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Well we got baseball. Some ugly baseball for A’s fans but baseball nonetheless. The Athletics dropped their first game of the 2026 season this afternoon, dropping the first Cactus League game to the Chicago White Sox 11-2 to kick things off down in Arizona.

Right-hander Jack Perkins was on the bump this afternoon, hoping to impress the coaching staff and put himself into real consideration for a rotation job. He was already facing an uphill battle in that regard and didn’t really help himself today. He allowed a leadoff double and a pair of walks to load the bases, then gave up a two-run single that actually chased him from today’s contest. He got to 26 pitches which is where the team probably wanted him to reach this afternoon but it was a lot of work to get there and he didn’t even finish the frame. Shaky spring debut for Perkins to be sure.

Right-hander Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang came next and only made one mistake in his outing, allowing a solo home run to give the White Sox a lead they wouldn’t relinquish all day. Top prospect Wei-En Lin came on next and pitched a full inning but not before allowing a pair of runs himself. The game was already getting out of hand at this point and it’d only get worse as the day went on.

Relievers Eduarneil Nunez and Nick Anderson pitched an inning apiece, with Nunez collecting a pair of punchouts and Anderson one. Nunez has a high ceiling but he’ll need to really learn how to harness his stuff if he wants to reach those heights.

On the offensive side of things, the A’s didn’t have much going for them today. They were able to push across their first run of the game in the second thanks to a pair of singles, a productive out and a wild pitch. Not exactly small ball but a run is a run.

The team scored their second and final run in the top of the fifth thanks to some more poor White Sox defense, but that was it from the A’s offense today. The Sox ended up scoring five more times over the final few frames against some depth arms trying to crack the bullpen to push the score to the eventual final of 11-2. Not a great day in the runs department but wins are meaningless this time of year anyway.

Here’s a wrap up of some of the most notable lines from today’s contest:

Third-string catcher is one of the camp battles going on this spring thanks to the departure of former first-round pick Daniel Susac, but glove-first backstop BrianServen is fighting for that spot and had himself a day at the plate, collecting a pair of doubles to cap a 3-for-3 day in the batter’s box.

And third base. Man, this could be a spring-long battle we have on our hands. Max Muncy, Darell Hernaiz, and Brett Harris, all of whom are fighting for that job, all collected hits today. No one seperated themselves from the pack but we are off to a good start at that positional battle.

Elsewhere outfield prospect Junior Perez collected a single this afternoon while fellow outfielders Henry Bolte and Colby Thomas went hitless. It’d take a massive camp for Perez to sneak his way onto the Opening Day roster but if he’s going to do it then today was a good start.

That’s about it folks. The A’s got their butt handed to them today but we do it all again tomorrow! The Cleveland Guardians roll into town for the A’s first home game of Spring Training tomorrow. The club plans to go with veteran Luis Severino for tomorrow’s contest, likely following Perkins in only doing one inning or so. Sevy will be followed by fellow starter Luis Morales, relievers Brady Basso and Michael Kelly, and at some point we’ll also get to see prospect Kade Morris on the bump. Hopefully tomorrow goes much better than today’s game! Baseball is back and everything is right in the world again.

Chase Burns got the start in Saturday afternoon’s contest between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians in the two teams’ combined complex in Goodyear, Arizona, and in doing so officially began their Cactus League campaign.

Burns kept the Guardians off the board in a pair of scoreless frames, doing so without so much as allowing a hit. He did walk a trio against a pair of strikeouts before handing the ball over to Rhett Lowder, a fellow Wake Forest product who’s also very much in the mix for a spot in the team’s Opening Day rotation. Lowder fanned 4 in his pair of IP, though he did get dinged for a pair of hits, a walk, and a run allowed. Julian Aguiar, himself an outside candidate for the team’s starting rotation, similarly allowed a run in a pair of IP.

On the offensive side of things, it was once again Will Benson haunting his former club. Cleveland’s former 1st round pick slugged a 2-run homer off righty Colin Holderman after lefty Logan Allen – Cleveland’s starter on the day – departed after a pair of scoreless frames. in a battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster himself alongside the likes of JJ Bleday and Nathaniel Lowe as one of the team’s lefty bats with some pop, it was once again a reminder that Benson still owns a wealth of yet-to-be-tapped potential that he showed, at times, in 2025 during a horribly unlucky campaign on the surface.

