For a March 2 intrasquad Spring Training game, there was plenty on the line at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Friday between veterans Todd Helton and Jason Giambi.

Shortly after the Mets' intrasquad game on Friday, Daniel Murphy asked Kirk Nieuwenhuis if he hit his game-deciding two-run home run, or if he hit it.

Mark Trumbo, after recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot, has been cleared to run and progress toward full baseball activities, and he continues to feel comfortable with more intense work at the hot corner.

Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish took a step up in competition on a dry and windy Friday afternoon. Darvish, who had been facing Minor League hitters while throwing batting practice, faced the A team in his one inning of work in an intrasquad game on Nolan Ryan Field.

The long ball dictated the first game of the Cactus League season Friday, as the Mariners relied on five against the A's for an 8-5 victory at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

In the opinion of Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal, there's no such thing as seeing too much left-handed pitching in spring.

The Yankees intend to lower their payroll to $189 million by 2014, looking to take advantage of luxury tax incentives in baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement, but general manager Brian Cashman said that those parameters won't change the club's ultimate goals.

Anibal Sanchez experienced some soreness behind his right shoulder after throwing off the mound on Friday. The setback is considered minor.

The first evidence of Matt Harvey's fallibility surfaced shortly after noon on Friday, when Harvey ripped a patch of skin off his right thumb. The injury, nothing major, occurred while a team comprised mostly of Minor Leaguers was busy tagging Harvey for two singles, a double and a walk in less than two innings.

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw had a special guest viewing his bullpen session on Friday: Legendary Cy Young Award winner Sandy Koufax.

Freddie Freeman provided more reason to be encouraged about his right knee Friday, when he experienced no problems taking an unexpected jog around the main field at ESPN's Wild World of Sports Complex.

With the postseason pool expanding to five teams in each league this year, how would the playoffs have been if there were Wild Cards in each league in the past?

The announcement Friday that an additional Wild Card team would be added to each league beginning this season was met with mostly favorable reactions throughout big league camps.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel knows his lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Yankees at Bright House Field. He just didn't care to share it Friday.

A way of life returns this weekend for Major League Baseball fans around the world as the first of more than 150 Spring Training exhibition games on MLB.TV will be streamed live without blackouts — starting with the Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox in action on Saturday

Bobby Abreu may not be an everyday player during the regular season, but he recently told manager Mike Scioscia he'd like to play as often as possible once the Cactus League schedule begins next week.

The Brewers are urging Yovani Gallardo to take it easy this spring, and the right-hander said that's just fine with him.