When Team Puerto Rico arrived in Fort Myers, Fla., last month to prepare for the World Baseball Classic, manager Edwin Rodriguez recognized the key element of his club right away.

Matt Garza is slowly making progress as he recovers from a strained left lat, and he won’t take the mound until he can throw consistently from 120-150 feet.

David Ortiz did not take batting practice on Monday, at one point a hope for the Red Sox designated hitter who’s battling right heel inflammation.

The Dodgers had to scratch Monday’s starting pitcher Josh Beckett with the flu and Tuesday starter Chad Billingsley with a bruised right index finger, but Zack Greinke is scheduled to start Wednesday.

Roy Halladay is still sick. He lasted only one inning Sunday in a Grapefruit League game against the Orioles at Bright House Field.

After making the determination that Daisuke Matsuzaka would not be part of their Opening Day rotation, the Indians offered the veteran right-hander the opportunity to pitch at Triple-A.

Justin Upton’s two home runs helped the Braves overcome Kris Medlen’s shaky start and claim a 17-10 win over the Phillies in a slugfest at Champion Stadium on Monday afternoon.

The sun set for Japan in a tournament full of upsets and surprises on Sunday as Puerto Rico won, 3-1, at AT&T Park on the strength of a two-run homer by Alex Rios, sending the Puerto Ricans on to the championship game on Tuesday.

With horns blaring in the outfield and flags from both countries waving throughout AT&T Park, Puerto Rico took a 3-0 lead in the first semifinal of the World Baseball Classic on Sunday night on a towering two-run homer by Alex Rios in the seventh inning.

With horns blaring in the outfield and flags from both countries waving throughout AT&T Park, Puerto Rico took a 3-0 lead in the first semifinal of the World Baseball Classic on Sunday night on a towering two-run homer by Alex Rios in the seventh inning.

Alex Rios busted out of his World Baseball Classic slump in a big way on Sunday night.

Alex Rios busted out of his World Baseball Classic slump in a big way on Sunday night.

Puerto Rico right-hander Mario Santiago was forced out of Sunday night’s World Baseball Classic Championship Round matchup against Japan after 4 1/3 brilliant innings with what was described as right forearm tightness.

Puerto Rico right-hander Mario Santiago was forced out of Sunday night’s World Baseball Classic Championship Round matchup against Japan after 4 1/3 brilliant innings with what was described as right forearm tightness.

Felix Hernandez threw four innings of one-run ball on Sunday against a Class A Minor League team from the Reds as the Mariners ace continued working toward Opening Day. Hernandez pitched in the Minor League game at the Peoria Sports Complex rather than face the division-rival Rangers in the Cactus League contest being played at the same time at Peoria Stadium.

No Ichiro. No Dice-K, no Yu Darvish. No Major Leaguers at all on Japan’s World Baseball Classic roster, not even one. No problem for Japan, apparently.

In an ideal world, Albert Pujols would’ve played for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic this spring. But clearly, he needed to be with the Angels to recover from offseason surgery on his right knee. And even if he wanted to take part, Classic officials wouldn’t have secured his contract anyway.