Edwin Arroyo chipped in with a double and a run scored for the lone other extra-base hit on the day for Cincinnati, while Hagen Danner – a former 2nd round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays – was tagged for a pair of ER in a lone IP out of the bullpen to wrap up the pertinent portions of Cincinnati’s box score.

Jose Franco will take the ball to start tomorrow’s game against the Seattle Mariners as the Reds play host at Goodyear for the first time (they were the road team against Cleveland on Saturday). First pitch in that one is set for 3:05 PM ET, though it will only be able to be perceived with your ears via 700 WLW and the MLB At-Bat app.

Record: 1-1. Change on 2025: +1. 5-inning record: 0-2.

Yeah, after yesterday’s well-pitched endeavor, this was very much the opposite. It was probably worse than the score actually indicates, since the Diamondbacks put up a crooked number in both the eighth and ninth innings, to leave the final tallies looking more respectable than they deserved to be. After a scoreless first inning for Mitch Bratt, things got out of hand quickly. Colorado scored five in the second though to be fair, Bratt wasn’t helped by two misplays at the hot corner from LuJames Groover (only one being scored an error). His replacement out of the pen, Zane Russell, then faced four batters without retiring anyone, and that was the end of this as a contest.

All told, the D-backs needed ten pitchers to get through the game. Casey Anderson, who replaced Russell in the second, was a rare bright spot, striking out both hitters he faced. Alfred Morillo, Yu-Min Lin and Spencer Giesting were all charged with multiple runs, though Lin did come back out for a seven-pitch second inning, after initially being lifted with two outs in the fourth. I got quite excited seeing Diaz work a clean seventh with a pair of K’s, though turns out this was Indigo rather than Yilber. All told, Arizona pitchers struck out thirteen, but walked eight, all in the first six innings. Must do better there.

On offense, Jordan Lawlar got the team on the board with a home-run in the second (above). Though he may not be a fan of the new ABS system getting rung up on three straight called strikes his next time up – two of which were successfully appealed balls! He also walked, while Tim Tawa also had a hit and a walk. Tawa’s replacement, Tommy Troy, went 2-for-2, including an RBI double in the ninth. And keeping up with the ABS score, there were eight challenges during today’s game, five of which proved successful. Rockies’ catcher Hunter Goodman was particularly effective, being perfect in his three challenges.

Tomorrow, the team gets to face someone apart from the Rockies for the first time. They face the Angels at Salt River, with another 1:05 pm start, and Kohl Drake the scheduled starter.

The Dodgers scored nine runs in the first two innings, turning their Cactus League opener into an 15-2 drubbing of the Angels on Saturday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Things were going so well offensively for the Dodgers that they chased starter José Soriano with two outs in the second at 31 pitches. But, this being spring training, that wasn’t a full hook by new Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, and Soriano was right back on the hill to begin the second inning. But after a five-pitch walk to open the frame, Soriano’s day was done.

That didn’t stop the scoring, as the Dodgers scored six runs in the second inning after a three-run first, turning this one into a laugher from the jump.

Hyeseong Kim, in the mix for playing time at second base while Tommy Edman is out, got things going early with a two-run single in the first inning and an RBI single in the second. He also shared his skincare routine with Kirsten Watson in the dugout during the game.

Shohei Ohtani was only expected to bat three times, the norm for regulars, especially this early in spring training. He got that work in by the top of the second inning, leading to an early exit. Ohtani had an infield single and scored to lead off the game, and made the first and third outs in the extended second inning.

The mention this week of Teoscar Hernández aiming for a Gold Glove Award was farfetched, even before he dropped a fly ball at the left field wall in the second inning. Though this was mostly due to the sun wreaking havoc in that part of the field. Bread and butter for Hernández though is at the plate, and he collected a hit in each of the first three innings, including a double, and scored three times.

Andy Pages doubled and tripled in his three at-bats. Non-roster invitee Santiago Espinal started and played three innings at third base, with an RBI single, two walks, and two runs scored in his three trips to the plate.

One more time

In between the outbursts in the top of innings, Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the ball for his first start in camp. After a perfect first inning with two strikeouts and a long layoff in between, Yamamoto was less sharp in the bottom of the second, giving up a double and two singles for two runs, one earned.

