After three rough outings, Edinson Volquez needed a sharp showing in his Saturday start against the Rays, just to give everyone a little breathing room. He finally got it, at the end of his 3 1/3-innings outing.

Fewer former big league pitchers have been given a chance to manage than any other position. There have been 48 former big league pitchers given a chance to manage, including current managers John Farrell in Boston and Bud Black in San Diego, according to Stats LLC.

Barring injury or any other last minute extenuating circumstances, outfielder Carl Crawford and pitcher Dan Haren will not make the trip to Australia, while Paul Maholm will serve as the Dodgers’ extra starter.

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki tested his injured left calf in the batting cage Saturday morning and said he expects to return soon. He wasn’t in the lineup Saturday against the Angels.

Ian Kinsler hit his first two homers of the spring, as the Tigers hammered the Astros, 14-3, on Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.

Masahiro Tanaka is preparing for his start Sunday against the Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field, but Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild dropped a few hints Saturday that may indicate when Tanaka will make his Major League debut.

A.J. Griffin has been shut down for three weeks because of a muscle strain in his pitching arm, and the A’s are confident that rest and rehab should be enough to cure the ailing right-hander, after an MRI revealed no structural damage to his elbow.

Homer Bailey became the Reds’ latest pitcher to be hurt when he was scratched from his start Saturday because of a right groin strain. While considered a minor injury, it was enough to alarm Bailey initially.

In front of their largest home crowd this spring season, the Orioles edged a split-squad Yankees team, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Chris Tillman tossed five-plus solid innings of one-run ball, Chris Davis homered and Suk-min Yoon debuted with a scoreless inning.

Josh Hamilton ran the bases at the Angels’ Spring Training complex for the first time on Saturday morning, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he “felt great” doing so.

Virtually a month to the day after Victor Martinez reported to Spring Training with catching gear in tow, he finally had the chance to put it to work in a game. He might not have to wait long into the season to do it again.

He’s one of the five best position players in baseball. He’s also only 21 years old. In two short years, Manny Machado has blown us away with his incredible gifts. His 2013 season ended prematurely due to a left knee injury, and his recovery has been swift. The timetable for his return was slowed down Saturday morning, but the setback is simply part of the healing process.

Dillon Gee was not particularly thrilled with his outing Saturday, even though his pitching line suggests otherwise. Gee threw three scoreless innings in his third Grapefruit League start this spring, but needed 65 pitches to get that far.

Mike Minor is ready to accelerate his preparations as he aims to join Atlanta’s starting rotation by the end of the regular season’s second week. But given what they have experienced with Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy this week, the Braves are maintaining a cautious approach with Minor.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow was among the team’s contingent that traveled to Tallahassee, Fla., on Friday to watch North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon, who’s expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.

Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, the biggest free-agent prize of the offseason, will miss the team’s next two Cactus League games after flying home to the Dominican Republic on Friday night.

Third baseman Manny Machado will not make the re-evaluation appointment for his surgically repaired left knee that was tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, as he’s been unable to run for the past few days, further questioning whether the 21-year-old will be ready to start the season.