LEADING OFF: Harvey back, pitch clock starts in minors
A look at what's happening all around the major leagues today:
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HARVEY RETURNS VS. STRASBURG
Matt Harvey is scheduled to be back on a mound in the majors for the first time since Aug. 24, 2013 - he had Tommy John Surgery two months after that outing - starting for the New York Mets against the Washington Nationals and their own electric pitcher who had reconstructive ligament surgery in 2010, Stephen Strasburg. ''You never know until you get out there,'' Harvey said, ''so as of now, I don't feel any different than any other start. ... I'm excited to get things going and kind of put the injury behind me and start a fresh season.''
TICK TOCK MINOR
The minor league seasons open, and 20-second pitch clocks make their debuts at Triple-A and Double-A. The debut is scheduled for Buffalo of the International League, which hosts Rochester in the only day game at those levels.
THE BIGGEST LOSER
A.J. Burnett went 8-18 with Philadelphia last season, leading the NL in losses. The 38-year-old gets a chance for a winning start when he pitches Pittsburgh's final game of a series in Cincinnati. He returned to the Pirates after that one loss-filled season with the Phillies.
SURPRISE STARTER
Right-hander Kendall Graveman makes his Oakland debut as a surprising member of the rotation when the Athletics wrap up their season-opening series against Texas. Acquired from Toronto in part of the trade for All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson, he had a 0.36 ERA in six spring starts - the best in the majors this spring and tops in the Cactus League by a qualifier since at least 2006.
CULTURE CLASH
In the series finale at Yankee Stadium, Toronto rookie Daniel Norris gets his second major league start. The 21-year-old lefty from Tennessee received plenty of attention in spring training for his unusual, rustic lifestyle - he was living out of his 1978 Volkswagen van in a Wal-Mart parking lot and cooking on a portable stove. But the Blue Jays are hoping for big things on the mound from Norris, who led the minors in strikeouts per nine innings last year. ''He can be overpowering,'' manager John Gibbons said. CC Sabathia, coming off knee surgery, makes his first start since May 2014 for New York. The 34-year-old lefty, who was 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA in eight outings last season, is 10-1 with a 2.81 ERA in his past 12 games against Toronto.
WOJO MOJO
Asher Wojciechowski is set to make his major league debut for the Astros, when they host Cleveland in a 2:10 p.m. EDT start. The 26-year-old right-hander earned a spot in the Astros' rotation with a terrific spring, finishing with a 1.29 ERA in six appearances - three starts.
SHORT STAY
Sent to the minor leagues by the Chicago Cubs despite hitting .425 in spring training with nine homers and 15 RBIs in 40 at-bats, third baseman Kris Byrant and Iowa start their Pacific Coast League season at Memphis.