It was initially thought Yamamoto would only make one start for the Dodgers before leaving next week for the World Baseball Classic. But he told reporters in Tempe he’s slated to start again Friday, which is in Scottsdale against the Giants, before leaving for Tokyo.

Prospect watch

Zach Ehrhard, one of two minor league outfielders acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Dustin May last July 31, got the start in right field, and contributed a walk and RBI double in the second inning inning.

Zyhir Hope in left field and 100-steal man Kendall George in left got into the game in the third inning, with Josue De Paula in right field and James Tibbs III at first base by the fourth inning. Hope doubled and scored in the ninth, and made a diving catch to save two runs and end the sixth inning.

Left-hander Adam Serwinowski, acquired last trade deadline in a three-team deal involving the Reds and Rays, pitched a scoreless fifth inning with a walk and two strikeouts.

Luke Fox, a 2023 draft pick who ended last season with Double-A Tulsa, struck out three with a walk in a scoreless eighth inning.

Up next

The Dodgers have another road game on Sunday, battling the San Diego Padres in Peoria (12:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Jackson Ferris starts on the mound for Los Angeles. Sadly, the Padres aren’t turning to a recent non-roster invitee addition, robbing us of a Ferris-Buehler pitching matchup. Instead, Randy Vásquez starts for San Diego.

Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto toed the rubber Saturday for the team's Cactus League opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium with the expectation that it would be his only start before joining Team Japan for next month's World Baseball Classic.

Even manager Dave Roberts believed that was the case as he came out to lift his star pitcher with two outs in the bottom of the second inning of the Dodgers' eventual 15-2 win.

“Doc came to the mound, and he said, 'Good luck in the WBC,'” Yamamoto said via interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “But actually, I have one more game to pitch."

After giving up one earned run, three hits and striking out three in his 30-pitch outing, Yamamoto said he believes his next start will be on Friday against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.

Read more:What to expect with MLB's ABS system, and how Dodgers will navigate it

Yamamoto cruised through the first inning, striking out third baseman Yoan Moncado swinging and getting shortstop Zach Neto to look at a called strike three on a darting sinker.

But then the Dodgers, who had scored three runs in the top of the first, sent 11 men to the plate, scoring six runs on five hits, two walks and a hit batter in a half-inning that took nearly 30 minutes. Yamamoto believes the long break between innings may have disrupted his workflow, contributing to a messy second inning.

A dropped fly ball on the warning track in left field by Teoscar Hernández spelled trouble for Yamamoto, scoring a run and allowing Jo Adell to reach second base with nobody out. Yamamoto struck out the next hitter, getting left fielder Josh Lowe to swing through a splitter, before allowing back-to-back outfield line drives to catcher Logan O’Hoppe and second baseman Christian Moore. After Bryce Teodosio flied out for the second out of the inning, Yamamoto's day was done.

Yamamoto reached into his five-pitch repertoire Saturday, mixing in six fastballs, eight splitters, five sinkers, four cutters, four curveballs and three sliders. His fastball sat between 91 and 93 mph, topping out at 94.9 mph.

"I was looking for some stuff I needed to get back before I go back to Japan and join the team,” Yamamoto said. “I was looking forward to the feeling, the delivery and those things.”

He added: "Yesterday's practice, I was already feeling good. And then, somehow I was able to carry that to today's game, especially the first inning. I think I was great, but due to the gap between innings, that affected me a little bit."

With Yamamoto’s time being limited with the Dodgers before the WBC, Roberts spoke pregame Saturday about what he hopes to see from his star pitcher in the time leading up to the event.

“I think that obviously, him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’s going to be trying to ramp it up and get prepared,” Roberts said. “So, I think it’s just more of what he does [on] strike one, [how he] uses secondaries, and be efficient and get some outs.”

Though Yamamoto will pitch once more before leaving for the WBC, Roberts told reporters that he isn’t concerned about the WBC interrupting Yamamoto’s preparation for the regular season.

“I think I’m confident because there’s no exact science on ramping up early and success, or being methodical and not participating to result in success during the season,” Roberts said. “There’s just no exact science. For me, and for all of us, you’re just believing in the player, knowing that he knows what it takes to be ready for a season and he takes care of himself, so I think for me, it’s an easy way to think and wrap my head around, just kind of believing in him, trusting him.”

