Third baseman Brett Lawrie is expected to make his
return to the Blue Jays' lineup on Sunday afternoon against the Red Sox.

With Opening Day less than two weeks away, manager Davey Johnson admitted on Saturday that the Nationals might have to start the season without closer Drew Storen.

Astros pitcher Bud Norris said on Saturday that he doesn't expect the triceps and forearm tightness he's been experiencing in his right arm the last few days to hold him back.

Chipper Jones will begin the final season of his career on the disabled list because of an injury he suffered just before announcing he will retire at the end of this year. The Braves third baseman will undergo surgery on Monday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Guests, officials and others traveling with the A's received a unique look at Japan.

Charlie Manuel is talking small ball. Taking the extra base. Bunting. Swiping a bag here and there. Oh, Charlie, has it really come to this?

Astros reliever Sergio Escalona will have Tommy John surgery next week in Houston to repair a torn ligament in his left elbow. He'll be sidelined for the 2012 season.

The A's have enjoyed Japan's warm welcome before their first workout on Saturday in Japan.

Mariners players have been an instant hit in Japan, where autograph-seekers line the streets to get close to the big league stars.

Ichiro's popularity has spanned the Pacific Ocean since his first day in the Major Leagues 11 years ago. Now, the 10-time All-Star returns to Japan to play his first game in his home country in a Mariners uniform.

The bidders for the Dodgers and Dodger Stadium have been trimmed to three, according to reports by Bloomberg and the Los Angeles Times.

Ryan Vogelsong appeared in his first spring game on Friday, a Minor League contest against the A's. Though he is on track again after straining his back in early February, it looks likely that he'll start the season on the disabled list in order to build up stamina and join the rotation in mid-April.

Elvis Andrus' fifth-inning single continued his hot spring as the Rangers beat the Giants, 4-1, on Friday in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Madison Bumgarner has looked remarkably ready for the season over his last two starts. He had a stretch of nine scoreless innings with six hits and two walks, spanning from his Sunday start against the Padres through the first four innings of his Friday night outing against the Rangers. The left-hander finally yielded a run in the fifth frame.

Buster Posey had his first big test behind the plate Friday night, taking a throw from center fielder Angel Pagan and making a close play at the plate as the Rangers' Mitch Moreland came around to score in the fifth on Elvis Andrus' RBI single.

Kendrys Morales homered against the Indians on Friday night, his first since that ill-fated home-run trot almost two years ago. “I felt pretty good mentally,” the Angels DH said. “I feel like it lifted my spirits a little bit.”

White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski provided one of the more exciting Cactus League moments in recent memory with an unlikely inside-the-park home run in a 6-3 win over the D-backs on Friday night.