Two notable developments at Phillies camp on Thursday morning, a week before Opening Day:
• Garrett Stubbs was optioned to Triple A, meaning Rafael Marchan will be the backup catcher to J.T. Realmuto.
• And Johan Rojas, for the first time this spring, was penciled into the starting lineup in center field. Rojas had been limited to DH duty because of a shoulder injury suffered during winter ball.
Stubbs had been Realmuto’s backup for three seasons and gained a reputation as a clubhouse and fan favorite, but the news was not a surprise. Marchan is out of minor-league options so the Phillies would have had to expose him to waivers (and likely lose him) if he didn’t make their Opening Day roster. Stubbs has an option year remaining.
The Phillies said that it would be a true battle and that if one outperformed the other, the contract situation wouldn’t stand in the way, but in reality, it was always going to be extremely difficult for Stubbs to make the team this spring barring a Marchan injury or trade. Stubbs appeared in 10 games and went 6-for-21 (.286) with two doubles and three walks. Marchan was hitting .250 with a .357 OBP in 28 plate appearances heading into Thursday’s game.
Stubbs will be the next catcher up if an injury takes place. Realmuto spent just 10 days on the IL in his first five seasons as a Phillie but missed six weeks last season with a knee injury and turned 34 on Tuesday. Marchan has missed ample time throughout his minor-league career with various injuries — hamstring, hand, shoulder, back — and has played more than 70 games just once, back in 2019 at Single A. So Stubbs might not have seen the last of the home clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park.
Marchan arrived in Clearwater on January 6. He wanted to work with the strength and conditioning staff to better prepare his body for the best opportunity of his career, and it also didn’t hurt to cram in bullpen sessions with early-arriving pitchers and newcomers like Jordan Romano.
“Really everything,” manager Rob Thomson said this spring when asked what he likes about Marchan. “He throws as well as anyone, catches the ball great, he can block, moves around, he’s aggressive with back-picks. He’s done a lot of work with J.T. and Stubby and Caleb (Cotham), our pitching group. He’s done a lot of homework, and now he calls a really good game. Intelligent kid. He’s not a kid anymore, really intelligent person. I have full confidence in him.”
Marchan was in the lineup Thursday behind the plate to catch Nabil Crismatt, who is vying with Tyler Phillips, Kyle Tyler and Michael Mercado for a spot in the bullpen. Rojas was set to lead off and start in center. He jammed his shoulder sliding into second base in the Dominican Winter League three months ago and has been brought along slowly. The Phillies will want to see him healthy and full-go with his throws to carry him on the Opening Day roster. If Rojas’ shoulder injury lingers, Oscar Mercado could make the club out of camp.
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani homers off Cubs pitcher Nate Pearson in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
After taking his final question in the Tokyo Dome press room Wednesday night, his Dodgers having accomplished all they hoped to during their season-opening series in Japan, manager Dave Roberts grabbed the mic for one last unsolicited quote.
“Last thing I want to say is, to the city of Tokyo and the country of Japan, on behalf of the Dodgers and Major League Baseball, we just want to say thank you,” Roberts said. “You guys were all such great hosts, and hopefully we put on a good show.”
The Dodgers certainly did, both on the field with a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs and off of it with their well-documented efforts to grow their fan base in the country.
In both games the overwhelming majority of fans wore Dodgers gear. On the streets of Tokyo, advertisements including their biggest star, Shohei Ohtani, dominated the landscape.
For a team that’s trying to defend its World Series title and amplify its brand on an international stage, it marked a successful voyage. Now, as the Dodgers return home for the rest of their season, here are four takeaways on where they stand.
Freeman, Betts expected back soon
Perhaps the most amazing part of the Dodgers’ 2-0 start is that it came without Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman on the field.
Betts was ruled out days before the opener, sent home early Monday after losing almost 15 pounds while battling a stomach virus. Freeman was a late scratch from the opening lineup because of rib discomfort and was held out again Wednesday.
The Dodgers managed without the two former most valuable players, scoring nine runs over the final 14 innings. They are expecting the pair to be available once the season resumes next week with their March 27 home opener against the Detroit Tigers.
In both cases Roberts said the Dodgers wanted to be mindful of protecting their star players early in the season. With Betts, team doctors worried about the increased risk of a soft tissue injury given his lingering dehydration and fatigue. With Freeman, the Dodgers wanted to ensure that his rib issue — which is in the same place he suffered torn cartilage last postseason — wouldn’t get worse before they can fully examine him in Los Angeles this week.
“He lobbied hard, like he always does,” Roberts said of Freeman, who went to the batting cage before the game before being ruled out. “But ultimately, [he] conceded to myself and the training staff. It’s just too early in the season to potentially put him in harm’s way.”
Depth already shining
Given how much the Dodgers spent constructing a nearly $400-million roster, it would have been difficult for depth to be any sort of concern.
Still, over two games, the sheer volume of talent became quickly and abundantly clear.
Without Freeman, the Dodgers started Kiké Hernández at first base and watched him lead the team with three RBIs, including a key two-run homer Wednesday that put the finale out of reach. At shortstop, Miguel Rojas replaced Betts with his typical defensive excellence, highlighted by a sliding backhand play for the final out Wednesday.
Elsewhere in the lineup, plenty of other names chipped in. Michael Conforto had two hits, including a double, in his first two games as a Dodger. Andy Pages reached base in half of his at-bats from the No. 9 spot. Will Smith walked a staggering five times while also recording two hits and an RBI. And Tommy Edman continued his slugging surge from late last season by whacking the first home run of the year.
