattle Mariners face the Oakland Athletics in two games to open the Major League Baseball season.

Hill could be opening day starter, and after his last exit, wouldn't that be something?  —  Dave Roberts was asked about the most delicious of opening day scenarios, and he bit.  —  With Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler both moving slowly through spring training for physical reasons, could Rich Hill be the opening day starter?

Calhoun in roster limbo: 'I don't know how I would react if I were to get sent down'  —  Willie Calhoun is batting only .216, but he and the Rangers are pleased with what he has done this spring.  It still might not be enough for him to make the Opening Day roster.  —  SURPRISE, ARIZ.

Latest notes from Braves camp: Rotation, leadoff, schedule  —  The Braves are less than two weeks from opening day, when they'll travel to Philadelphia and began their NL East title defense.  —  Here's the latest from camp:  —  1. The Braves are expected to announce their opening …

Albert Almora Jr. is one of the Cubs' longest-tenured — and most respected — players: ‘To see the way he handles himself is something we can look up to’  —  Photos of Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr.  —  Chicago Tribune  —  As one of the longest-tenured members of the Cubs organization …

The White Sox own the No. 3 pick in the draft.  And they're casting a wide net in search of a potential ‘face of the franchise’  —  Chicago Tribune  —  White Sox amateur scouting director Nick Hostetler and his top scouts didn't have to travel far last month in order to get a head start …

Laugh all you want but the Rays are turning the ‘Opener’ and other wacky ideas into real results  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays, who consistently finish at or near the bottom of the MLB ladder in both payroll and attendance, also continually give us cause to snicker and sneer at all their analytics-driven gimmickry.

Cleveland Indians want to keep Tyler Clippard, but how can they do it?  —  CLEVELAND, Ohio - Veteran right-hander Tyler Clippard will be shutdown for three to four weeks because of a strained right pectoral muscle.  —  It leaves Clippard and the Indians in an interesting position.