Etc.

Just over a week into camp, utilityman Hyeseong Kim has already made a strong first impression, as he vies for more playing time in his second season. On Saturday, he went two for three with three RBIs to help spark the Dodgers' offensive outburst. Elsewhere, the top three hitters in the lineup — Shohei Ohtani, Hernández and Andy Pages — combined for six hits in nine at-bats with two RBIs. ... The Dodgers claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski from the Pittsburgh Pirates. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred utilityman Kiké Hernández to the 60-day injured list.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

TEMPE, AZ — He’s the iron man of pitching, stretching the human element to limits beyond comprehension, so it only made sense that World Series hero Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the first pitcher to step onto the mound Saturday in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring-training opener.

“When you think about it,’’ Joel Wolfe, Yamamoto’s agent, told USA TODAY Sports, “what can’t he do?’’

Let’s see, in the past 12 months, he led the Dodgers in the regular season with 30 starts and 173.2 innings, going 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA.

In the playoffs, he became the first pitcher to throw consecutive complete games since Curt Schilling for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, and the first to pitcher to end a World Series game by retiring 20 consecutive batters since Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956.

In the World Series, he was the first pitcher to start a World Series game one night and pitch on no days’ rest the next since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 2001 against the New York Yankees.

And here was Saturday, back on the mound, dominating the Los Angeles Angels in their Cactus League debut, yielding three hits and one earned run with three strikeouts, throwing 22 of his 30 pitches for strikes.

“I was already feeling good in practice,’’ he said. “I was looking forward to the feeling, the delivery, and those things.’’

MESA, Arizona — Cubs pitchers struck out 14 Rangers hitters Saturday afternoon on another gorgeous day at Sloan Park.

For whatever that’s worth. A few Cubs regulars and a bunch of minor leaguers couldn’t put together much offense, though, and so the Cubs lost their second straight Spring Training game, 3-2 to Texas.

Matthew Boyd put together what I thought was a decent outing, though he didn’t finish the second inning after throwing 36 pitches (25 strikes). He was the victim of a fly ball that Pete Crow-Armstrong lost in the sun and then dropped, generously called a double for Tyler Wade, who then scored on a single by Sam Haggerty to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second. Boyd did strike out four, so that’s a good start to his spring season.

Here’s Boyd’s fourth K [VIDEO].

The Cubs tied the game up in the bottom of the second. Pedro Ramirez walked, stole second and scored on a single by Jefferson Rojas.

Rojas also made an offline throw in the fourth that pulled Jonathon Long off first base, and Long left with an injury [VIDEO].

It was reported after the game that Long left with a left elbow strain. As you can see in the clip that when he goes down he’s holding his arm after colliding with Mark Canha. It’s a tough blow if Long misses time in Spring Training. It’s unlikely he would have made the Opening Day roster anyway, but this obviously sets him back.

That play helped lead to a two-run inning off Hoby Milner. Otherwise the Cubs bullpen did a pretty good job, including Luke Little, who didn’t walk anyone (progress!), though he did hit a batter, and Jack Neely, who issued a walk but struck out three.

The Cubs scored another run in the fourth. Triantos led off with a single and went to third on a single by Ramirez. Rojas grounded out, scoring Triantos to make it 3-2.

That was it for scoring, and after the fifth it was all minor leaguers finishing things up.

Of note, there were five ABS challenges in this game, three of which resulted in a call being overturned. The last of these was a strike-three call which would have ended the game. Hayden Cantrelle challenged and got it overturned — by seven-tenths of an inch [VIDEO].

That is exactly the sort of situation ABS challenges are designed for — close game, bottom of the ninth, the hitter thinks he’s got a chance at another pitch instead of the game being over.

Which is what Cantrelle got — and then he struck out swinging on the next pitch to actually end the game.

But at least that call was changed to the correct one.

Attendance watch: 12,073 paid to see this Saturday afternoon contest, bringing the season total for two dates to 26,492, or 13,246 per date. The next Sloan Park game will be Tuesday vs. the Padres.

The Cubs travel to Scottsdale to face the Giants Sunday afternoon. Colin Rea will go for the Cubs and Robbie Ray will go for the Giants. There will be a TV broadcast Sunday via Giants TV and there’s also a radio broadcast with the Giants announcers on their flagship station KNBR 104.5.