TEMPE, - MARCH 16: A general view of the field prior to the 2024 Spring Breakout Game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Marison Bilagody/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The first game of the spring for the Dodgers is finally here on Saturday afternoon, with a bus ride to Tempe to face the Angels at Diablo Stadium.
José Soriano will start on the mound for the Angels, who according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register “will have almost their entire projected everyday lineup when they face the Dodgers in the first Cactus League exhibition game on Saturday,” though Mike Trout is not expected to start.
Austin Wells challenged a pitch in the fourth inning, trying to get a ball turned into a strike for his pitcher, Jake Bird.
Austin Wells is pictured during the Yankees’ spring training session Feb. 15. Charles Wenzelberg
But the ABS system showed Bird’s curveball was, in fact, well below the zone, as the Yankees lost a challenge.
Caught my eye
Center fielder Kenedy Corona provided the web gem of the day, diving into the gap to make a grab and rob Pete Alonso of extra bases.
The non-roster invitee won a minor league Gold Glove in 2023.
Tomorrow’s schedule
Top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange will start the Yankees’ Grapefruit League home opener against the Tigers, with Aaron Judge among the regulars expected to be in the lineup.
Nolan McLean and Juan Soto had an epic 10-pitch battle during the Mets' spring training session Friday.
Observations from Mets’ spring training on Thursday:
Old school
There was no ABS during Friday’s live batting practice at-bat between Juan Soto and Nolan McLean.
When there was a questionable call, Soto suggested a game of Rock Paper Scissors.
Juan Soto reacts during the Mets’ live batting practice on Feb. 20, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY PostNolan McLean throws a pitch during live batting practice on Feb. 20. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Soto won the contest, which led to a 10-pitch battle between the two that featured nothing but fastballs and ended in a Soto groundout.
Heads up
Ben Rortvedt, who battled plenty of injuries during his two years with the Yankees, managed to hit his head — twice — on a camera attached to the net right behind home plate during an at-bat in live batting practice.
Fortunately, he escaped unscathed as he looks to stick with the Mets after joining the organization last week.
Caught my eye
Brett Baty is dealing with right hamstring discomfort, but he’s been able to get in some work at first base as he looks to gain more versatility.
He’s looked fairly comfortable there in early drills.
Saturday’s schedule
It’s the Mets’ Grapefruit League opener against Miami at Clover Park at 1:10 p.m.
Lefty Brandon Waddell is set to get the start for the Mets, with at least several regulars expected to be in the lineup.
SARASOTA, Fla. — In case there was any doubt left that Pete Alonso has moved on from the Mets and embraced his new home, he was in the middle of an interview — after staying in his spring debut with the Orioles an extra inning so he could crush a home run — when he stopped in his tracks.
John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” the song played during the seventh-inning stretch of every game at Camden Yards, came on the speakers at Ed Smith Stadium.
“I really love this song,” a grinning Alonso said. “This is going to be really fun this year.”
Pete Alonso rounds the bases after homering for the Orioles’ 2-0 spring training win over the Yankees on Feb. 21, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
No, the slugging first baseman is not in Queens anymore.
Alonso is still wearing orange (a slightly different shade) and beating up on the Yankees (albeit this time in a game that did not count), but he looked right at home in an Orioles uniform as he delighted his new fans by doing what he does best: crushing baseballs.
“I feel honored to wear it,” Alonso said during the Orioles’ 2-0 win over the Yankees. “I feel great in it. I feel like I look good in it. It’s fantastic, I honestly couldn’t feel any better.”
Most of the Orioles regulars exited the Grapefruit League opener after the fifth inning, but Alonso wanted to stay in one more frame so he could take another at-bat. He had been robbed of extra bases in his second at-bat, on a diving grab by center fielder Kenedy Corona, but made the third one worth it.
He saw a curveball over the plate from non-roster right-hander Bradley Hanner and clobbered it 107.2 mph over the left-field fence.
It offered a reminder of the challenge the Yankees will be facing twice as often this season than when Alonso was with the Mets, though he still did plenty of damage then — clubbing 11 home runs in 32 career games in the Subway Series.
First baseman Pete Alonso flies out to center field during the third inning of the Orioles’ spring training win over the Yankees on Feb. 21, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I feel like he’s done some damage against us — he’s hurt us,” manager Aaron Boone said before the game. “He’s gotten some big hits against us, some big homers against us. So hopefully we can do a better job of slowing him down a little bit. But he’s a huge presence in a lineup, and a guy that’s been incredibly durable, too. He’s a guy that goes to the post all the time. To have that 40-homer guy in the middle, night in and night out, lengthens their lineup.
