There is always a buzz in the air when the Yankees and Red Sox meet on the field, and that was especially true for the latest Grapefruit League affair between the historic rivals.

The Tigers may not have a qualified shortstop as we speak, but you can bet that they will before the Comerica Park carousel starts spinning. That’s because they’re also blessed with one of the best executives in the game in Dave Dombrowski and backed by an owner in Mike Ilitch who has relentlessly provided funding to fix holes as they appear.

Indians fans appreciate Nick Swisher for his passion and gritty style of play. His teammates admire Swisher’s veteran clubhouse presence. The organization values Swisher’s capacity to become the face of a resurgent Tribe club. Reporters like that Swisher can talk at length, and provide quality quotes, on almost any subject.

Jimmy Rollins will ultimately decide whether this Spring Training storyline exists beyond Spring Training. He can squash it with his bat, with his legs, with his glove and, yes, with his energy level. He can become the kind of player Ryne Sandberg wants him to be, or he can simply be himself and hope that’s good enough.

Manager Brad Ausmus wasn’t worried about the status of Anibal Sanchez on Tuesday, a day after the right-hander was scratched from a scheduled start because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Sanchez’s schedule for the rest of this week, however, appears to be on hold.

The top three prospects on the Cubs’ Top 20 Prospects list are in the first 20 slots of the overall Top 100, but none has played in the big leagues yet.

The Dodgers couldn’t wait to check out the storied Sydney Cricket Ground offered upon their arrival in Australia on Tuesday, and they found a pristine field with conditions that could favor the offense, despite expansive foul territory.

When the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers showcase America’s pastime in Sydney, Australia, during the Opening Series this weekend, they’ll do so on a pristine ballfield that has been constructed at historic Sydney Cricket Ground that should make the locals proud.

Chris Stewart will receive a second opinion on his injured right knee and is likely to undergo surgery later this week, the club announced on Monday.

Tommy John surgery, the double-edged scalpel of modern pitching, is obviously an operation no pitcher wants to have. Yet the revolutionary procedure — invented by the late Dr. Frank Jobe, who passed away earlier this month — has saved or at least kept alive the careers of hundreds of Major Leaguers since its namesake first had his elbow ligament replaced by a tendon.

Chris Tillman has been an All-Star, and now he’ll get a chance to start on Opening Day. The Orioles announced Monday that Tillman will start on March 31 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards against the defending World Series champion Red Sox.

Right-hander Jarrod Parker, who was the favorite to be the A’s Opening Day starter entering Spring Training, will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the season, the club announced Monday.

Dan Uggla hit his third home run of Spring Training in the second inning Monday afternoon and added a two-run triple an inning later to lead the Braves to a 4-0 rain-shortened win over the Astros in five innings at Osceola County Stadium.

Andrew Heaney and Colin Moran, the Marlins’ first-round picks in each of the last two Drafts, got a taste of big league camp over the past month. Now, they both head to the Minor Leagues with a better understanding of what it takes to reach the next level.

Joe Wieland was trying to return after Tommy John surgery in 2012, which kept him out all of last season, but his road to recovery may have hit a snag.

The jerseys and hats were green for the Tigers on St. Patrick’s Day. The weather was overwhelmingly gray — and wet, washing out Monday’s scheduled Grapefruit League game between the Tigers and Nationals at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Indians manager Terry Francona believes that left-hander Nick Hagadone can still be a big part of the bullpen. Hagadone will just have to wait a little longer for his next opportunity in the big leagues. On Monday, Hagadone was part of a handful of roster reductions in Cleveland’s camp, removing the lefty from the bullpen competition.