One issue arguing against the Angels clinching the division title before Labor Day is the question of their own pitching depth, particularly in the starting rotation.

Clayton Kershaw’s agents were at the Dodgers Camelback Ranch training complex on Wednesday, immediately fueling speculation that a contract extension for the team’s ace was in the works.

Padres left fielder Carlos Quentin tested his sore right knee in the field for the first time on Wednesday. Quentin, who has had soreness in his surgically repaired knee for 10 days, was asked if he’ll be ready to be in the Opening Day lineup on April 1 against the Mets at Citi Field. “I’m trying to be,” he said.

At 32 — years from his days as the Rockies’ No. 1 starter but also years from shoulder problems that turned him into an afterthought — Jeff Francis is quietly plotting what he believes is a return to the spotlight.

Tommy Hanson, slated to be the Angels’ fifth starter, left Wednesday’s game before the start of the fourth inning with right triceps tightness. He expects to make his next start.

Left-hander John Danks, the White Sox Opening Day starter from 2012, will almost certainly begin the current campaign on the disabled list, with Dylan Axelrod moving into the rotation.

The Astros’ first pitch as an American League team will come from Bud Norris, who was given the honor to start March 31 vs. the Rangers.

Officially, Wednesday was an off-day for the Tigers, their last of Spring Training. For Rick Porcello, it was time to go to work. For Tigers management, it was time to get down to the business of deciding what to do with the right-hander.

Zack Greinke said his elbow wasn’t an issue during a four-inning Minor League start on Wednesday and he should have enough time to be ready for the start of the season.

Following a breakout 2012 season, Wade Miley isn’t about to be overlooked. Entering his sophomore season, the D-backs right-hander remains focused on making quality pitches and unafraid to attack hitters.

The Yankees are bracing for the possibility of an Opening Day without Derek Jeter, as the captain’s availability is now in doubt after an anti-inflammatory cortisone injection was administered to his left ankle on Wednesday morning.

The closer the Mets edge toward Opening Day, the longer their injury report seems to grow. The latest to sustain an injury is starter Shaun Marcum, who on Tuesday received a cortisone shot to combat an impingement in his right shoulder.

Freddie Freeman and Andrelton Simmons each hit a pair of home runs, and the Braves’ potent offense once again erupted in Wednesday afternoon’s 18-9 win over the Pirates at Champion Stadium.

The Washington Nationals sent their primary roster to Roger Dean Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Bryce Harper had two hits and drove in four runs in the Nationals’ 7-5 victory over the Marlins.

For most of his career, seemingly dating to 2003, Albert Pujols has played through plantar fasciitis on his left foot. Recently, the Angels’ first baseman has dealt with a flare-up, but is playing through it, like always.

The 2013 MetLife All-World Baseball Classic Team was announced on Wednesday, with fans around the globe participating in the balloting process for the first time, and not surprisingly, the team is dominated by the country that took the championship on the strength of an unbeaten run.

Ryan Braun declined to comment on Wednesday morning about a USA Today story that offered some details on Major League Baseball’s ongoing probe of players linked to Biogenesis, the Miami anti-aging clinic.