“And it’s a lineup over there that has a chance to be really good.”
The Orioles-Yankees rivalry is a little different than Mets-Yankees, but Alonso said he was looking forward to it.
“It’s always fun because Yankee Stadium, it’s a really great place to play, fun place to hit,” he said. “Obviously they have really good teams. When you play against good teams, it makes for good competition.
“For me, I’m looking forward to this next chapter. It’s going to be really exciting going to war with this team that we got here. I’m really excited.”
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 12: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees works out during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 12, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Yankees ace Gerrit Cole crossed off another milestone in his recovery from Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2025. For the first time since going under the knife, the 35-year-old righty faced hitters, and it went as well as one could have expected. The 2023 AL Cy Young threw an inning and about 20 pitches, facing hitters such as Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, and Jasson Dominguez. He struck out the center fielder, induced Judge to hit a grounder to second, and allowed hard contact to the Martian to round out the day.
Cole’s fastball sat in the 95-96 mph range, awfully encouraging at this time of the year. He won’t be ready for the start of the season, but should be back once he is fully stretched out, probably around late April.
Brendan Kuty on X: Everybody in attendance was impressed with Cole’s live batting practice session, his first after blowing up his elbow last spring. One of them, of course, was Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
“It looked like the old 45 that I’ve seen for years,” Judge said about his teammate. With his fastball sitting in the mid-90s and touching 96 mph, it’s a matter of making sure Cole’s command is on point and his breaking stuff rebounds all the way back after surgery, plus stretching out to a full starter’s workload. That could take a few weeks, but things are trending in the right direction. Can Cole and Judge lead the Yankees to the promised land?
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees had their spring training debut on Friday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium, losing 2-0 to the Baltimore Orioles. A Pete Alonso two-run shot versus Bradley Hanner was the difference between the two teams. Prospect Elmer Rodríguez stole the show for the Yankees, touching 97 mph on the radar gun and tossing three scoreless frames. He conceded just three hits and no walks, striking out one. He looked in control for most of the afternoon, and his stuff was crisp.
“It felt good,” Rodríguez told Hoch. “That first inning, my adrenaline was high in the moment, but I was able to use it and channel it, and use it to my advantage.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Amed Rosario, Austin Wells, and José Caballero played on Friday, and Jake Bird contributed a scoreless frame in relief. Carson Coleman struck out the side in the seventh.
Five months later, entering a vital contract year, the Yankees star is already jumping ahead to talk of a 50-50 season, which has only been done once in the history of the game, by Shohei Ohtani.
“I’m not going to say nothing that I don’t think I can do,” he said after getting on base twice in his spring debut, a 2-0 loss to the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. “I’m always going to speak positive into the atmosphere. I’m never going to tell myself or tell anybody that, ‘Oh, I’m just going to have a year where I hit 10 home runs and hit .250.’ Who does that sound like? A loser. That’s a loser.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. swings during the Yankees’ Feb. 20 spring training game. Imagn Images
“I’m going to go shoot for the stars and if I miss, I’m going to end up on the moon.”
The Yankees would certainly take the moon, with Chisholm coming off a season in which he hit 31 home runs and stole 31 bases despite missing a month with an oblique injury and not attempting a steal for another month while he played through a groin issue.
Chisholm is heading into his final year under club control, and while hundreds of millions of dollars could be waiting on the other side of it, he is planning on using the pressure of such a big season to his advantage.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is pictured during a Feb. 11 workout at spring training. Charles Wenzelberg
“I think that brings out the best in me,” he said. “The contract year is even better for me. I like pressure. I like going out there and having to play for something, having to go and do it. Go win games and make it meaningful every day. That’s what baseball’s supposed to be about. You play for people, you play for your family, you play for your friends at home and you play for the team you’re wearing every time you go out there. And also, you play for yourself.
“At the end of the day, when you’re going out there and doing all that, how can you not get pumped up and excited and enjoy the ride? It’s just like a roller coaster. If you don’t enjoy the ride, it’s going to suck. But when you enjoy the ride, it’s one of the best rides of your life.”
Chisholm also added that he will be playing this season for his best friend growing up, who died unexpectedly last year.
“That’s what I’m really playing this year for is my best friend, that he is not going to get to see me go into free agency,” he said. “He’s not going to get to see me sign the long-term deal we’ve been talking about since I was kid. He’s not going to be able to see a lot of things that I do and it sucks. I wish he was here. I still miss him to this day. So yeah, that’s who I play for.”
