Matt Wieters goes hitless in return to Orioles lineup
by Shawn Krest | CBSSports.com

(4:55 pm ET) Matt Wieters returned to the Orioles lineup, at catcher, on Tuesday. 

Wieters is returning from Tommy John surgery. He’d worked at catcher in B-squad games and served as designated hitter for the O’s. 

Starting behind the plate and batting fifth in the lineup, Wieters caught six innings before getting replaced. He went hitless in three at bats, with two ground outs and a fly out. 

Wieters had one chance in the field, on Josmil Pinto’s single on a soft ground ball in front of the plate in the second inning. 

“Walking in from the bullpen got a great ovation from the fans down here and it meant a lot to me to get that kind of ovation,” Wieters said, according to MASNSports.com’s Steve Melewski. 

Pirates’ Liriano draws Opening Day start for second straight year
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4:54 pm ET) Pirates manager Clint Hurdle announced Tuesday starting pitcher Francisco Liriano will start Opening Day (April 6) against the Reds. It will be the second straight year Liriano starts on opening day for Pittsburgh.

Hurdle also announced Tuesday starting pitcher Gerrit Cole will start the second game of the season and A.J. Burnett will finish off the three-game series before Pittsburgh moves onto a three-game series at Milwaukee.

White Sox’s Jesse Crain slated to pitch in minor-league game
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:43 pm ET) White Sox pitcher Jesse Crain is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game on Wednesday, according to Chicago Sun-Times. Crain is working his way back from shoulder and bicep issues that caused him to miss the entire 2014 season. He posted a 0.74 ERA in 38 appearances in 2013.

Red Sox’s Koji Uehara suffers strained hamstring on Tuesday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:37 pm ET) Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara suffered a strained hamstring while running on Tuesday morning, according to the Boston Herald. Manager John Farrell told reporters he’s not concerned about Uehara’s status for the start of the regular season, and views him as day to day moving forward.

The right-hander has allowed two runs in three innings of work this spring.

Tigers’ Justin Verlander struggles Tuesday, calls slider ‘horrible’
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:34 pm ET) Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander surrendered four earned runs on five hits and one walk in four innings while striking out three and serving up two home runs in Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to the Nationals.

Verlander said after the outing that he dealt issues with his slider in the loss, MLive.com reports.

“Besides the misplaced fastball, the only thing they really hit was my slider because it was horrible,” Verlander said. “I just kept throwing it to get a feel for it.”

Verlander hadn’t been charged with a run in spring training since 2013. He had tossed five scoreless innings in two previous outings this spring before struggling Tuesday.

Red Sox SP Clay Buchholz: ‘I feel like arm’s in good shape’
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4:30 pm ET) Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz struck out six in a shaky Grapefruit League outing Tuesday afternoon against Atlanta. He allowed four runs on five hits over four inning of work. He has a 3.60 ERA this spring.

Buchholz told NESN that his changeup feels better, and that his only issue he had was locating his fastball consistently, per the Boston Globe.

“I feel pretty good actually,” Buchholz said. “I trained pretty hard this offseason to come to camp somewhat ready and the training and everything’s paying off being here. Been working out, it’s been pretty hot the last week or so, getting used to that and sweating a little bit.

“Overall, feel like arm’s in good shape. Just gotta continue to work on some little minor adjustments throughout the delivery and hopefully all that comes together before the start of the season.”

Twins’ Molitor: Trevor May, Tommy Milone pitch ‘well’ Tuesday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:21 pm ET) Twins manager Paul Molitor said that pitchers Trevor May and Tommy Milone “threw the ball well” in minor-league action Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

“They both threw the ball well,” Molitor said of the two rotation candidates. “Milone gave up a two-run homer in the first on I think a cutter that didn’t get in far enough. But they both threw strikes.”

Molitor watched the outing from behind the plate rather than at his normal post in the dugout.

“I had a different perspective watching from behind, which I don’t normally,” Molitor said. “But it gave me a better feel on how their pitches were looking and moving. I thought May did a good job using all of his pitches. His command of his secondary pitches was good, and for him that’s something I’ve been concerned about. And they both did well with the running game and got through it clean for the most part.”

May and Milone are competing with Mike Pelfrey and Alex Meyer for the final spot in the team’s rotation.

Yankees’ Girardi: ‘Not sure’ that Alex Rodriguez will play first base
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:14 pm ET) Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that infielder Alex Rodriguez may not see time at first base this week as initially planned, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“I’m not sure that I’ll do it,” Girardi said. “We have Garrett Jones.”

Rodriguez has swung a hot bat this spring, going 6 for 17 with one double, one home run and four walks.

Cardinals’ Marco Gonzales surrenders one run vs. Marlins
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(4:06 pm ET) Cardinals pitcher Marco Gonzales allowed just one earned run on four hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings while striking out three in Tuesday’s 7-1 win over the Marlins.

It was the first run allowed this spring by Gonzales, who is battling for the fifth spot in the rotiation. He has tossed 10 2/3 innings of one-run ball while striking out six and walking four during Grapefruit League play.

Gonzales is competing with Carlos Martinez and Jaime Garcia for a starting role.

Brewers plan to start Adam Lind at 1B on Wednesday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(3:57 pm ET) The Brewers plan to start Adam Lind at first base Wednesday afternoon against the Royals in Cactus League play, according to MLB.com. Lind was sidelined last week with a stiff lower back and was limited to DH duties because of the issue. It would be Lind’s first action in the field on Wednesday.