Category: Baseball

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: After winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2024, Luis Gil’s 2025 season was not what he wanted. Limited to just 11 starts last year due to injury, Gil’s looking forward to 2026 and so far the early returns of spring have been encouraging. Hoch also has some notes about Jasson Domínguez working to improve his hitting from the right side and the competition for the final spot on the bench with the rest of it mostly figured out.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: With a lot of hype surrounding the World Baseball Classic, it’s easy for players who aren’t participating to get some FOMO. Max Fried, recently announced as the Yankees’ Opening Day starter, spoke on this adding that anyone would want to play that type of competitive baseball, but he passed on the opportunity because he felt he wouldn’t be able to properly build up to that level of competition for March.

New York Post | Dan Kelly: A day after the news broke that Spencer Jones would start the year with Triple-A Scranton, he clobbered his fourth home run of the spring. Barring any significant injuries on the depth chart ahead of him, there was always almost no chance of him breaking camp with the big league club. Still though, his success this spring has given Jones a boost of confidence and he knows his task is not to focus on what he can’t control, but to focus on what he can. He wants to build off his breakout last year and work on being consistent.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: Speaking of the last bench spot, Randal Grichuk took some time to discuss his disappointing 2025 season which saw him garner almost no attention as a free agent. Supposedly the Yankees had initially offered him a major league contract towards the beginning of free agency, but he opted to see what his options were, and the Yankees went on to re-sign Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger, which left him settling for a minor league deal with the club. He seems to think his down year was just a fluke and that he still hit the ball hard. He feels confident in having a path to that last bench spot with the team and definitely feels like he can be a contributor.

Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and sit with us. You’re always welcome here. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last night I asked you what kind of a 2026 season you expect out of Shōta Imanaga. A majority of you are optimistic as 60 percent expect something more like his 2024 season and 40 percent think it will be more like his 2025 season.

On Tuesday nights, I don’t normally write about movies. But I always have time for jazz, so let’s get right to it. You can skip ahead if you want.

Here’s a new one from Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana from her brand new album Filin. Joining Aldana is Gonzalo Rubalcaba on piano, Peter Washington on bass and Kush Abadey on drums. This is “La Sentencia.”

This is a good one to relax to at the end of the day with a martini in hand.

Welcome back to everyone who skips all that jazz.

Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki is off to a strong start in the World Baseball Classic. So far, he’s 3 for 9 with two home runs, five walks and just one strikeout. He admittedly hasn’t faced the toughest pitching in the world, but it does seem like he’s locked in right now.

So that’s one reason for optimism on Suzuki. Another one is the introduction of the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) system. I can’t tell you if it’s true or not, but it is a general belief among Cubs fans that Suzuki has been the victim of far more than his fair share of bad strike calls. If he’s able to turn some of those strikes into balls, not only will he draw more walks, but he’ll get another chance to swing the bat. Some of those swings might be home runs.

Over his four seasons in MLB, Suzuki has hit:

2021: 14 HR in 446 plate appearances (3.1 HR percentage)

2022: 20 HR in 583 PA (3.4 HR%)

2023: 21 in 585 PA (3.6 HR%)

2024: 32 in 651 (4.9 HR%)

So Suzuki has improved every year in Chicago and he took a big leap forward last year. He had a much higher home run-to-fly ball ratio last year which might indicate that the power surge was just luck, except that he also had a massive increase in pull rate. Suzuki pulled the ball at a 41.7 percent rate last year as opposed to 33.7 percent in 2024.

So tonight’s question is how many home runs do you think that Suzuki will hit in 2026? Will he give back some of those gains he made last year? Maybe he’ll take advantage of the ABS system and build on his power. Or maybe he’ll just stay where he was in 2025, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Of course, there’s always the chance he gets injured and then he could be just as good as last year but still hit far fewer home runs.

So predict how many home runs Seiya Suzuki will hit in 2026?

Thanks for stopping by tonight. The place was better tonight for your presence. Please get home safely. We want to see you again later. Please recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.

It was another high-scoring affair for the White Sox (11-8), who broke up their win streak by dropping Tuesday’s matchup against the Athletics (8-10), 11-7. Each team played 18 position players and seven pitchers, and despite exchanging the lead back-and-forth for most of the game, the A’s were able to out-hit the South Siders 16-10, and the Sox beat themselves by committing three errors.

Shane Smith was on the mound and struggled through his 2 2/3 innings, walking four batters against two strikeouts, and two of the five hits he allowed were home runs. In 7 1/3 innings this spring, Smith’s ERA and WHIP have inflated to 9.82 and 2.05, respectively. Shane, unfortunately, also accounted for one of the errors on a pickoff to first, which led to two runs scoring on the next batter as Brent Rooker ripped a double to drive in two of his three RBIs. Smith would, however, end up actually picking off a batter in the second inning.

The bullpen didn’t fare much better. Garrett Schoenle, Mark McLaughlin, and Grant Taylor each blew a save, and the Good Guys surrendered five more runs after Smith’s exit. McLaughlin allowed one run while Taylor let two more in, and ultimately earned the loss.

Lefthander — and typically starting pitcher — Hagen Smith came in for the bottom of the eighth though he, too, wasn’t on his A-game, and he allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one before being yanked with two outs. Swapping out lefty for lefty, Rylan Kaufman re-entered the game to get the final out of the inning. Due to the pitching staff floundering throughout the game, the South Siders were hoping their offense could complete the comeback one last time. Spoiler alert, they didn’t.