Jake Bird threw a scoreless inning of relief, allowing only an infield single that he quickly erased on a double play.
Feb 19, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani poses for a portrait during photo day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
According to the latest Depth Charts projections from FanGraphs, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is forecasted to lead all of Major League Baseball in 2026 with 48 home runs, 119 RBIs, 129 runs scored and a thunderous .599 slugging percentage.
His projected .983 OPS trails only one hitter in the model. In other words, the machines and algorithms are predicting dominance.
Again.
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is forecasted to lead all of Major League Baseball in 2026 with 48 home runs. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Ohtani already finished among MLB’s elite offensive leaders last season, pacing the league in runs scored, and finishing second in slugging percentage behind only Aaron Judge. His 55 home runs were two more than Judge, but he finished third behind Cal Raleigh (60) and Kyle Schwarber (56).
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts — who has guided Los Angeles to back-to-back World Series titles, and multiple pennants — doesn’t mince words when discussing his generational talent. He has called Ohtani “the best player that’s ever played this game.” Hyperbole? Maybe. But the résumé keeps stacking.
Ohtani already finished among MLB’s elite offensive leaders last season. Jason Szenes for CA Post
The betting markets agree. Ohtani currently sits atop National League MVP odds at -125, and if his arm cooperates, Cy Young whispers won’t be far behind. Imagine a season where 45-plus homers meets 180 strikeouts on the mound. That isn’t fantasy baseball. That’s the Ohtani proposition.
In Los Angeles, expectations don’t scare anyone. They fuel October dreams. And if the projections hold, 2026 won’t just be another MVP chase — it could be baseball history unfolding in real time.
New York Mets Pitcher Devin Williams throws live batting practice during Spring Training at Clover Field, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
PORT ST. LUCIE — There wasn’t much good to take from Devin Williams’ lone season with the Yankees, a season in which he lost the closer job twice and hardly resembled the dominant reliever he’d been for most of his career in Milwaukee.
But as Williams settles into his new home with the Mets, he believes at least one good thing from last year follows him to Queens.
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“Mental toughness,’’ Williams said following the team’s workout Friday at Clover Park. “I wasn’t executing and I was getting bad results. It got pretty tough there, but I got through it and was throwing the ball really well by the end of the year.”
Williams is hoping the fact he finished the regular season with nine straight scoreless appearances, mostly setting up closer David Bednar, and four more in the playoffs, proves that he was able to put his 2025 struggles behind him.
“Probably that last stretch of games, that was me, that’s my standard,’’ Williams said. “I was executing the way I need to.’’
New York Mets Pitcher Devin Williams throws live batting practice during Spring Training at Clover Field, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
And now he’s back closing games, with Edwin Díaz having left for the Dodgers shortly after Williams signed with the Mets.
He said he’s ready for the challenge.
“You’re gonna fail,’’ Williams said. “[Stuff] got really bad for a little bit last year, but I’m still me. I’m still the same guy. I’m still really good at this game.”
“He’s been a guy,” Carlos Mendoza said of Williams’ status as one of the top closers in the game. “Last year wasn’t easy for him at the beginning and he made some adjustments.”
Last year’s experience may end up helping him going forward. “You’re always going to have adversity,’’ Williams said. “That was the toughest it’s been for me in the big leagues.”
But he noted it wasn’t the lowest point of his career, instead pointing to 2018, when he was still in the lower level of the minors with the Brewers, coming off Tommy John surgery and had a terrible season.
“There were times I was ready to quit in ’18,’’ Williams said. “I came back from [surgery] and I was terrible and wanted to go home. Every day wasn’t good. But I got through that, got to the big leagues [in 2019] and the rest is history.”
New York Mets Pitcher Devin Williams walks through the dugout during Spring Training at Clover Field, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Port St. Lucie, FL. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Just as he hopes 2025 is history for him, too.
It will take some time before Brett Baty gets some reps in right field, where he will be in the mix for playing time once his balky right hamstring fully heals.
Mendoza said Friday that they are focused on getting Baty reps in the infield — where he has been working at first base — before getting him in the outfield.
But Mendoza is confident Baty will be able to make the transition for one main reason. “The athleticism,’’ the manager said.
And he pointed to what Baty was able to do last year as a reason, as Baty moved from third base to second without much of an issue.
“We didn’t know which way it was gonna go when we asked him to play second base,’’ Mendoza said. “It’s not an easy position, especially when you’re used to playing on the left side and a corner position.”
Baty “made that transition easily,’’ according to Mendoza.