Bullpen’s first impression
Speaking of depth, the pitching staff has that in spades — from a rotation that featured Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki impressing in Tokyo and probably will turn to two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and 2024 opening day starter Tyler Glasnow for next week’s homestand, to a bullpen that dominated the Cubs without using any reliever twice.
On Tuesday, the Dodgers trotted out what should be their typical late-game combination, with Blake Treinen pitching the eighth inning and offseason acquisition Tanner Scott getting his first Dodgers save in the ninth.
With the Dodgers staying away from repeat relief appearances, the bullpen depth was on full display after Sasaki’s three-inning start, with five pitchers combining for the final six frames. That procession included Jack Dreyer, a left-hander making his MLB debut, Landon Knack, the breakout rookie from last season who served as a swingman this week before being optioned to the minors after Wednesday’s game, Kirby Yates, another marquee signing, and Alex Vesia, who earned the save in lieu of Scott or Treinen.
A connection in Japan
Clayton Kershaw wasn’t able to participate as he continues to recover from offseason toe and knee surgery. Since he wasn’t on the 31-man travel roster, he had to fly to Japan on his own with his family.
However, the veteran pitcher and future Hall of Famer was determined to be there. And as he packed in the clubhouse to return to Los Angeles on Wednesday night, he was left struck by something he’d always known but never seen.
“Just how much people love baseball here,” he said. “I think that was something new. I knew they liked baseball, but I didn’t know the passion they have. It was just really cool to see.”
Much more postgame discussion was centered on the atmosphere raucous Japanese crowds created than the results of the games.
“It’s always cool to experience different baseball cultures,” Max Muncy said. “They cheer all the good plays. When a ball gets hit hard, you hear the whole stadium go ‘Ooooooo!’ even if it’s just an out. They’re here to watch good baseball.”
“It’s great how it’s pitch silent while the home team is pitching, and then it’s just like a party when they’re hitting,” Hernández echoed, comparing it to the excitement of Latin American baseball. “That’s my kind of party.”
“The passion and the engagement was amazing,” Rojas added. “And hopefully, the game is in a better place now than before we came here.”
SCOTTSDALE — When the pandemic shut the sports world down in 2020, Ryan Walker didn’t have much hope of ever reaching the big leagues. He was a 31st-round pick who had not played above Single-A, and while he had pitched well in his first two professional seasons, the fastball that topped out at 93 mph didn’t exactly scream “future closer.”
As he contemplated his future plans, Walker, who lives in the Phoenix area, met a local locksmith and struck up a conversation while he got new keys for his truck. Mendel Beck soon became his boss, and he told the young pitcher to order a kit off Amazon and show up a few days later for work. When Walker did so, he found that he was essentially thrown into the fire.
The business was busy, and Beck would show him a new skill once and then send him out on jobs. In an odd way, Walker thinks that helped him ultimately reach his goals as a reliever.
“A lot of it (as a locksmith) was figuring it out on your own, which I think it also helped in baseball, too,” Walker said on Thursday’s “Giants Talk” podcast. “You’re out there on the mound, you’re alone, and if things go sideways you’ve got to figure it out on your own.”
Walker proved to be a quick study as a locksmith, and years later, the same was true when the Giants threw him into the ninth inning.
When Camilo Doval’s struggles during the 2024 season hit such an inflection point that the Giants sent him to Triple-A, Walker was the easy choice to take over temporarily. Six weeks later, as the season came to a close, there was no doubt about who would head into 2025 with that title. Walker pitched so well down the stretch that there was no closer controversy this spring, even as Doval showed his old form. Manager Bob Melvin has said repeatedly since the end of last season that Walker will get the save opportunities.
Walker finished his second MLB season with a 1.91 ERA and 2.52 FIP. He struck out 99 batters, the most by a Giants reliever since Robb Nen got 110 in 1998. Despite finishing second in the NL in appearances — to teammate Tyler Rogers — Walker got stronger as the season went on, posting a 1.21 ERA in the second half, which included a scoreless August. He got his first save on August 10, and from that point on he had a 0.92 ERA, with 10 saves in 10 chances and 28 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings.
Walker didn’t just take over the role of pitching the ninth. For nearly two months, he was as good as any closer in the game.
Walker’s sinker averaged 94.6 mph in April and was right around 95.5 mph the next three months, but in August and September it ticked up to 96.4 mph. The two games when he threw hardest in 2024 came on September 18 and 22.
“I felt like I was able to use that extra adrenaline and use it the right way,” he said of closing. “It felt like a debut all over again, except this time I could control it better. In your debut you’re a little shaky and you don’t know where the ball is going to go, but I was able to use it to my advantage, so maybe that was a little part of it.”
Overall, Walker’s sinker ranked fifth in the game by Baseball Savant’s leveraged run value, which assigns a value to every pitch. His slider also ranked fifth, and he finished in the 98th percentile in hard-hit percentage, 96th percentile in expected ERA, and 94th percentile in expected batting average and strikeout percentage.
It was such a dominant season that, as the Giants started planning for 2025, there was only one decision to be made for the ninth. The organization spent months working on Doval’s entrance video and light show, but Walker kept it simple after getting the role. He would jog in to Tyler Braden’s “Neon Grave” as Oracle Park went dark, and as he prepares for his first full season as a closer, he said he hopes the plan is to again keep it simple with his entrance.
