Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, who's been laid up with a chronic knee problem, says he intends be in the lineup on opening day. Utley has yet to see game action this spring, but he tells Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that he aims "to be on the field next week."
GM Ruben Amaro agrees with Utley's optimistic, but manager Charlie Manuel takes the long view: "His problem is not going away," Manuel said. More than likely it maybe never goes away. We want him to be at a real good percentage of playing. Will he ever be 100 percent? I don't know about that. He might never be that."
- Braves right-hander Tim Hudson (back) should be able to throw from a mound starting Tuesday. [MLB.com] However, he's unlikely to come off the DL until early May.
- Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie is likely to miss the next handful of games with a groin strain. [MLB.com]
- Rockies lefty Jamie Moyer, who's been sidelined with leg soreness, had a pain-free bullpen session. [Denver Post]
- Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco jammed his finger diving back to the bag on Saturday. He received an X-ray, but the results aren't yet known. [Philadelphia Inquirer]
- Shortstop Jack Wilson (calf) aims to return to the Atlanta lineup in a week or so. [Atlanta-Journal Constitution]
- Angels catcher Chris Iannetta will miss the next three to five games after taking a foul tip off th elbow. [Bill Shaikin via Twitter]
- Pirates right-hander A.J. Burnett (orbital bone) threw a pain-free side session on Saturday. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
- Although Giants reliever Sergio Romo isn't experiencing pain, his troublesome elbow likely won't permit him to throw again before Tuesday. [San Jose Mercury News]
- Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (hip) saw action in two minor-league games on Saturday. He went 2-for-5 at the plate. [Comcast Sports New England]
- Tribe first baseman Casey Kotchman (back) has taken batting practice the last two days and could return to the lineup on Sunday. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
- For the second day in a row, Kendrys Morales of the Angels, who's still recovering from a fractured tibia suffered in 2010, was able to appear in the lineup for a second straight day. [Orange County Register]
- The Red Sox have released Carlos Silva, who's been sidelined for most of camp with an injury to his pitching shoulder. [Boston Herald]