Tanaka to start Yankees' opener

Masahiro Tanaka will be the New York Yankees' opening day starter March 28 against Baltimore, taking the spot left open by Luis Severino's shoulder trouble.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the decision before Saturday night's spring training game with the Orioles.

Tanaka is replacing Severino, who will not make the start at Yankee Stadium because of right shoulder inflammation. Severino was scratched from his first planned start of spring training on Tuesday after feeling discomfort after throwing his first slider in a pregame bullpen session.

"Masa has clearly shown through his life really that he's really good in the big spot," Boone said.

Yankees newcomer James Paxton will start the second game and J.A. Happ will pitch the third game against the Orioles.

Tanaka discussed what it means to start the opener after his outing Friday night against the Detroit Tigers.

"Obviously, if you're given the opportunity to pitch on that day, you want to go out and do your best," Tanaka said through a translator. "If you look back, I don't think I've necessarily been good on opening days. I've gotten some experience. We've gone through playoffs. So, if that situation were to arise, I can go out there and give a good performance."

Tanaka has made three previous opening day starts (2015-17) for the Yankees. New York lost all three games, with Tanaka charged with the loss in two.

Severino had his first opening day assignment last year.

Tanaka was 12-6 with 3.75 ERA in 27 starts last season.

Royals sign Maldonado

The Kansas City Royals agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year deal with Martin Maldonado, giving them a veteran catcher after losing Salvador Perez to a season-ending injury.

The deal includes up to $1.4 million in incentives for games caught, according to a person familiar with the terms, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Maldonado still must pass a physical for the contract to become official.

Maldonado spent last season with the Angels and Astros, hitting .225 with nine homers and 44 RBIs in 119 games. But his biggest strength has been his ability to frame pitches and play defense, and his experience should help what is expected to be a young Royals team this season.

In fact, Maldonado's Gold Glove in 2017 broke Perez's streak of four straight.

Perez underwent Tommy John surgery last week after tearing a ligament in his throwing arm during a spring training workout. Perez is expected to remain with the club while rehabbing this season, and the hope is that the six-time All-Star will be ready by next spring.

"We move on. That's the way it is," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Salvy is going to be with us all year long, he's going to be there doing his rehab — the rehab is a difficult process. But we have to continue to move forward."

Perez's injury meant the Royals were poised to enter the season with Cam Gallagher, a defensive-minded career backup, and 22-year-old Meibrys Viloria, who has had just 22 big league at-bats.

They had also been mulling the use of Frank Schwindel, a college catcher now at first base.

But general manager Dayton Moore said he would seek a veteran backstop, whether it was through free agency or a trade. And speculation quickly settled upon the 32-year-old Maldonado, mainly because he was the only veteran that wasn't already in a major league camp.

He broke into the majors with Milwaukee in 2011 and spent his first six years there, before a season-plus with the Angeles. Los Angeles traded him to the Astros last July, and Maldonado helped the club reach the AL Championship Series before losing to the Boston Red Sox.

Mets 10, Red Sox 2

Zack Wheeler pitched four shutout innings in his third start for New York, allowing one hit and striking out three. Rookie Pete Alonso hit his third home run and singled, raising his average to .423.

Eduardo Rodriguez made his third start for Boston, pitching four innings and giving up one run. Matt Barnes, in line to be the closer, was tagged in his first appearance for three runs and hits in one inning.