“The spotlight probably isn’t for me — we’re already in the spotlight, I probably don’t need an extra one,” he said, smiling. “The rest of it is really cool to me. Turning off the lights and doing whatever they want to do with them, minus the spotlight, is great. It gets the fans going, too.”
With injuries up and down the Mets' roster before the start of the regular season has even arrived, Brett Baty and David Peterson have proven this spring that they are capable of stepping up and are doing everything they can to help carry the load.
Wednesday night's win over the Houston Astros was no different as both players had a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
Baty, playing second base as he continues to get comfortable at a new position, went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple to raise his batting average to .333 and his OPS to 1.010. He also made a fine defensive play in the field, showing off some range and his arm in the process.
With Jeff McNeil starting the season on the IL with a low-grade right oblique strain, Baty and Luisangel Acuña (and some others) have been battling it out for the starting second base job. While Acuña is the superior defender (and versatile, too), he hasn't hit much so far this spring or in his career at Triple-A.
And even after coming up to the majors late last season -- in the middle of a playoff race, no less -- and providing an offensive spark, it's still too small of a sample size to hang on to. On the other hand, Baty has been the exact opposite.
In his career, Baty has destroyed Triple-A pitching which has earned him a promotion to the big leagues on numerous occasions, but the 25-year-old has been unable to convert his success to the majors. However, unlike Acuña, Baty is having a phenomenal spring training offensively which is why he's currently leading the pack to start the season as McNeil's replacement.
While it's impossible not to take notice of Baty's offense so far, manager Carlos Mendoza is also liking what he's seeing out of Baty's defense lately.
"I thought he’s gotten comfortable as we’re progressing in camp," Mendoza said after Wednesday's win. "There was a really good play today to his right. Really good first step, the angle, he ended up diving for the ball, and then just having the awareness of who the runner was [and] knowing that he had time.
"Making the routine plays, going to the right places when he needs to. The communication between him and [Francisco] Lindor or some of the other infielders has been great so, like I said, I think he’s gotten comfortable."
If Baty keeps getting more comfortable at second base and is able to finally hit in the majors like he has this spring and in Triple-A, he may not give up the starting job even when McNeil returns.
As for Peterson, the lefty has been nothing short of brilliant in four spring outings so far, owning a 0.57 ERA over 15.2 innings in his first spring training without any hiccups in over two years. Against Houston on Wednesday, the 30-year-old went five scoreless innings and struck out four against an Astros lineup filled with starters.
"It was good to get the five ups, get the pitch count up and felt like we were able to work everything and see what we wanted to," he said. "... Having an offseason where I was able to get all my strength back and feel like I was 100 percent coming into camp was awesome and it’s been good to have a normal spring again."
With the Mets already down two starters in Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea to begin the season, Peterson is reminding everybody of what he did in 2024 and how important he can be to New York's rotation when fully healthy.
"Just trying to build off the good stuff mechanically that I had last year and get the pitches where I want to," Peterson said.
In an Opening Day preview, the Mets beat the Houston Astros, 8-2, with timely hitting and excellent pitching on Wednesday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-With the start of the regular season drawing near, manager Carlos Mendoza, in an away game, didn't hold any punches with his lineup that featured starters and likely starters and could potentially be New York's Game 1 lineup when these two teams meet in Houston next Thursday.
-Among the likely starters, with Jeff McNeil starting the season on the IL, is Brett Baty who batted eighth and played second base. The 25-year-old has been stellar with the bat this spring and continued to impress Wednesday night with a 2-for-3 performance, including a triple and a double, and added an RBI and run scored. He is now up to .333 with his batting average to go along with a 1.010 OPS.
In the field, Baty made all three plays his way, including a diving stop to his right on a sharply hit ball by Yordan Alvarez before firing from one knee to get the out at first. The former third baseman has looked shaky at times at second base, but he looked the part on Wednesday as he gets more comfortable with his super-utility role, which certainly makes him more valuable to the team.
-David Peterson made his fourth appearance and third start this spring and the lefty picked up right where he left off, going five scoreless innings. He now has a 0.57 ERA (0.89 WHIP) in 15.2 innings after having the best season of his career in 2024 (10-3, 2.90 ERA in 21 starts).
The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out four on 75 pitches (42 strikes). Aside from Clay Holmes, Peterson has had the most impressive camp and figures to be a big weapon for New York again in 2025.
-Edwin Diaz entered the game in the sixth inning after Peterson and managed to get through the inning unscathed despite allowing two hits. Ryne Stanek looked great in his inning of work, striking out two, but it was A.J. Minter who had a rough outing. Making his third appearance of the spring, the left-hander allowed two runs on two hits, including a home run, and walked one. He also struck out two. They were the first runs allowed by Minter this spring.
Reed Garrett finished things off in the ninth and struck out the side.
-Scuffling a bit at the plate, Pete Alonso hit his first spring training home run this season in the sixth inning off former Met Miguel Castro who had just entered the game. The three-run bomb to left field got out in a hurry and broke the game open, making it 7-0. Alonso finished 1-for-4 with a walk.
Before that, the Mets' offense had scored four times thanks to shoddy play by Houston's defense. The first run came on a wild pitch in the third inning before a second run came around to score on Juan Soto's sacrifice fly, which was also an error by Jose Altuve in left field as the experiment of the former second baseman in the outfield continues to leave much to be desired.
New York scored another run in the fifth inning after Brandon Nimmo took advantage of a two-out error by third baseman Isaac Paredes, hitting an RBI double to score Mark Vientos.
