With at least three planned starting pitchers unavailable for the start of the regular season, Atlanta turned to contingency pitchers such as Aaron Harang. Harang rewarded the Braves on Wednesday, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a 1-0 win.

Ian Kinsler belted his first home run and gave the Tigers their second walk-off win in as many games with a 10th-inning single in a 2-1 victory over the Royals on Wednesday at Comerica Park.

Following a tough rookie season, few players need a solid start to 2014 more than Aaron Hicks. Striving to simplify the game, Hicks is 4-for-7 through two games thus far.

Leury Garcia scored the winning run on Samuel Deduno’s wild pitch, ending a back-and-forth contest that lasted more than four hours as the White Sox beat the Twins, 7-6, in 11 innings on Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field.

Aaron Harang, signed in late March to bolster the Braves injury-riddled pitching staff, made his Atlanta debut a memorable one. Harang’s threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Chris Johnson hit the decisive solo homer in Atlanta’s 1-0 win over the Brewers on Wednesday.

The Rangers have announced Yu Darvish will come off the disabled list and pitch Sunday. Joe Saunders pitches Friday, followed by rookie Nick Martinez and Darvish. The Rangers are planning on pitching Tanner Scheppers, Martin Perez and Robbie Ross against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The Rays and right-hander Chris Archer agreed Wednesday on a six-year contract that will run through 2019, with club options for ’20 and ’21.

Baseball’s marathon is always marked by too many pitching injuries, but this year the recurring, non-stop nature of them has been a major storyline. Five teams, however, still have healthy rotations and are positioned for early success.

This year’s 30 Opening Day 25-man rosters and inactive lists included 223 MLB players born outside the United States, which makes for 26.1 percent of the 853 Major Leaguers counted.

The Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher Joel Pineiro to a Minor League contract. He will go to Mesa, Ariz., for extended spring camp, and then is expected to report to Triple-A Iowa.

Super Bowl champion quarterback and Rule 5 Draft selection Russell Wilson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Rangers’ game against the Phillies on Wednesday evening at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Talent has never been a question with Nick Castellanos. Now, after having the opportunity to celebrate his first Opening Day with the Tigers with a rough start and a much better finish, the 22-year-old will be tested by the day-in, day-out routine.

We’ve got Bryce Harper, Derek Jeter, Giancarlo Stanton and David Ortiz. We’ve got Fat Joe, Sway, Melanie Iglesias and Chris Distefano. Put them together, and you have the ingredients for a new kind of sports-culture show — “Off the Bat from MLB Fan Cave” — that premieres on MTV2 at 11 p.m. ET tonight.

The Red Sox traded their cleats and jerseys for suits and ties — and in one case, a particularly patriotic jacket — as they made a visit to the White House on Tuesday morning to celebrate their 2013 World Series championship. David Ortiz took advantage of the opportunity to take an amazing selfie.

While most of his teammates wore a standard business suit to the White House on Tuesday, Red Sox left fielder Jonny Gomes essentially donned the American flag.

It was a record-setting Spring Training for teams in both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues, with average game attendance this spring reaching a record high over the 447 games played.

Mets closer Bobby Parnell may need surgery after tests revealed a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow, the team announced Tuesday.