Baty played some outfield in the minors, most recently starting games there in 2022 with Double-A Binghamton.
“He’s familiar with the outfield,” Mendoza said. “Now we’ve got to get him reads with angles. He enjoys being that type of player and he takes it personally.”
Peoria, Ariz. - February 12: Jagger Haynes #79 of the San Diego Padres looks on during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Spring Training is officially upon us! The wintry woes of the offseason are behind us as San Diego Padres faced off against the Seattle Mariners at their shared complex in Peoria, Ariz. for the first game of the year. Baseball is back!
While a great deal of prospects got plenty of use today, and will continue to get looked at this preseason. One in particular, Jagger Haynes, held his ground and did a fantastic job facing a (mostly MLB-starting) Seattle lineup.
Play-by-play of today’s game
Across two innings, Haynes allowed two singles in the first, and a single and home run in the second. Admittedly, that line doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. But there’s more nuance to the situation than just that line.
To start the game, Haynes allowed a single from the leadoff hitter, Luke Raley. After that he got Mariners superstar Cal Raleigh to fly out before giving up another single to Julio Rodríguez. With two on and two outs, he induced a double play from Josh Naylor to end the inning.
When he came back in the second, he made quick work of his first two batters. Randy Arozarena lined out and J.P Crawford struck out. Haynes then got Dominic Canzone to hit a fly ball where an easy catch could have ended the inning, but left fielder Nick Schnell lost the ball in the sun and was unable to complete the inning-ending catch.
Due to that error, Haynes had to continue pitching and now had Canzone on first base. He immediately gave up a home run to Michael Arroyo before getting Colt Emerson to fly out to right field to end it.
It’s hard to speak to how difficult it is to regroup mentally after an error like that, but for Haynes to immediately end the inning after giving up a two-run home run (to a batter he wasn’t even supposed to face) was an indicator of the mental fortitude Haynes has.
Haynes’ minors career
Across his last three years in the San Diego organization, he has spent time in three different levels of the minors, owning a 4.33 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP. Again, the numbers aren’t inspiring, but his ability to come back from Tommy John surgery in 2021, especially after a long rehabilitation process, is.
After being drafted in 2020, Haynes lost out on the ‘21 and ‘22 season and had to wait to pitch for the organization until the 2023 season. But since joining the Friars at the minor league level, he has shown himself to be a worthwhile prospect.
Obviously, today’s game is a small sample size, it’s only two innings after all. But the stuff that Haynes put on display showed he is beginning to make a case to join the major league roster in the next few years (maybe even getting a call up later this year in the dog days of summer). Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see what the season has in store for Haynes in the Padres’ organization.
Peoria, AZ - February 20: Jose Miranda #64 o the San Diego Padres celebrates a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game on February 20, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
For an offense that finished 2025 at the bottom of the league in slugging (22nd) and home runs (28th), it was nice to see the San Diego Padres produce their first runs of Cactus League play on the strength of a solo home run from Romeo Sanabria in the top of the sixth inning and a two-run home run from Jose Miranda in the top of the seventh inning during their 7-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on Friday. Of course, Sanabria and Miranda will not be everyday players for the Padres, but it could indicate the offensive approach in San Diego is changing or has changed under new hitting coach Steven Souza Jr.
The lineup definitely changed under new Padres manager Craig Stammen and it was a welcome sight for Padres fans who watched former manager Mike Shildt refuse to move Luis Arraez out of the second spot in the lineup despite his struggles last season. Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. were the top four in the lineup, and they produced just one hit on an infield single to start the game by Bogaerts. Jake Cronenworth, Nick Castellanos, Luis Campusano, Ty France and Nick Schnell combined to add just two more hits in the contest.
Hitters often take longer to find their swing in Spring Training and with this being the first game of the spring, there is no reason to get too excited about the success of Sanabria and Miranda or too upset about the stat lines of the big names at the top of the lineup. Cronenworth was the only other regular in the San Diego lineup to record a hit, but he should have had two and two RBI. It took a diving play in the first inning by Seattle right fielder Dominic Canzone to keep Cronenworth off the basepaths and the Padres off the scoreboard. Cronenworth hit the ball well in his two plate appearances.
Castellanos, who got the start at first base, made two nice plays of his own on defense in the bottom of the fourth inning. The first play required him to range to his right to field a ground ball off the bat of J.P. Crawford and then make an underhand throw to pitcher Wandy Peralta who was covering first base for the first out of the inning. The second play resulted in the final out of the inning. Castellanos made a diving play to his right on a hard ground ball by Colt Emmerson with a runner on second base, recovered and made an overhand throw to Peralta at first to end the frame and keep the Mariners from adding to their 3-0 lead.