-The Mets banged out 12 hits with Baty, Nimmo and Tyrone Taylor each getting two hits apiece.
Carlos Carrasco strengthened his case to make the Opening Day roster but the Yankees' bats were silent as they fell to the Braves, 4-0, in split-squad action.
Here are the takeaways...
-Carrasco put the finishing touches on what was a fantastic spring in Yankees camp. The non-roster invitee shut out the Braves for five innings, allowing just one walk while striking out three batters. He threw 54 pitches (33 strikes) and made it look easy against a Braves lineup that had most of their regulars.
Across 16 innings pitched, Carrasco has pitched to a 1.69 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. The veteran right-hander has an opt-out on Saturday if he doesn't make the roster, but the Yankees, with their injuries, may not have a choice but to bring him on.
-After Carrasco left the game, the Yankees bullpen struggled especially Fernando Cruz. Cruz, who the Yankees obtained from the Reds in the Jose Trevino deal this offseason, started the sixth inning with a throwing error before allowing a two-run shot to Austin Riley. After a four-pitch walk to Matt Olson, and a mound visit, Cruz spiked a wild pitch before getting Bryan De La Cruz to strike out. But that would be it for Cruz who allowed two runs (one earned) across 0.1 innings (22 pitches/10 strikes).
Wednesday was not the best audition for Cruz who is looking to capture a spot in the bullpen. The hard-throwing right-hander has allowed at least one run in three of his last four appearances.
-Luke Weaver allowed a solo shot on the first pitch he threw in the eighth inning to Patrick Clohisy who jumped on the first-pitch cutter to put the Braves up 4-0.
Devin Williams dominated the ninth inning, getting the Braves in order, including two strikeouts on his patented Airbender changeup.
-Despite the stellar starting pitching, the Yankees bats just could not get to Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach. The young right-hander allowed just two hits, walking one while striking out 10 batters across six innings.
-Austin Wells led off again on Wednesday, finishing 1-for-3 with a strikeout. It's looking more and more likely Wells will be the Yankees leadoff hitter on Opening Day.
Aaron Judge's tough spring continued as the reigning AL MVP went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and is hitting a paltry .120. Oswaldo Cabrera (0-3) and Trent Grisham (0-2, BB) were the other notable hitters who went hitless in this one.
What's next
The Yankees hit the road to take on the Baltimore Orioles. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.
Will Warren will take the mound in what could be his final audition for a roster spot.
PHOENIX — Milwaukee infielder Joey Ortiz will move over from third base to shortstop as the Brewers alter their infield following Willy Adames’ departure.
One of the Brewers’ main concerns this spring was how to handle the shortstop position as they adapt to life without Adames, who signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants in the offseason. The Brewers were pondering whether to give the job to Ortiz or have Brice Turang move over from second base.
Manager Pat Murphy settled the matter Tuesday by telling reporters that Ortiz would be the shortstop. That means Turang will remain at second base, where he won an NL Platinum Glove last season as the league’s best overall defensive player regardless of position.
Turang has been dealing with a right shoulder issue the last few days, though an MRI revealed no structural damage, and he told reporters he expects to be ready for the start of the season.
Ortiz primarily played third base last season while appearing in 10 games at shortstop and six at second base. He mostly played shortstop in Baltimore’s minor league system before coming to the Brewers last year in a trade that sent 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Orioles.
Ortiz batted .239 with a .329 on-base percentage, 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 11 steals as a rookie last year. Turang hit .254 with a .316 on-base percentage, seven homers, 57 RBIs and 50 steals.
TOKYO — The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Matt Sauer and optioned left-hander Justin Wrobleski to the minors Wednesday.
To make room on the 40-man roster, pitcher Clayton Kershaw went on the 60-day injured list as expected.
The 26-year-old Sauer, a non-roster invite to spring training, had eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings over four appearances this spring. He made his major league debut last year with Kansas City and was 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA in 14 games.
Wrobleski made four appearances for the Dodgers this spring, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
As expected, Kershaw is starting the season on the IL. The 36-year-old left-hander is beginning his 18th season with the Dodgers. He is 36 strikeouts from reaching 3,000.
Last year, the three-time Cy Young Award winner was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven games before missing the rest of the season with a left big toe injury. He’s rehabbing after offseason surgeries.
ATLANTA — Nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is attempting to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves, his original team.
Kimbrel and catcher James McCann have agreed to minor league contracts, the team confirmed on Wednesday. Kimbrel will remain at the Braves spring training site when the season opens March 27, then will report to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Kimbrel, a 36-year-old right-hander, was released by the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 24 with a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves in 29 chances. The right-hander has pitched in 837 games and his 440 saves rank fifth. If added to the 40-man roster, he would get a $2 million salary while in the major leagues.
Atlanta is hoping to find the version of Kimbrel who posted a 2.80 ERA with all of his 23 saves and 53 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings before the All-Star break for the Orioles last season. Kimbrel faded after the break with a 10.59 ERA in 10 games.
“Hopefully he can replicate what he did the first half of last year,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday. “It would be awesome if he could come in and do that.
“Talking to some of the Baltimore guys, they thought he might make the All-Star team. Like I said, hopefully he can be one of those guys like I talked about three weeks ago, somebody could have a big influence on our team who’s not even in camp yet. That would be great if he was that guy.”
The Braves are set to open the season with 35-year-old right-hander Raisel Iglesias as their closer. Iglesias had 34 saves in 38 chances with a 1.95 ERA last season.
