A’s manager Bob Melvin hasn’t come close to announcing his Opening Day starter, but the pitching schedule he revealed for this week doesn’t make it too hard to figure out. Nor is it a surprise, if accurate.

The Rockies announced Sunday that they have shut down right-hander Jhoulys Chacin for at least a week because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder. On Monday, the Rockies will schedule an MRI to determine the exact nature and severity of the injury.

Ever since Justin Smoak came to the Mariners from the Texas Rangers in the Cliff Lee trade back in July 2010, Smoak has been considered the Mariners first baseman of the future. It’s time for the future to arrive.

The next step in judging Trevor Bauer’s retooled mechanics will arrive Wednesday, when Bauer is scheduled to log one inning as the starter for the Indians in their Cactus League opener against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark.

Zach McAllister went home over the winter in search of a strikeout pitch. When the Indians right-hander arrived to Spring Training, he brought a new slider with him.

Royals manager Ned Yost will get a chance to test the new instant replay rules in five games during Spring Training.

Upon hiring John Hart in November to serve as a senior adviser to their baseball-operations staff, the Braves said the decision made sense on a number of fronts.

Time will tell how Ian Kinsler is remembered as a Tiger. But whatever happens, he’s more than just a contract. His abilities are well-suited to Comerica Park’s center-field gap, and he could ignite Detroit’s offense as the potential leadoff hitter.

Center fielder Angel Pagan experienced back tightness and refrained from participating in Sunday’s workout. Manager Bruce Bochy said that Pagan’s back “kind of locked up on him” during a pre-workout meeting.

Yankees captain Derek Jeter will make his Spring Training debut on Thursday against the Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field, manager Joe Girardi said Sunday.

As Gavin Floyd attempts to return from reconstructive elbow surgery, he will continue to be cognizant of the fact that a premature return could negatively affect his future. But the Braves right-hander can’t help but be excited about his progress.

Desmond Jennings has added quality weight to his 6-foot-2 frame, but even with the muscle, he wants to become a more consistent power threat this season while maintaining his ability to steal bases.

It was hard to tell based on results, but the 2013 season was a year-long grind for Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen. On the field, Janssen enjoyed one of the best years of his career. Off the field was a different story, as the veteran right-hander had to battle almost every single day just to get ready for another outing.

Brett Lawrie has some bragging right in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse after Canada took home the gold medal in men’s ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics on Sunday morning.

After a hamstring injury kept former shortstop Alex Guerrero from playing second base during winter ball, his ability to make the transition became questionable this spring. Don Mattingly needs the live-game situations to know for sure.

Since the beginning of February, citizens across Venezuela have been protesting against the government, citing a shortage of goods, poor security and lack of freedom of speech for the media. And Venezuelan players have shown their support while keeping up with the situation on social media.

So could the 2014 Royals bring postseason play to Kansas City for the first time since the World Series championship of 1985? Let’s ask a guy who was there. “They’re capable of it,” Hall of Famer George Brett said. “There are capabilities of it, yeah.”