Stammen was unable to get his first win as a manager in the first game of the spring season, but he and the Padres will have another chance when San Diego plays the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz. on Saturday at 12:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox's Munetaka Murakami, of Japan, watches the flight of his two-run double against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz.
Munetaka Murakami had a booming spring training debut with the White Sox on Friday — but traffic almost blocked it from happening.
Around 30 minutes before the first pitch of the White Sox’s 8-1 Cactus League win over the Cubs, the team announced that Murakami was a healthy scratch due to the Japanese slugger being stuck in a traffic jam.
Just moments later, however, Murakami was back in Chicago’s starting lineup.
Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami, of Japan, watches the flight of his two-run double against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. AP
“Oh my god!” Murakami said in English, per MLB.com.
“I was so concerned if I could make it on time,” he continued through interpreter Kenzo Yagi. “There was a big accident on the highway, and I was just concerned the whole time. I was actually in the car until 12:50 [p.m., 15 minutes before first pitch].”
Although not being fully prepared for the game, Murakami showed why the White Sox signed him this offseason.
In his second at-bat, the first baseman blasted a single to center with a 108.3 mph exit velocity, according to Statcast.
Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) hits against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Sloan Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
For his next at-bat, Murakami launched a two-run double to center field after Cubs outfielder — and fellow World Baseball Classic Team Japan teammate — Seiya Suzuki lost the ball in the sun.
After the game, Suzuki jokingly told reporters that he is not supporting Murakami following his fly ball.
“After the pop-up, I hate him. So I’m not going to support him,” Suzuki told reporters through an interpreter before adding, “I’m just kidding.”
White Sox manager Will Venable praised Murakami’s “adaptability and flexibility” to the MLB ahead of his first season in the United States.
“You’ve got to give Mune a lot of credit,” Venable said. “This guy is so committed and such a professional. We’ve asked him to do some things that he hasn’t necessarily been accustomed to, and how he prepares and his adaptability and flexibility to do those things has been awesome.”
The White Sox signed Murakami to a two-year deal worth $34 million in December after he received interest from several MLB teams.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: The scoreboard at Truist Park is seen during an Automated Ball-Strike system challenge during the eighth inning of the MLB All-Star Game on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season, we will get our first official taste of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) in Major League Baseball. It has been used in the minors, and was used in the Arizona Fall League the last few years, but will officially be making its MLB debut this year.
Here’s the overview: each team has two challenges on an umpire’s ball-strike call per game. However, only pitchers, catchers and batters can appeal. If they do, ABS is used to determine whether the appeal is justified. If so, that team get to retain the challenge.
Yesterday, we saw its first action of it in the Rockies-Diamondbacks game. The Dbacks challenged three times and the Rockies challenged twice. The teams went 4-1 in their challenges.
Each challenge takes a few seconds, but it gives players a chance to challenge a call, which hasn’t happened in the past. In the Fall League, it looked a “checked swing” challenge was also being developed, but that won’t be added this spring.
So, Purple Row Night Owls, what are you thoughts on ABS? If you watched the game earlier today, what are your impressions? Do you like it, or do you worry it’ll slow down the game (after Rob Manfred added things like the pitch clock to speed up games)?
Jun 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) emerges from the dugout to warm up before facing the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Writing out Logan Webb’s statline just now made me giggle. A 2.60 FIP in 207 innings? That’s not real. That’s silly. On the other hand, that sort of feeling generally defines the feeling of Logan Webb pitch. A guy who has been so dominant as a groundball pitcher that it almost feels like a fluke. And then he goes and leads the National League in strikeouts in 2025 and posting the best K/9 of his career. It’s hard not to land from the bird’s eye view of his year and think, “He can do everything!” So, it felt appropriate to (finally) end our season reviews with him.
He is the best and, certainly, the most important Giant. The perfect Giant. If the team did not have him, then in any season post-2021 there would’ve been no thought or even hope that they could contend. Certainly not for the division (for the truly delusional set of fans out there) and not for the third Wild Card deep into September (the median hope). The franchise has come to count on his innings. He is a load-bearing talent, even as ownership has all but expressed resentment over having to pay him.
2025 didn’t add to or even cement Logan Webb’s reputation across the industry or San Francisco. He did that at some point near the end of 2023. Instead, the season was yet another reminder that the Giants have a genuine talent in the fold and they’d do well to get him back into the postseason as quickly as possible. For fans who can still remember the championship era, it’s very hard not to go absolutely wild imagining how Postseason Webb might look, leading a team that has a lineup with Rafael Devers in it.