Kimbrel was drafted by the Braves in 2008 and made his major league debut in 2010. He led the National League in saves in four consecutive seasons, beginning with his 46 in 2011 when he was voted Rookie of the Year and capping that stretch with 47 in 2014. He set a career high with 50 saves in 2013.
Kimbrel also has pitched for San Diego, Boston, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia, where he made his last NL All-Star team in 2023.
Atlanta also confirmed a minor league contract with McCann, a 34-year-old who hit .234 with eight homers for the Orioles last year in the final season of a four-year, $40.6 million contract he signed with the New York Mets. If added to the 40-man roster, he would get a $1 million salary while in the major leaguers.
McCann was a 2019 AL All-Star with the Chicago White Sox. He made his major league debut with Detroit in 2014. He has a .241 career batting average in 11 seasons, including the 2021-22 seasons with the Mets.
The Braves released 38-year-old left-hander Jake Diekman, who had a 4.91 ERA over 7 1/3 innings in seven spring training appearances. Diekman, who had a 5.63 ERA with the Mets in 2024, was competing for a bullpen spot.
Before the Mets take on the Houston Astros on Wednesday, manager Carlos Mendoza spoke briefly on a couple of topics, including what the plan is for Edwin Diaz this week and the health of some of his injured players.
Diaz to pitch back-to-back
It's been a bumpy spring so far for the Mets closer who owns a 7.71 ERA and 2.57 WHIP in 2.1 innings across three appearances so far in Grapefruit League action. In those outings, Diaz has combined to throw 64 pitches (36 strikes) while striking out four and walking three.
While those numbers seem unsightly, it's still a small sample size for a pitcher coming into the middle innings of exhibition games who is used to closing out games that actually count. And after a rough outing in his spring training debut, Diaz has pitched two scoreless innings in his last two appearances.
Less concerned about the results, the next thing Mendoza and the Mets want from Diaz is to throw on back-to-back days which he will at some point this week, Mendoza said on Wednesday. Although, it won't necessarily come in spring training action -- something New York also plans to do for some other pitchers scheduled to go back-to-back this week.
"It’s probably not gonna be back-to-back in our games," the skipper said. "So if he’s pitching today it may be the next day for a hitter in a minor league game where it’s more of a controlled environment."
As for what he's seen from his 30-year-old closer so far in camp, Mendoza isn't worried.
"The first couple [he] was inconsistent with his mechanics and we saw it with some of the walks," he said. "But I was very encouraged with his last outing in the minor leagues where he attacked better, the velo was better.
"Look it’s spring training games, these guys are so used to that getting the last three outs [with] the adrenaline. It’s different. It’s something that’s hard to replicate here in spring training, but as long as he’s feeling good and bouncing back well, there’s no issues there."
Sean Manaea and Jesse Winker injury updates
With a lot of injuries sustained before Opening Day, the Mets got some positive news on the injury front regarding Manaea and Winker.
Regarding Manaea (right oblique strain), Mendoza told reporters that the left-hander is continuing his throwing progression and is up to 90 feet. New York's ace last season, Manaea figures to be out until mid-to-late April but appears to be progressing well with his rehab.
The Mets also got good news surrounding Winker who left Monday's game with cramps in his calf, but appears to be fine.
"I talked to him today, he was feeling good," Mendoza said. "He was gonna go through his workout, I gotta talk to the trainers in a little bit to make sure he’s okay and hopefully he’s playing, whether it’s the night game with us or maybe some at-bats in the minor leagues. I’m anticipating him getting some at-bats tomorrow."
Mendoza also mentioned that Dedniel Nuñez and Jose Butto are feeling good after throwing on Tuesday.
The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-7, on Wednesday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla.
Here are the takeaways...
-Marcus Stroman, who now figures prominently into the Yankees rotation plans with the injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, had a nice afternoon. The right-hander allowed just one hit, and while he did put a couple of batters on with walks, he struck out three and did not allow a run over his 3.0 innings.
-The Yankees’ bats jumped all over Phillies starter Taijuan Walker. In the third, Jazz Chisholm Jr. lofted a towering two-run homer, giving the Yanks a 3-0 lead. The power display continued in the fourth, when both Pablo Reyes and Ben Rice homered off of Walker.
Walker allowed six earned runs on nine hits in just 3.2 innings.
-Jasson Dominguez had a nice day at the plate, hitting a single up the middle in his first at-bat and ripping an RBI double in the third.
Dominguez had three hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.
-Cody Bellinger looks pretty comfortable hitting in the middle of the lineup. In the top of the sixth, Bellinger hit an absolute bomb of a two-run homer, clearing everything in right field.
Bellinger had two hits on the day and now has three homers this spring.
-The Yankees jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Phillies battled back. Trailing by two runs, the Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, putting the potential winning run on base, but Cade Austin struck out Buddy Kennedy to end the game and secure the win.
Who was the game MVP?
Chisholm Jr., who drove in three runs on a pair of hits.
In our last group article, we got a look under the hood at some of the players the Rotoworld Baseball staff has drafted the most going into the 2025 MLB season. It was an opportunity to see which players we're planting our flags on for this year. Now, it's time to take things one step further with our fantasy bold predictions for the season ahead.
"Bold" is always a subjective term, so some of these might stand out more than others, but there's a kernel in each of these choices which separates itself from what you'll find in terms of each player's average draft position.
