Today is going to be a great day for Major League Baseball, a proud day. Years from now, every player and every manager involved can look back and feel good about doing their part to make the world a better place. That’s one of many reasons this is such a cool deal.

When veteran left-hander Bruce Chen found out about Will Ferrell’s plan to play for 10 different teams in one day Thursday while playing nine different positions, he was certainly surprised and impressed. But he wasn’t feeling outdone by the actor with a penchant for sports.

Julio Urias had just labored through 26 pitches to only four batters, allowing singles to the heart of the Cubs’ batting order — Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Miguel Montero — then a sacrifice fly by Chris Coughlan.

Jon Lester and Miguel Montero were in sync in the first inning against the Dodgers as Lester needed six pitches to retire the side. Lester threw first-pitch strikes to 10 of the 11 batters he faced.

After pitching a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers in his Cactus League debut, Tim Hudson expressed confidence that he’ll be ready to join the Giants’ season-opening starting rotation.

Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum began sensing discomfort in his neck Tuesday night. Though it persisted after he slept, he insisted on attempting to pitch Wednesday. He left the game after yielding three runs and three hits and walking a batter in the third inning.

C.J. Wilson was scratched from his scheduled Thursday start against the Cubs after tweaking his left knee during pitchers’ fielding practice a couple of days ago, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Wednesday morning. Sean Newcomb will start in his place.

Zack Greinke said he should have time for four more Spring starts. He said if he had five more starts he “definitely” would be ready and with four more starts “should” be ready.

Giants right-hander Sergio Romo said that his throwing arm felt fine Wednesday, one day after he threw to hitters for the first time this spring in live batting practice.

Jered Weaver has often said, and subsequently proven, that his success doesn’t hinge on velocity. But his fastball has been slow in the early part of Spring Training, even by his standards. He sat mostly at 83-84 mph in a three-plus-inning start against the D-backs Wednesday, hitting 85 once according to the PITCHf/x system installed at Salt River Fields.

Indians outfielder Nick Swisher finds himself in unfamiliar territory in Spring Training as he continues his rehab process following knee surgery in August of last season.

Carlos Rodon understands that his Cactus League job is to pitch and not worry about how he fits in the White Sox starting five or pitching staff overall coming out of Spring Training, even with the team announcing Wednesday that Chris Sale will not be ready for Opening Day.

Chris Sale will not be making his third straight Opening Day start, per comments made by White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams on a Wednesday-morning MLB Network appearance and then reiterated by manager Robin Ventura following Wednesday’s Cactus League game against Texas.

Marco Gonzales expects to hear from his father, Frank, at some point on Wednesday night. Rarely does Dad let one of his son’s outings pass by without checking in to dissect it.

The competition for the White Sox starting second-base job stands as a battle among friends. But for Micah Johnson, Carlos Sanchez, Gordon Beckham and Emilio Bonifacio, the concern has to be placed upon on what they are doing and not what anyone else is accomplishing with three weeks left in Spring Training.

Troy Tulowitzki homered for his first spring hit and the Rockies scored three times in the ninth to pull out a 4-1 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday at Peoria Sports Complex.

Cuban second baseman Hector Olivera is considering several offers in the four- to six-year range, and the infielder could come to terms with a team this week, according to industry sources. The Dodgers, Braves, Marlins, Padres, A’s and Giants have all shown a strong interest in signing the 29-year-old, sources said.