Was it a perfect season? Not exactly. In February, Steven Kennedy wrote this detailed analysis of Logan Webb’s changeup, a critical pitch in his arsenal that had faltered in 2024.
Obviously, Webb has expressed frustration with how the pitch performed last year. Though the league took some serious strides, it wasn’t just an improved plate approach that sent the pitch spiraling. Something was off. Something was weird, an apt word for the change-up’s mercurial nature. On the surface though, there was nothing noticeably problematic. Nothing as obvious as lack of command, leaving the pitch up in the zone, or throwing with his left arm instead of his right. Webb did mention to Andrew Baggarly that he made a minor grip adjustment to “restore some of its familiar fading action.” Though the induced movement between 2023 and 2024 seem pretty comparable, there is an inch-and-a-half of lost horizontal run evident in the year-to-year numbers.
Oh, wait, no Webb wound up totally fixing the changeup, getting the veritcal movement (6.1”) right back in line with 2023 (6.2”) and plussing the run value from +1 in 2024 to +11 in 2025. Admittedly, it was +30 in 2023, but still, that’s a massive improvement year over year. Also, Statcast’s Run Value is context-dependent, meaning the situation matters, so there’s perhaps a little bit of evidence that, despite executing the pitch better than the year before, the league has adjusted and can recognize it better or understand how it moves or simply knows when in a sequence he’s most likely to use it.
As great as the final line was, it’s worth pointing out that Webb’s total arsenal run value wound up just +12. That’s not just the changeup (+11), but the sinker (+7), the four-seamer (+0), the sweeper (-2), and the cutter (-4). The total run value of his arsenal was +23 the year before and +29 the year before. That’s a definite trendline worth keeping an eye on over the course of the season.
This review wouldn’t dare suggest that the Giants’ ace is on some sort of decline… even if he had the second-worst second half of his career. I mean… it was still pretty good, but here are some numbers:
I mean, look at that… it’s terrible, right? What a collapse.
Okay, in all seriousness, though, that second half saw him throttled by the Blue Jays in Toronto (11 hits in 6 IP with 4 ER and just 1 strikeout), blasted by the New York Mets in Oracle (8 hits and 6 ER in 4 IP), frustrated by the Padres in Oracle (8 hits and 4 ER in 6.1 IP with just 3 K), and bookending this trio of letdowns during a key run of games were a pair of pastings by those Los Angeles Bums.
The Giants wound up winning the game where allowed 6 earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Dodgers in Oracle on July 11th, and that was a game where Webb seemed to run out of gas. With an 8-2 lead in the 6th, he hit Mookie Betts, gave up back-to-back doubles to Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez and then gave up a 2-run home run to Michael Conforto. Okay, well, you know what? Michael Conforto was a corpse for all of last year except when he played the Giants, so, maybe I won’t hold that start against him.
The September start in Oracle, when the Giants had managed to recover a bit of their record and headed into the contest 75-72 having won game one of the series, was perhaps an even greater letdown. The Giants scored 4 in the bottom of the 1st to jump ahead 4-1, but then in the 5th, he walked Mookie Betts to lead it off, gave up a single to Freddie Freeman, then a walk to Max Muncy, and that was that. Jose Butto came in and did not do the job, and Webb would get tagged with 6 earned runs on top of 10 hits in just 4 completed innings of work.
He’d turn it around five days later in Dodger Stadium, holding Los Angeles to just 2 runs (1 earned) in 7 innings of work, but as ace-y as he was all season, as truly great as he was overall, there were still some unfortunate hiccups along the way against superior opponents.
That’s probably been the knock against him over the years: he might be the Giants’ ace, but he’s not necessarily an ace in the way the industry thinks of one. For his part, he was 4th in NL Cy Young voting this year, the fourth year in a row in which he’s gotten Cy Young votes, but unable to crack the finalists list (Paul Skenes, Cristopher Sanchez, Yoshinobu Yamamato). He was an NL All-Star for the second straight season and won his first Gold Glove, too. For the third straight season, he led the National League in innings pitched and it was also the second time in three seasons that he led MLB in innings pitched.
An indication that he’s a perfect San Francisco Giant is in this note: two of his three best games of the season, according to Bill James’s Game Score (which Baseball Reference tracks), wound up being Giants losses:
April 7th against the Reds in San Francisco (Game Score: 79). He struck out 10 in 7 shutout innings and walked 0. The Giants lost 2-0.