Finding these players — and the value that comes along with them — are what often leads to fantasy championships. Pay close attention if you still have a draft ahead of you.
Crews, the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of LSU, stole 12 bases in 31 games in his debut. The 23-year-old struggled at the plate hitting .218 with a .288 OBP. Entering 2024, Crews has been handed an everyday job at the top of the lineup. Sure, he could be sent down if he has a .288 OBP again, but what if he doesn’t? If he gets on base at a reasonable clip, he’s going to steal a lot of bases. Crews’ sprint speed of 29.3 ft/s is in the 93rd percentile and the Nationals were the most aggressive team stealing bases last year, leading the league with 233 steals. - Nick Shlain
Oneil Cruz returns first round value
It's no secret that Cruz has some of the gaudiest raw power in the league. Last season, he was responsible for the four individual hardest hit balls, eight of the 11 hardest, and 15 of the 30 hardest across all batted ball events. He also hit 24 balls in play at least 115 MPH. Giancarlo Stanton had the next most with 17. Cruz also hit four and his 21 home runs further than 450 feet. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were the only players with more 450 ft blasts, and they combined for 112 total homers. Any minimal gains Cruz can make with his contact rate will put him squarely in position to exceed 30 or possibly 40 home runs. Moreover, Cruz became a much more willing base stealer over the second half last year as he swiped 15 bags without getting caught after only taking eight attempts before the All-Star break. He's already attempted seven steals this spring and seems primed to run more than his projections would indicate. It's not totally out of bounds to see him hit something like 35 HR with a .270 batting average and 30 stolen bases. That's a first round player. - James Schiano
Emiliano Teodo will lead the Rangers in saves this season
Let’s go completely off the board. I’ll give the Rangers a ton of credit for keeping this one close to the vest this spring, citing a desire to continue developing Teodo as a traditional starter in the upper minors as justification for leaving him off their season-opening roster. The 24-year-old prospect’s triple-digit fastball velocity makes it easy to envision him excelling in the ninth inning down the road, like how the division-rival Athletics recently transformed top prospect Mason Miller from volatile starter to elite stopper. The Rangers haven’t put a ton of roadblocks in his path to a high-leverage role by letting Kirby Yates leave in free agency and failing to re-sign David Robertson. They brought in longtime setup specialist Chris Martin to close, but he’s battled shoulder issues for years and turns 39 in a couple months. I’m willing to roll the dice on the talent here and gamble that the Rangers eventually turn things over to the most talented arm in their relief mix. - George Bissell
Jack Leiter delivers the most fantasy value of any AL rookie and also wins the AL Rookie of the Year Award
This is a bit of a bold prediction since Leiter currently has the 6th-best odds to win AL Rookie of the Year, with guys like Jasson Dominguez, Jackson Jobe, and Coby Mayo, among others, all seen as better bets. I see a path where Leiter produces more fantasy value than all of them. His fastball has been electric this season, sitting at 98 mph in his outings. He also added a sinker to pound the strike zone with and modified his changeup into a kick-change that looks dynamic. I think he starts the season in the Rangers' rotation, which gives him to chance to cement his status for the remainder of the season. He made real strides at Triple-A last year, and the only thing holding him back as been inconsistent command. I think his mechanical tweaks can help him iron that out and he can take off in 2025. - Eric Samulski
Cristopher Sánchez will finish as a top-15 fantasy starting pitcher
Sánchez has already displayed excellent run-suppression skills with his extreme ground ball rate while giving plenty of volume with an 181-inning season. The path to him propelling to the top of the pitcher ranks lies in his WHIP and strikeouts. The 28-year-old left-hander appears poised to make that leap. Sánchez has demonstrated outstanding control, walking just 5.8% of batters last season after producing a 4% walk rate in 2023. His 1.24 WHIP was mostly the product of an inflated .313 BABIP that's bound for regression. Still, generating more swing and miss would bode well for lowering his WHIP and getting more strikeouts. He's doing just that this spring with increased fastball velocity, striking out 17 batters over 11 2/3 innings across his four spring starts. If he can maintain his velocity gain into the regular season, he could flourish into a fantasy ace. - Jorge Montanez
Jake Fraley combines for 50 home runs + stolen bases
The dynamic 29-year-old struggled through injury, illness and a complete loss of power during the 2024 season, and he still managed to sock five dingers and steal 20 bases in 382 plate appearances. He'll be a fixture in the Reds' lineup against right-handed pitching and it would shock me if he managed to steal fewer than 30 bases if he avoids the injured list. I'm hoping for a small bounce back in power, so maybe a 15/35 season is in the cards, but 10/40 isn't out of the question either. It's baffling to me that he's still going right around pick 400 through the first 11 NFBC Main Event drafts. He has found his way onto the roster of every team that I have drafted so far. - David Shovein
Austin Riley leads the NL in homers
Shohei Ohtani is the obvious favorite to lead the NL in home runs again, yet he comes with some extra injury concerns this year as he returns to pitching and tries to accommodate his surgically repaired left (non-throwing) shoulder. So, if not Ohtani, why not Riley? The Braves third baseman hit 38 homers in 2022 and 37 in 2023. That he's currently penciled in as a No. 2 hitter for a team that hates giving regulars days off gives him a shot at reaching 700 plate appearances. Riley had a somewhat disappointing 2024 season that was brought to an early end by a broken hamate bone suffered on a HBP, but he was still hitting the ball as hard as ever. In fact, his 96th-percentile average exit velocity and hard-hit rates were career bests. Mostly, he just didn't pull his flyballs quite as often as usual. If he can get back to that, 40 homers should be in the cards and a run at 50 can't be ruled out. - Matthew Pouliot
Dylan Crews will be a top-20 fantasy outfielder
Obviously there's risk in believing a player that is entering his first full MLB season will have this much success, and it's worth pointing out that Crews wasn't great in his first taste of action at the highest level. That being said, this is a player who has the tools to hit for average, power and steal bases while getting a chance to play everyday and hit near the top of the lineup for the Nationals. You don't want to go too crazy with spring training stats, but the fact that Crews hit .324 and stole three bases over his first dozen games in the Grapefruit League doesn't hurt my confidence, either. I wouldn't draft Crews as my second outfielder, I'm just not going to be surprised at all when he finishes in that range. - Christopher Crawford
The fragility of starting pitching was a primary reason why the Phillies didn’t cut ties with Taijuan Walker after his terrible 2024, and although Walker did not pitch well on Wednesday in Clearwater, his role might have already increased.
