Tommy Medica smacked a two-run homer, Seth Smith drove in two runs and Eric Stults was solid for 5 2/3 innings to lift the Padres to a 7-1 victory over the Cubs on Monday night in Mesa, Ariz.

The regular season must be just around the corner, because Tuesday’s Spring Training slate features some of the game’s top pitching talent getting their final tuneups before Opening Day. Four aces — Jose Fernandez, Stephen Strasberg, Felix Hernandez and Madison Bumgarner — will pitch in their spring finales live on MLB.TV.

Hours after parting ways with Freddy Garcia, the Braves believe they found a better option in Aaron Harang.

Monday marked Dallas Keuchel’s turn to audition for one of the final two spots in the Astros’ starting rotation, and the left-hander endured a rough first inning before bouncing back to throw three scoreless innings against the Braves.

His first at-bat Monday was a feel-good moment for Nick Hamilton, not only because it was his first taste of the big leagues, but because his father, Tom Hamilton, was watching from a booth at the field.

The White Sox backup Opening Day catcher will be Adrian Nieto, per tweets from his agent, Joshua Kusnick, on Monday.

The Mariners granted veteran starter Scott Baker his release from the team per his request after offering him a job with the Triple-A Rainiers, the club announced following Monday’s game against the White Sox.

The Padres’ Opening Day picture got a bit clearer Monday as manager Bud Black informed eight players that they won’t make the team, including left-handers Tony Sipp and Patrick Schuster.

Corey Dickerson, Charlie Culberson and Tommy Kahnle all had solid performances for the Rockies in Monday’s 8-2 win over the Royals. In other words, roster decisions are getting tough with Spring Training drawing to a close.

The Yankees have set their likely starting rotation for the season-opening series against the Astros in Houston, which projects to send Masahiro Tanaka out for his big league debut on April 4 against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Yankees manager Joe Girardi confirmed to reporters on Monday that the club has scheduled CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Ivan Nova for starts in the April 1-3 series in Houston.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged Monday what has appeared inevitable for weeks: Second baseman Marco Scutaro, troubled by a bad back, likely will have to begin the regular season on the disabled list.

Left-hander Franklin Morales found his way back to the Rockies through a confluence of needs. But through hard work and study, Morales just might have found his way back to the starting rotation after the better part of five years in the bullpen.

Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro, sidelined since he strained his right hamstring on March 2, celebrated his 24th birthday on Monday by playing in a Minor League game and announced he was “real close” to being ready for the regular season.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez did not get the verdict he was seeking. But with Opening Day less than a week away, he now at least has a feel for Major League Baseball’s replay system.

Results of an MRI exam on Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes’ tight left hamstring revealed a mild strain on Monday afternoon, leading the club to consider him day to day.

Very little has been reported with regard to a potential Mike Trout contract extension ever since the Angels’ 22-year-old center fielder agreed on a $1 million deal for 2014 almost a month ago, a record for a pre-arbitration player. “I haven’t heard anything, either,” Trout said Monday morning. “Nothing.”

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny didn’t see Shelby Miller at his sharpest in the right-hander’s final Grapefruit League start on Monday afternoon against the Mets at Tradition Field. Miller didn’t seem to have his best stuff, Matheny said, and he spent too much time working from behind in the count.