Taking plenty of practice cuts is not a new occurrence for Mark Teixeira, who has periodically mentioned that as a switch-hitter, he feels the need to work twice as hard, since he must hone his swings from both sides of the plate. It was an overuse injury that kept him off the field for most of last season. There is a balance to be found, but as Teixeira prepares to take the field for his first game of the spring, the Yankees first baseman is eager to chalk up swings in game action.

The forecast has steadily improved for Justin Verlander being ready for the start of the season. The forecast for his first start of the spring, on the other hand, has grown increasingly questionable.

Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison threw 38 pitches in his first bullpen session on Wednesday since being shut down at the beginning of camp with back and neck stiffness.

They gathered Wednesday to remember a baseball man, a guy who had spent 53 years in the game. And for so much more. They dropped what they were doing and traveled to Bright House Field from far and wide to remember Jim Fregosi as a friend and a colleague and a mentor.

Luke Hochevar has been shut down after an MRI showed a sprain in the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow. He will not begin a rehab program for 2-3 weeks and will likely be out until at least late May.

Johan Santana isn’t sure when he’ll back from a second shoulder surgery, but the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner believes he’ll help the Orioles when he returns.

There’s no question Tyler Skaggs could be a huge piece for the Angels in 2014. If he’s not the part that gets them back to the postseason, he could very well elevate a decent starting rotation into a special one. If that happens, the Angels almost certainly will be in the mix for a playoff berth.

Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong sustained the precision of the Giants’ projected starting rotation in Tuesday’s 3-2 Cactus League victory over the Colorado Rockies.

After two sub-par seasons at the plate, Rickie Weeks has adjusted his batting stance — slightly — as he looks to fed off Scooter Gennett for the starting job at second base, So far, that little change is paying off.

Carlos Quentin, who had surgery in August to remove debris and floating particles from his knee, was the last of the Padres’ regular position players to make his Cactus League debut.

Two batters into Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez’s spring debut Tuesday afternoon, he had given up a double to Yaisel Puig and walked Carl Crawford. Concerned? Not the Mariners. Not about Hernandez. If manager Lloyd McClendon could feel half as confident about the rest of his rotation, the Mariners would be in good shape.

There aren’t many hitters who can say they have Yu Darvish’s number, but Angels center fielder Mike Trout is one of them. The two met for the first time in 2014 on Tuesday. Darvish says he has a few tricks up his sleeve, but he isn’t tipping his hand.

Brian Roberts was wearing pinstripes Tuesday night, a sight many Orioles fans would have a hard time believing was true. But there was the 36-year-old, penciled in at second base and cleanup for the Yankees after spending his entire career with Baltimore.

Indians manager Terry Francona is confident that Michael Bourn will do everything he can to move past last season’s injuries and once again become a disruptive threat atop the lineup.

With a new pitch — a slider — and renewed focus, Stephen Strasburg is aiming to lead Washington back to the postseason.

Felix Hernandez threw two scoreless innings with two hits in his Cactus League debut on Tuesday in the Mariners’ 4-1 victory over the Dodgers, but said he’s got some work to do as he moves forward this spring.

Rangers manager Ron Washington challenged a stolen base in Tuesday’s game against the Angels, only to have the call upheld.