Ranger Suarez is dealing with mild back stiffness, Rob Thomson told reporters after Wednesday’s game. Suarez had been set to start Friday but will not.
It is unclear how much time off Suarez will need but it has to be a concern after Suarez missed time with a back injury at two different points last summer. He did not pitch in the All-Star Game because of back spasms, then spent a month on the injured list from July 27-August 24 with lower back soreness.
Will Suarez be ready for the regular season? Opening Day is March 27, just eight days away, and you’d figure the Phillies will want to see him face hitters and see how he responds before feeling comfortable that he’s ready to go. Suarez lined up to start the Phils’ fourth or fifth game of the season, which would be at home against the Rockies on March 31 or April 2. There are still two full weeks between now and April 2, but it will depend on how Suarez progresses day by day.
Walker threw 83 pitches on Wednesday in his fourth start of the spring. He would be the next man up to make a spot start in Suarez’ place. Walker’s velocity this spring has been closer to 2023 than 2024, which will be necessary because he couldn’t miss bats or the sweet spot much a season ago, finishing with a 7.10 ERA and allowing opponents to hit .317 with a .975 OPS.
Walker was hit around by the Yankees on Wednesday and allowed three home runs. He’s been taken deep in each spring start, six times total, and struck out just six batters in 13 innings. Here’s how the outings went:
March 2 at Blue Jays: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
March 8 vs. Blue Jays: 3⅓ IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
March 14 at Yankees: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
March 19 vs. Yankees: 3⅔ IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
If Walker was not owed $36 million total over the next two seasons, he might not still be in this spot, but the Phillies preferred having another starting pitching option over giving him away to another team for maybe $1 million. If he gives the Phils even a few passable starts in 2025, the decision to hold him will have made sense.
Suarez’ injury also helps explain why the four pitchers left in camp fighting for a bullpen job — Tyler Phillips, Nabil Crismatt, Kyle Tyler and Michael Mercado — are all swingmen who can start or relieve. If Suarez and Matt Strahm (left shoulder impingement) aren’t ready for Opening Day, two of them could make the team. Tyler and Mercado can be optioned to the minor leagues while Phillips and Crismatt cannot.
Phillips and Mercado both pitched on Wednesday. Mercado allowed a two-run homer to Cody Bellinger in his inning; Phillips allowed a run over two innings with three strikeouts. Both have ERAs over 8.00 this spring.
The Phillies also have Joe Ross, signed to a one-year, $4 million contract. They intended to build him up as a starter this spring but appear to have him slotted for multi-inning relief or leverage work. He started on February 26 and threw 37 pitches over two innings but all four outings since have come in relief, three of them lasting one inning and 1⅔ for the other.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones is missing his next spring training start because of elbow discomfort.
Jones went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA last season, combining with Paul Skenes to form an impressive rookie tandem on the mound in Pittsburgh, but now his status is uncertain just over a week before the season opener for the Pirates.
“He’s not going to make his next start in spring training,” manager Derek Shelton told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday. “That’s for sure. I think with that being said, we’re going to have to look at what happens going into the season.”
Todd Tomczyk, the team’s senior director of sports medicine, told reporters the team is currently awaiting a second opinion on Jones, who has had medical imaging done.
“We’re hopeful we’ll have a resolution in the coming days, at least what the next steps are,” Tomczyk said. “But we are in kind of a hold, in a waiting pattern, until we can get that additional read.”
The last time the Boston Red Sox earned the American League East crown, they won a franchise-record 108 games and went on to capture the World Series title. They won’t need to be historic to reclaim the division in 2025.
This year, the AL East is as open as it has been in years. The reigning division champion New York Yankees lost superstar Juan Soto in free agency and enter the season dealing with a slew of injuries. The Baltimore Orioles lost ace Corbin Burnes and didn’t make minimal upgrades outside of adding ex-Red Sox slugger Tyler O’Neill. The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays remain question marks, with neither expected to make a major step forward.
Meanwhile, Boston overhauled its starting rotation by acquiring Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler. They bolstered their lineup and infield defense with the signing of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, and they should benefit from the arrivals of top prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer. That should be enough to put them on par — or ahead — of their divisional foes.
So, how will the AL East standings shake out by October? Here’s our 2025 season prediction:
1. Boston Red Sox
2024 result: 81-81, third in AL East, missed postseason
2025 prediction: 93-69, first in AL East
Yes, you read that correctly: the Red Sox win their first division crown since 2018, and that isn’t as bold a prediction as it may seem.
