Though the move didn’t work in the Nationals’ favor, Matt Williams has no regrets over experimenting with a defensive shift against the Braves in which right fielder Steven Souza was brought in to serve as a fifth infielder.

Outfielder Cameron Maybin will miss approximately two to three months after an MRI on Monday revealed that he has a ruptured left biceps tendon.

In the first full week of Cactus and Grapefruit League play, Justin Verlander is scheduled to make his spring debut on Thursday, and Mark Teixeira is slated to make his return late in the week as well.

Monday offers another full slate of Spring Training games in both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues, featuring a number of debuts, firsts and intriguing matchups. The Brewers-Cubs contest will be one of several featuring the first use of Major League Baseball’s expanded instant replay review system.

Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin left Sunday’s game after injuring his left shoulder while making a diving catch, and will undergo an MRI.

Outside of Cleveland, not much is known on a national scale about the three pitchers viewed as locks to make the staff behind Justin Masterson.

Texas Tech managed only two hits on Sunday against three Rice pitchers. However, the Red Raiders did pull out a 2-1 win at Minute Maid Park. The victory was their first in the 2014 Houston College Classic in three games and their first over the Owls since 1996.

Both Dayan Viciedo and Alejandro De Aza picked up singles during the White Sox 9-7 victory over the Rangers Sunday, with Viciedo getting the start in left field. Manager Robin Ventura still answered with a quick “No” when asked if he planned to name a starter in left field any time soon during Spring Training

For the second consecutive spring, Robbie Ross is battling for a rotation spot, with the knowledge that he’s got a relief job in his back pocket if necessary. Only this time around, Ross feels as though the opportunity is different.

Pitching against teammates in the controlled confines of a sun-splashed Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Scott Kazmir impressed a large crowd of A’s personnel in a three-inning, 46-pitch simulated game Sunday.

Matt Garza is not one to limit his emotions, which may help explain why pitching in a Brewers uniform for the first time meant something on Sunday, and why he struggled equally to contain his adrenaline and the Colorado Rockies.

With his fastball touching a scorching 96 mph, right-hander Tyson Ross got his spring off to a hot start on Sunday, facing the minimum in his two-inning Cactus League debut against the Reds.

In his first competitive activity as a Giant, Tim Hudson threw two hitless innings Sunday in San Francisco’s 5-3 Cactus League triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Lefty Brett Anderson, who says he has so many quirks that his new teammates don’t even notice, believes he picked the right profession to fit in with co-workers. And in two weeks of doing far more watching than speaking, he says he anticipates feeling right at home with the Rockies.

Josh Beckett and Paul Maholm, the fifth and sixth starters, tossed a pair of scoreless innings each as the Dodgers and a Padres split squad played to a 3-3 tie Sunday at Camelback Ranch. Beckett, continuing his recovery from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, struck out three and allowed one hit, calling the outing a significant hurdle in his return from the injury.

Justin Verlander now has a date for facing actual hitters other than his own. He’ll make his first start of Spring Training on Thursday against the Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium.

After missing his start because of a rainout of Saturday’s split-squad nightcap against the Cubs at Salt River Fields, the first outing of the spring for heralded D-backs right-hander Archie Bradley has been rescheduled for Monday night’s second game of a day-night doubleheader, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said Sunday.