Phillies GM Ruben Amaro: Maikel Franco’s time is going to come
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:46 am ET) The Phillies optioned prospect Maikel Franco to the minors Friday after he struggled during his stint in major-league camp. Franco hit just .200 (6 for 30) with one RBI, four strikeouts and no extra-base hits.

Franco entered camp with the opportunity to push third baseman Cody Asche for a job on the major-league roster, per MLB.com.

“Maikel’s time’s going to come,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “I know he’s upset, because I know that he probably wanted to write a different script for himself, but the fact of the matter is just like any other young player who we feel is going to impact the major leagues, his time will come when it’s time for him to come.

“I think there was probably some element of him trying to do a little too much, like he did last spring. But he doesn’t need to impress us. He just needs to go play.”

Franco will play at first and third base for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

“When he gets a chance to be back in the big leagues, play a few games and have some success, it’ll carry,” Amaro said. “It’s just a matter of him getting the opportunity, and he’ll get the opportunity, because he’s going to create it for himself.”

Astros’ Evan Gattis will play in B game, then hit off a tee on Friday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:27 am ET) Astros catcher Evan Gattis is scheduled to play in B game, but will only play defense in left field, according to the Houston Chronicle on Friday.

Gattis has been sidelined since Sunday due to right wrist discomfort. Once he’s done with the B game, he will hit off a tee to test the pain tolerance his injured wrist.

He is 5 for 14 with one double and two walks in five spring games.

Royals SP Kris Medlen has first bullpen session since elbow surgery
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:25 am ET) Royals starting pitcher Kris Medlen threw his first bullpen session Wednesday since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, per The Kansas City Star. He threw 17 pitches with pitching coach Dave Eiland monitoring his progress.

“I felt like I was extremely rusty,” Medlen said. “Because I was just having trouble repeating (my delivery) and all that stuff. That’s my pitching style, and I take pride in that, and I couldn’t do it. So that was a little frustrating. But armwise, it felt like it was coming out really good. I felt strong.”

Eiland indicated Medlen would receive four days off before his next throwing session. 

Tigers choose David Price over Justin Verlander for Opening Day
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:16 am ET) Tigers manager Brad Ausmus named David Price his Opening Day starter, ending Justin Verlander‘s streak of seven consecutive Opening Day starts, per the team’s official website.

This will be Price’s fourth Opening Day start, and his first with the Tigers. He has a 3.54 ERA through 20 1/3 innings pitched on Opening Day.

“Looking at it from a baseball perspective, I felt this was the (right) decision and it wasn’t an easy decision,” Ausmus said, per the Detroit News. “Justin Verlander has been an outstanding pitcher for a long time. He has done a lot for the Tigers and this organization. But, I have to make a decision based on baseball and what is best for the 2015 Tigers.”

The 29-year-old spent his entire career with Tampa Bay before being traded to Detroit in July of 2014. Price is 86-51 with a 3.21 ERA over seven MLB seasons. The left-hander went 15-12 with a 3.26 ERA and league-leading 271 strikeouts last year.

Rays’ Drew Smyly will throw 3-4 times before being further evaluated
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:06 am ET) Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that pitcher Drew Smyly continues to progress in his recovery from a left shoulder tendinitis. He’s scheduled to throw three-to-four times before he is further evaluated by the team to determine the next step in his recovery, per the Tampa Bay Times.

Mets SP Zack Wheeler scheduled for Tommy John surgery
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(10:02 am ET) After meeting with doctors earlier in the week, Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler has officially opted for Tommy John surgery.

The 24-year-old right-hander is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN. Dr. David Altchek will perform the surgery, per the report.

Wheeler was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament after he was scratched from a March 14 Grapefruit League game. A report also surfaced that he pitched with a torn tendon the previous season.

“Honestly, I’ve had pain in that spot in my elbow since I got drafted, since before I got drafted,” Wheeler said, per Newsday.

Wheeler went 11-11, with a 3.54 ERA in 32 starts for the Mets last year. He has a lifetime 3.50 ERA through 49 starts (285 1/3 innings). He is expected to be fully recovered in time for the 2016 season. Dillon Gee and Rafael Montero will compete for the the club’s final rotation spot.

Mets’ Murphy out of lineup Friday, but hamstring feeling better
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:01 am ET) Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy was held out of the spring lineup Friday against the Cardinals after leaving Thursday’s spring game due to tightness in his right hamstring. There is currently no plans for Murphy to undergo an MRI.

“Better than yesterday,” Murphy said Friday morning about how the leg was feeling, per NJ.com. “Felt little tight during the game, told [manager Terry Collins], he made the decision to take me out of the game, which I think was a good one.

“We’ll see how it feels [Saturday]…There’s nothing I can do about it now but let it heal.”

Red Sox OF Rusney Castillo finally ready for spring debut
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:56 am ET) Red Sox manager John Farrell said outfielder Rusney Castillo, who has been sidelined since early March with an oblique injury, will make his spring debut off the bench Friday against the Orioles.

Farrell added Castillo — who is competing for the starting job in center field — will make his first start Saturday against the Pirates.

“(I’m) looking forward to seeing next step,” Farrell said.

Yankees’ Jose De Paula optioned to Triple-A
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:51 am ET) Yankees pitcher Jose De Paula was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, per MLB.com. De Paula made one relief appearance this spring before dealing with a shoulder injury.

Orioles OF David Lough recovers from hamstring injury
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:49 am ET) Orioles outfielder David Lough made the trip for Friday’s spring game against the Red Sox after being held out a few days due to a sore left hamstring, per MASNsports.com.

“I’m fine,” Lough said. “I just had soreness in my hamstring and he gave me a few days. I played a lot of innings lately and was always on the road, so he gave me a few days just to rest and get it better and it’s fine now.

“It was just sore. That’s all. It wasn’t a strain or anything. It just needed a little bit of rest. We just didn’t want it to progress into something like a strain or a pulled hamstring that’s a major setback, so he just gave me a few days and it’s better now.”