Unlike in recent years, there’s no clear-cut powerhouse in the division. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles aren’t as intimidating heading into 2025, while the Red Sox made major upgrades across the board.
The starting rotation now boasts a legitimate Cy Young candidate in Garrett Crochet and a two-time World Series champion in Walker Buehler. Offensively, the addition of veteran Alex Bregman adds another elite bat to what could be one of the league’s most dangerous lineups.
Bregman also solves Boston’s defensive woes at third base, one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in 2024. His arrival likely shifts Rafael Devers to designated hitter, a move the slugger may not embrace but one that improves the team overall.
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Two-time World Series champion Alex Bregman will play a significant role in the Red Sox lineup, the infield, and the clubhouse.
Then there’s the youth movement. Top prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer are knocking on the door. If even one of them lives up to the hype, this Red Sox offense could rank among the top three in MLB.
That said, there are concerns, especially in the bullpen. Boston lost Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin, and will rely on veterans Aroldis Chapman and Liam Hendriks to stabilize the late innings. If they falter, the Red Sox could struggle to close out games.
Still, the Red Sox took a step forward last season and with several significant upgrades, they should take an even bigger leap in 2025.
2. Baltimore Orioles
2024 result: 91-71, second in AL East, lost to Kansas City Royals in Wild Card Series
2025 prediction: 89-73, second AL East
The O’s still have arguably the best lineup in the division despite losing slugger Anthony Santander in free agency to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Young shortstop Gunnar Henderson is a perennial MVP candidate and Adley Rutschman is a top-five catcher in baseball. Colton Cowser was the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up and Jordan Westburg made a name for himself as one of the best young infielders in the sport in Year 2 of his career. Jackson Holliday still has superstar potential after a disappointing rookie campaign.
The concern? Pitching. Losing Corbin Burnes was a massive blow, and they didn’t replace him with a true ace. That leaves Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, and 41-year-old Charlie Morton to lead the rotation.
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The Orioles’ young, loaded lineup makes them the Red Sox’ biggest competition in the AL East for 2025.
However, Baltimore’s bullpen could be a strength with closer Félix Bautista returning from injury. If their starting pitching holds up, the Orioles will be the Red Sox’ stiffest competition for the division crown.
3. New York Yankees
2024 result: 94-68, first in AL East, lost to Los Angeles Dodgers in World Series
2025 prediction: 87-75, third in AL East
The Yankees are in rough shape heading into 2025, and not just because they failed to re-sign superstar Juan Soto in free agency.
Their ace Gerrit Cole will miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. While prized offseason addition Max Fried should help pick up the slack atop the rotation, Cole’s injury is the tip of the iceberg.
Right-hander Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, is expected to be sidelined until June with a lat strain. Veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton has torn tendons in both elbows and will start the year on the injured list. Infielder DJ LeMahieu will miss time with a calf strain.
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The Yankees will need another historic season out of Aaron Judge in 2025.
Even when healthy, this Yankees’ lineup isn’t exactly Murderers’ Row. Two-time MVP Aaron Judge is the only player on the projected Opening Day roster who posted an OPS above .800 last season. Plenty will be put on his shoulders as he looks to carry the group without Soto and Stanton.
Offseason additions Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt could help, but both are coming off down seasons. If Goldschmidt continues to decline at age 37, he could be more of a liability than an asset.
The Yankees still have enough talent to compete for a Wild Card spot, but their injuries and roster turnover will likely keep them from contending for the division title.
4. Tampa Bay Rays
2024 result: 80-82, fourth in AL East, missed postseason
2025 prediction: 84-78, fourth in AL East
The Rays missed the postseason last year for the first time since 2018, largely due to injuries and the Wander Franco scandal. This season, their success hinges on ace Shane McClanahan returning to All-Star form after Tommy John surgery, offseason additions Danny Jansen and Ha-Seong Kim adding offensive production, and top prospects Junior Caminero and Curtis Mead making an impact.
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Two-time All-Star southpaw Shane McClanahan rejoins the Rays rotation after missing the entire 2024 season.
The biggest issue? The lineup. Tampa Bay scored the second-fewest runs in MLB last season and didn’t make major offensive upgrades.
The Rays could sneak into a Wild Card spot if everything breaks right, but another fourth-place finish seems more likely.
5. Toronto Blue Jays
2024 result: 74-88, fifth in AL East, missed postseason
2025 prediction: 79-83, fifth in AL East
The Blue Jays improved in the offseason after their last-place AL East finish, signing ex-Orioles slugger Anthony Santander, All-Star middle infielder Andres Gimenez, future Hall-of-Fame righty Max Scherzer, and stud reliever Jeff Hoffman in free agency. But will that be enough?
Their two best players Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are scheduled to become free agents after the season. If the club gets off to a slow start, it won’t be long before we start talking about a fire sale in Toronto.
To avoid that scenario, the Jays will need a bounce-back year out of Bichette while newcomers Santander and Gimenez add pop to the lineup. Scherzer must stay healthy while Bowden Francis builds off a breakout 2024 campaign behind Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt in the rotation.
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Vladimir Guerrero could be on the trade block this summer if Toronto struggles in the first half.
Toronto’s performance over the first two months will determine the organization’s short and long-term fates. While there’s enough talent on the roster to rebound from their lackluster 2024, we’d bet on the Blue Jays being among the more active clubs at the July trade deadline. That makes them our pick to place last in the division for the second straight year.
Matthew Pouliot
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