Phillies prospect Zach Elfin sees extra time in start Monday
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(6:56 pm ET) Phillies pitching prospect Zach Elfin started Monday’s game against the Pirates, surrendering four runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings of work. 

Elfin, who is considered a top-5 prospect in Philadelphia, saw more time than pitching prospects normally do this late in spring.

“This year is more about our future than our present,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “This is about finding out, frankly, and this sounds strange, but I’m more interested in the development of the guys in Triple-A and Double-A and A ball than I am necessarily the guys on the [Major League] field.”

Dodgers SP Brett Anderson tosses six scoreless innings Monday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(6:43 pm ET) Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson gave up just four hits and one walk in six scoreless innings while striking out two in his team’s spring matchup against the Diamondbacks Monday.

Anderson opened the spring with five scoreless innings across two appearances but surrendered three runs in less than two innings in his next game. He pitched on the minor-league side in his last outing before coming back strong Monday. Anderson owns a 2.13 ERA and 6:2 K:BB ratio in 12 2/3 innings and is set to open the season in the rotation.

Rangers P Jon Edwards battles cancer, ready for start of season
by Jason Butt | CBSSports.com

(6:35 pm ET) Rangers pitcher Jon Edwards underwent quite the scare nearly four months ago. 

Preparing himself mentally and physically for spring training, Edwards was diagnosed with testicular cancer in December and had an operation three days following receiving the news. At the time, it was a lot for the 27-year-old to handle. 

“Obviously I love baseball, but I wasn’t going to let those thoughts creep in,” Edwards said, via MLB.com. “I just rejected it. I looked to the Lord and I knew it would be good. I believe this year will be a testament to what He is doing in my life despite all the challenge.”

Since, Edwards has been undergoing two tests a week. So far, doctors have not detected the cancer in his body. 

In 10.2 innings this spring, Edwards has a 1.69 ERA. Edwards has a chance to be the Rangers’ long reliever out of camp with Ross Ohlendorf’s groin injury bothering him. Edwards went 2-3 with a .444 ERA combined a year ago with affiliates Frisco in Double-A and Round Rock in Triple-A. 

Mariners’ Taijuan Walker tosses seven one-run innings Monday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(6:29 pm ET) Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks in seven innings while striking out five in Monday’s 5-3 win over the Angels.

Walker entered the game without having allowed a run in 18 spring innings, and while the Angels were able to break the streak in the second inning, it was still an excellent performance for the presumed fifth starter. Walker has posted a 0.36 ERA and 24:4 K:BB ratio in 25 innings this spring.

Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera fine after fall at first base
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(6:20 pm ET) Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera toppled over Braves infielder Kelly Johnson while trying to make a play near first base Monday but got up immediately and was fine, MLB.com reports.

“You get concerned anytime you see something like that with Miggy or Victor [Martinez] this time of year,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “You pause for a moment. … I mean, clearly Kelly’s not trying to hurt Miggy in any way. He’s trying to be safe at first. It’s a little surprising that, as long as Kelly’s been around, that he would do that in a spring training game, but I don’t know what his situation is over with Atlanta. He may be trying to make the team, so it’s certainly an understandable baseball play. You want to be safe.”

Cabrera has been able to work at first base in recent games as he continues his return from ankle surgery. After going 1 for 3 Monday, the first baseman is 7 for 20 with two home runs this spring.

Royals’ Yost on Alex Gordon: ‘He’s still getting his timing down’
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(6:08 pm ET) Royals manager Ned Yost said Monday he’s not concerned with the slow spring start of outfielder Alex Gordon, MLB.com reports.

“He’s still getting his timing down,” Yost said. “He’ll be fine. The big thing is he’s not hurting. He’s sore a little sometimes, but generally OK.”

Gordon is working his way back from December surgery on his right wrist. He’s a candidate to receive at least a few off-days during the first month of the season in order to give the wrist time to properly recover.

“We’ll have to go day to day with him and see how he feels,” Yost said. “We do have two off-days the first two weeks. And we’ll just see after that. I know one day he came in real sore recently and I thought about banging him [from the lineup] but he went to the cage and it loosened up, and we put him in. It’s been kind of like that.”

Gordon is just 3 for 24 this spring.

Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig dialing back excessive celebrations
by Jason Butt | CBSSports.com

(6:06 pm ET) Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has created a reputation of being brash baseball player that can go a little too far celebrating a home run or a great defensive play. 

Therefore, Puig is looking to move away from that kind of behavior that generated negative headlines. Manager Don Mattingly told MLB.com that the presence of veterans, such as Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick, among others, will help Puig in this department.

“I think it’s just part of his maturity as a player,” Mattingly said. “Last year was his first full season in the big leagues, and he’s still very young [24]. All we look for is him to get a little better every year.”

Rollins said that Puig’s opponents would wonder from afar about his style of play. Now that he’s seen Puig as a teammate, Rollins said there’s a lot more than what’s oftentimes perceived. 

“As an opponent, you see the things he does and think, ‘Oh, really?'” said Rollins. “But the other side of it, as a teammate, he does have his style and flair, but as long as he’s not disrespectful, keep doing it. We have enough people in here to say something if something needs to be said, and that goes for anybody in the clubhouse.”

Pirates’ Sean Rodriguez ‘challenges’ Phillies’ Kevin Slowey to fight
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(6:01 pm ET) The Pirates torched  Phillies pitcher Kevin Slowey Monday for six runs Monday, but one player was still frustrated with how Slowey acted on the mound.

Left fielder Sean Rodriguez stepped into the batter’s box in the fifth inning and believed Slowey quick pitched him, leading to a strikeout, reports MLB.com.

Rodriguez was visibly displeased with the move and yelled at Slowey as he walked off the field, who was staring right back at him. Rodriguez continued to jaw at Slowey in the fifth, leading to both benches clearing.

 “It surprises me to be that upset, and challenging somebody to a physical altercation hardly seems like the best way to resolve your frustrations,” Slowey said. “I was kind of taken by surprise at his animosity after his at-bat. I know the kind of guy that he purports to be. That surprised me that that would be his choice of words and reaction. I guess I understand the frustration of a singular failure. It’s a game of failures. But to react that way to me was very surprising.”

Manager Clint Hurdle remained neutral on the topic after the game.

“The umpires don’t have to give you time. I’m not here to be judge or jury. We’ll talk about it internally, about how we can do better job of not letting it happen again, or what we’ll do if it does happen again.”

Angels’ Johnny Giavotella: ‘I think I’ve opened some eyes’
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(5:59 pm ET) Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella has appeared to win the second-base competition, though he’s not getting ahead of himself, MLB.com reports.

“Whether I’m in Triple-A or the big leagues,” Giavotella said, “I’m going to prepare myself the same way and make sure I’m ready.”

Giavotella is out of minir-league options and has hit .366/.422/.634 with four doubles, two triples and one home run in 41 spring at-bats.

“I think I’ve opened some eyes that I am capable of being a big leaguer; that I’m a quality option to be that guy to fill the void of Howie Kendrick,” Giavotella said. “I think I showed them that I bring a lot of energy to each game, help the lineup out offensively. Even my defense; I feel like I’ve given them confidence that I can go out and make any play out there.”

Giavotella is in the team’s starting lineup Monday and batting ninth in what could be a preview of the Angels’ regular-season lineup.