June 2nd against the Padres in San Francisco (Game Score: 77). He struck out 7 in 8 shutout innings and walked 0. The Giants lost 1-0 in 10 innings.
Now, you might see that and think back to all of the tough losses Logan Webb has suffered throughout the years and think, “Well, sure. He’s the new Matt Cain.” And that’s a fair starting point. But Matt Cain never had the strikeout-ability that Logan Webb did or the ability to suppress home runs at the same level. So, I’d say he’s note quite Matt Cain. He’s certainly not Tim Lincecum, of course… or… the 2010-2011 versions of Tim Lincecum are an awfully interesting comparison. Which isn’t to say that we’ve been watching the next Tim Lincecum. No, what I mean to say is that we’ve been watching some third thing, a perhaps “holy” fusion of Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, a freak of his own flavor, frustrating hitters with groundballs when they’re not whiffing.
If you disagree with that imagery or assessment, I would hope you’d agree with me at the very least that he’s as important to the Giants as both of those pitchers were during their heyday. He compels the Giants to act — or stand pat! Why bring back Carlos Rodon? We have Logan Webb. Why stay entangled with Blake Snell? We have Logan Webb? Who needs Kevin Gausman? We’ve already got Logan Webb. Is that decision-making sound? Probably not, but Logan Webb keeps backing up their kinda nutty plan every single year. “Yeah, okay, maybe Robbie Ray doesn’t have to be that good or maybe Landen Roupp doesn’t have to become a #2 starter because we have Logan Webb.“ He’s so great that he simultaneously strengthens the team and papers over its weaknesses.
When you put it all together, it’s no wonder the Giants have pinned their entire present on Logan Webb. Every year, he shows the team that he’s perfect.
Peoria, AZ - February 20: Wandy Peralta #58 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game on February 20, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The days of trying to get a glimpse of a Michael King throwing session or Manny Machado participating in fielding drills are over. It is time to play baseball, as the Cactus League schedule kicked off today.
The next month is crucial for the San Diego Padres, as it leads up to hosting the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day, March 26, at Petco Park. The Friar Faithful hope this season’s roster will play with an edge.
But before the season opener, the Padres have three questions to answer:
Who is starting at 1B and DH?
The Friars have plenty of candidates (Nick Castellanos, Ty France, Miguel Andujar and Gavin Sheets) battling for these two positions in Peoria. The front office plans to let the Cactus League schedule unfold before deciding which player will be in the lineup to open the 2026 season.
Everyone has their own personal favorite for each position, but producing in Cactus League games will dictate who is starting on Opening Day. If I have to predict an early leaderboard, let’s put Castellanos at first base with France as his late-innings defensive replacement. Andujar and Sheets will platoon at the designated hitter position.
However, all is subject to change, especially if Castellanos has a few fielding mishaps while attempting to learn a new position. Padres manager Craig Stammen may opt to utilize his bat as a full-time DH to start a better defensive infield. No team can survive by giving their opponents extra outs in an inning.
One thing is for certain: Castellanos will have a major role in the Friars’ offense this season.
Who is the Padres’ fifth starter?
Like it or not, the fifth starter will have a pivotal role in the success of the 2026 Padres. The organization added Walker Buehler, German Marquez and Griffin Canning to an already crowded field, as Stammen has a major decision ahead of him.
Most teams prefer an experienced starting pitcher in the fifth starter’s role. They understand how to use their entire pitching repertoire to get batters out and earn a quality start. It may not be pretty, but a veteran starter knows how to avoid overworking a bullpen.
Too often, young starting pitchers are thrown into this role with no knowledge of how to pitch out of trouble. They stumble in their starts and leave a mess for the bullpen to clean up. Too many outs to record that reduces the effectiveness of the relievers moving forward through the season.
It is unclear if one of the losers in the starter competition will become the long-man out of the bullpen. Stammen does not have to make that decision at this time. It may come down to whether the pitcher has experience as a reliever.
The goal is to find a fifth starter who can exceed their 2026 innings threshold. Whatever direction the Friars go, they have enough quality candidates to choose from.
Will the final bench spot go to a glove or a bat?
The 2025 Padres bench can be characterized as a veteran group that struggled with offensive production. This year’s bench seems set with names from the first base and designated hitter competition. Other candidates include Sung-Mun Song and Luis Campusano, but Stammen has a tough decision for the final bench spot.
Often, the choice comes down to what the roster needs: a good glove or bat. Ideally, you want a seasoned veteran who is versatile enough to play multiple positions. Still, the candidate must be able to contribute at the plate.
