The Latest Breaking News from Nick Castellanos

With each day that Bryce Harper still feels what he describes as an “achy” sensation in his right elbow, the Phillies are ever more thankful for a change to the collective bargaining agreement that they favored all along.

PHILADELPHIA — Zack Wheeler has not looked like Zack Wheeler of late. In his first two outings of the regular season he was unable to pitch past the fifth inning. His velocity was down, which isn’t ideal for a power pitcher who relies primarily on his fastball. The Zack Wheeler…

New baseball season. Same preseason favorite.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — As Joe Girardi walked through the back corridors of the Phillies’ clubhouse Monday morning, he came upon Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins, dressed in shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops, pantomiming phantom swings. Two hours later, Schwarber hit his first home run of spring training.

Bruce Sherman, Miami Marlins principal owner, sought to convey all-is-well calm as baseball’s lockout-delayed spring training began a couple of weeks ago. CEO and face-of-the-franchise Derek Jeter had just abruptly and unexpected left in a mutual parting, and Sherman said exactly what he knew fans wanted to hear in the…

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The two biggest homers hit Sunday afternoon weren't the two that MVP Bryce Harper launched out of TD Ballpark. They came from a couple of more intriguing lefty-hitting bombers.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The optics were hard to miss.

Mistaken Identity, Stephen A. Goes Off, Jim Ross Dubs: The Will Smith–Chris Rock Fallout.

This can't be a coincidence, right?