Before Sunday afternoon's game against the Mets, manager Davey Johnson said he wasn't worried that the Nationals were winless in their last 11 games.

Up against a vaunted Yankees lineup featuring most regulars, close enough to an Opening Day lineup to strike some fear, Tigers lefty Duane Below didn't hurt his case for a rotation spot, tossing 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a 1-1 tie.

Japanese import Norichika Aoki hit his first stateside home run — off the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, no less — and a Brewers split squad scored a 7-1 win over the Dodgers on Sunday at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Dustin McGowan's status for the start of the regular season is in doubt after he was diagnosed Sunday with a case of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, which could open the door for Aaron Laffey or Kyle Drabek in the Blue Jays' rotation.

It was at about this time last spring that Reds ace Johnny Cueto was shut down from pitching, so he's not taking his good health this spring for granted.

With one week remaining on the Spring Training schedule, there are a number of questions to be answered. One of the biggest is who will start at shortstop, Andrelton Simmons or Tyler Pastornicky?

Giants left-hander Barry Zito was chased early by the White Sox in Chicago's 5-2 victory on Sunday at Camelback Ranch.

A.J. Pierzynski and Alex Rios hit back-to-back homers in the third inning as the White Sox chased Giants left-hander Barry Zito in a 5-2 victory on Sunday at Camelback Ranch.

Sunday was the next test for Derek Jeter and his left calf. It was a successful day for the shortstop offensively, as he picked up his first two extra-base hits of the season, including a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning of the Yankees' 1-1 tie with the Tigers in 10 innings. The only problem with homering, of course, is that Jeter didn't have to test out his calf.

One of the biggest challenges for Astros pitcher J.A. Happ has been learning to dwell on the positives, which has certainly not always been easy when you consider the numbers he put up last year.

After an offseason spent honing his swing and regaining his confidence, Vernon Wells is ready to meet expectation placed on him by others and himself.

When healthy, Josh Johnson can be one of the best in the game. In the fifth inning of Sunday's contest against the Rays, there was a momentary hiccup of concern, but it turned into just “another one of those things” for the Marlins' ace.

He was electrifying at times and had a hard time missing bats at others. Jarred Cosart showed glimpses of why he's considered one of the Astros' top prospects when he was brought from Minor League camp Sunday to pitch in a Grapefruit League game.

Prior to Sunday afternoon's game, Buck Showalter was asked how he would evaluate the starting pitchers this spring, an assessment that the Orioles manager said would be based on each individual's body of work.

Aramis Ramirez figured it was just a matter of time before he got into the swing of things. “It's starting to come around,” the Brewers' new cleanup hitter said.

The White Sox announced they had obtained outfielder Greg Golson from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations prior to Sunday's game.

Roy Halladay allowed seven hits, two runs, two walks and one home run while striking out nine in 6 1/3 innings Sunday in a 3-3 tie with the Orioles at Bright House Field. Halladay will have one abbreviated start before pitching in the 2012 opener on April 5 in Pittsburgh.