Right-hander Adam Warren’s strong spring performance, including a 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 innings, earned him the fifth spot in the Yankees rotation.

Masahiro Tanaka was pleased to get through his spring healthy and without incident, and so the right-hander did not seem bothered when some comments made by Hall of Fame hurler Pedro Martinez made their way back to his locker at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Carlos Beltran was scratched from the Yankees’ lineup early on Thursday morning with a stomach virus, the team announced.

Over the past two seasons, Juan Lagares has established himself as one of baseball’s best defensive outfielders, with an improving offensive resume to go along with it. It was enough for the Mets to lock up their Gold Glove center fielder, announcing Thursday that they have signed Lagares to a four-year contract extension with a fifth-year club option.

Rays manager Kevin Cash announced Nathan Karns will start the second game of the season, followed by Jake Odorizzi in game three after Chris Archer makes the Opening Day start.

The Indians announced their planned Opening Day roster on Thursday morning, handing reliever Austin Adams the final available job in the bullpen.

Justin Verlander is heading to the disabled list for the first time in his career, and Bruce Rondon will open the season on the DL for a second consecutive year.

Gregorio Petit’s father wished his son could play for the Yankees, and on Wednesday, that dream came true when the utility infielder was acquired from the Astros.

Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson left Thursday’s game against the Cardinals after Lance Lynn hit him in the right leg with a pitch. There was no immediate word as to his status, but Granderson initially stayed in the game, and TV cameras caught him giving a thumbs-up sign to someone in the stands after leaving the game.

The Reds revealed their final 25-man roster on Thursday, which required two more cuts. One is a stunner in right-handed reliever Sam LeCure, while pitching prospect Michael Lorenzen was the other.

Keith Hernandez was the co-winner of the 1979 NL MVP Award and a key member of the Cardinals’ ’82 World Series championship team.

The goal in the Orioles’ recovery program is to prevent injuries by limiting the strain on players before and after games and starts. The beginnings date back 15 years under head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, and the program has really taken off recently. It’s been accepted and implemented throughout the organization.

One of the pluses for baseball in 2015 will be Joe Maddon working on a larger stage. His new role as manager of the Chicago Cubs will draw a crowd, no matter what happens next, whether it be triumph or disappointment.

At MLB.com’s fantasy department, we crunch the stats, consider the angles and try to come up with the most accurate projections, which are basically weighted averages of possible outcomes, every season. Our research yielded a list of 10 sleepers, and while we’re not staking our entire reputation on them, we believe they are set to reach the next level.

Who will be the best player in the National League Central at each position this season? There is no way to know for sure, but here is one man’s prediction. Think of it as the preseason All-NL Central team.

Any number of factors can conspire to decide a division. But at the dawn of a new season, these are the five factors that look like they’ll loom largest in the National League Central.

You can be sure that if and when switch-pitcher Pat Venditte appears in a Major League game, Greg A. Harris will be paying attention. Harris, now 59, was the last Major League pitcher to do it.