Stammen’s decision may hinge on the number of relievers kept on the roster for the first few weeks of the regular season. With multiple off days, the Friars may be able to keep an extra position player on the bench. But that luxury will be short-lived.
The winner of this competition may not be known until the team is introduced to the Petco Park crowd.
No More Mister Nice Guy Dylan Carey goes yard. | Nebraska Athletics
In what was an evenly matched contest from the get-go, it was the little things that made a difference In Nebraska’s 4-2 loss to Louisville. Ty Horn and Ethan Eberle faced off, both of them coming up with huge pitches when they needed them. Both of them have pitched better than they did today, but what was on display was their toughness, which is fun to watch.
Horn was probably the sharper as he made big pitch after big pitch with runners on base throughout his five innings. The defense came up big as well with timely double plays and picking runners off base. With his pitch count running up, Horn came out for the 6th inning, but surrendered a lead-off double to cleanup batter Kade Elam. Coach Childress decided that his day was done and Horn walked off to a standing ovation from both fan bases.
Nebraska did not have a problem putting runners on base. They did not go three up, three down until the final inning. They had a chance to break it open in the top of the second as they loaded the bases with one out and Mac Moyer smoked one down the third base line. Bayram Hot, playing the hot corner for the Cardinals, made a diving grab on the grounder, hustled to his feet to step on third and fired it across the diamond just a split second before Moyer’s foot hit the bag.
The Big Red did strike first in the third with two outs and Joshua Overbeek and Dylan Carey hitting back-to-back singles. Designated hitter Cole Ktchens then got a single of his own to put the first run of the game up on the scoreboard.
The strikeout was Horn’s best friend today as twice he struck out Cardinals batters with two runners on base to end an inning. The double he gave up to Elam was his 80th pitch, which is plenty this time of the season.
Dylan “No More Mister Nice Guy” Carey added to the Cornhusker lead in the fifth with a home run the opposite way over the right-center field wall. Casey also singled in the third and doubled in the seventh.
With Horn out of the game, lefty Caleb Clark came in to hold the fort. Clark pitched well last weekend, and frankly, he didn’t pitch horrible today. However, the Baseball Gods have once again used Clark as their voodoo doll.
He walked the first batter he faced, but the base was open, so no harm no foul. Up came Jax Hisle, who hit a sharp hopper right back at Clark. Double play baby! No, that’s not what happened. The ball got to Clark really fast yet he rushed the throw to second base, sailing it to the left field side way out of reach of Carey. Lucas Moore, scored and there were two runners on and no outs.
The bullpen jumped into action and the Cornhuskers tried to buy time with visits to the mound. Clark gave up a single and the bases were loaded. This was make or break time for the veteran lefthander from Canada. He induced a pop up to Overbeek to get the first out and then Coach Childress opted to go right on right, bringing in Ryan Harrahill, who also pitched well las weekend. He got his first batter to pop up to third and Cornhusker fans rose to their feel to help him get the third out. It was not to be. The number nine batter in the lineup, Griffin Crain, ripped a double to put Louisville ahead 3-2.
The Cardinals added a run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Tague Davis, and that was basically all she wrote. Both teams went three up, three down the rest of the way and Louisville added a 4-2 victory in their win column.
Louisville is a strong baseball program, and most definitely the best team Nebraska has faced this season so far. Nebraska fans that are also College World Series fans are familiar with the Louisville Cardinals as they have made a number of appearances under Head Coach Dan McDonnell, who is in his 20th season leading the boys from Derby City. In fact, they played in one of the semifinals last year at The Chuck.
The Cornhuskers will be back at it tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. against the Kansas State Wildcats. There were a lot of purple fans piling in after the game but the bet is more Nebraska fans will show up tomorrow.
Notes:
I bagged on Jeter Worthley last weekend regarding the fact that teams were able to steal second base relatively easy. Lucas Moore swiped on in the first inning, but Worthley evened the score in the third inning, nailing him with a throw overturned on review. Actually, the throw was there in plenty of time. The tag was higher than one would like to see.
The DJ, or whatever you call the guy responsible for the music in a ballpark, at Globe Life Field was incredible. Good tunes throughout, and the right song at the right time. Aaron and I chuckled when Dylan Carey came to the plate and his walkup song was the 70’s Alice Cooper rocker No More Mister Nice Guy. Usually, media people send walkup songs and other music to these tournaments, so if Carey really did choose this song, my hat is tipped to him. Why? Because he has been too nice of a guy! We actually saw a little emotion out of him today as well.