Offensively, they had two three-run innings in the first and the third, but the A’s kept clawing back. Four of the 10 White Sox hits were for extra bases, including doubles from Lenyn Sosa, Miguel Vargas, and Ryan Galanie, with the fourth being a three-run bomb from Korey Lee that gave the lead back to the South Siders. Even with 10 hits and seven runs, only Vargas and Luisangel Acuña had multi-hit days, and the Good Guys went 4-for-14 (.286) with runners in scoring position and left another nine on base as a team.

Still holding a winning record in Spring Training, the White Sox will head back home to Camelback Ranch on Wednesday to take on the Los Angeles Angels. Southpaw Anthony Kay will make his fourth start and has been solid so far in Cactus League play, holding a 2.35 ERA.

The Colorado Rockies dropped their 2026 pre-season hype video on Monday morning.

Take a look:

I know it’s only 30 seconds, but there’s a lot going on here (in addition to the gorgeous shots of the Colorado mountains), and it’s worthwhile to sort through what the Rockies are telling fans about the coming season.

(Look, I’m an English major who really enjoys textual analysis.)

But before going into where the Rockies are now, think back to their last attempt to brand a rebuild, “Generation R.”

Here’s how Eddie Pells described it back in 2005: “If things go as planned this season, ‘Gen R’ as the new group of Rockies is being touted on billboards and newspaper ads around Denver will be scrappy, exciting and fun. And as most baseball fans know, ‘scrappy, exciting and fun’ is often the nice way of saying ‘not very good.’”

The advertising campaign met with some skepticism, even though the Rockies would be in the World Series two years later. But that initial resistance contributed to Dick Monfort’s unwillingness to call the last five years a rebuild.

But it’s a new day at 20th and Blake, and this front office is centering it.

The words

Here’s a transcript of Mike Casey’s narration:

Every climb has a beginning, a commitment to the hard work ahead and a belief that every step matters.

Success doesn’t happen overnight, but progress happens every day.

This is the start of our climb with our team, baseball at altitude here for the climb.

Begin by considering the central metaphor: a climb, which is a fitting image for a number of reasons.

First, it’s appropriate because this video promotes a team called “The Rockies,” which has mountains in its logo, and the mountains are a great place for a climb. Second, the outdoors is central to Colorado’s identity, and if you’ve ever taken a hike, you know it requires work, preparation, and determination. Third, a climb ties in to the mythic symbolism of a journey. This is the beginning of getting to another place — and learning some things along the way.

The words also urge fans to be patient: “Success doesn’t happen over night, but progress happens every day.” Plus, it’s a theme consistent with pretty much every interview we’ve conducted with the Rockies coaching and front office staff. All of them stress the need for players to put in the work and keep improving.

Now look at the third line: It’s our team and our journey.

In other words, the players and front office aren’t the only ones on this journey. Fans are participants, too, and part of the team. Plus, “our team” differentiates the 2026 Rockies from the ones that have gone before (and all that losing). As fans, you and I are participants in what’s next.

And then there’s the reference to “baseball at altitude,” which calls attention to the real challenge that has attracted president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes to Colorado: They want to see if they can figure out baseball at altitude.¹

The narrator then returns to the central metaphor of the climb/journey.

It works.

I don’t know much about music theory, but I know someone who does: Sam Bradfield, who was a music teacher in a former life. Here’s her analysis:

The music begins with a lone guitar, but the score gains intensity as the clip moves on and more instruments are added the mix. It uses the same three notes as a repeating ostinato, but the second time the first note is used, there is added emphasis (think: 1-4-5-1). Additionally, the notes they use are “perfect” intervals (fourths and fifths in music), which just means they would stay the same whether the score was in a major or minor key — nothing will change as long as you stay the course.

The ostinato sequences up in pitch briefly in the middle, but returns to “home base” one repetition later. Additionally — and most interestingly — the final repetition builds but doesn’t resolve (1-4-5-1-4-5) before the final beat cuts it off. To me, that signifies that the journey isn’t over, it’s just starting.

And finally, the orchestration is simple: guitar, percussion, and some light strings. While this is a “climbing” metaphor, it doesn’t feature soaring horns and sweeping strings. It keeps to its western roots, while still pushing us to start “the climb.”

The best music always reinforces the theme of a text, and you see that at work here.

The images

The graphics are very Colorado-centric, and they harken back not only to the Colorado outdoors but also to the Rockies City Connect uniforms, which symbolize Colorado sunsets.

Initially, the screen shows someone reading a map (just as DePodesta et al have begun mapping out how to build a winning team in Denver). Then there are shots of trees and snow and the trail. The climber laces up their shoes and pulls on a backpack over a black Colorado Rockies jersey.

They’re getting ready.

After that, the camera intersperses clips of Rockies players: Hunter Goodman holds a bat and wears purple pinstripes; Kyle Freeland looks up at the camera; and Ezequiel Tovar strikes a pose in his City Connects.

These are the three faces of the franchise the Rockies plan to promote at the beginning of the 2026 campaign: An All-Star catcher who just won a Silver Slugger; their hometown pitcher and 2018 Cy Young finalist, a bridge between that Rockies team and this one; and their Gold Glove-winning shortstop.

Clips are also inserted of unidentified players wearing Rockies gear.

And the video closes with this:

The trail is in the background, waiting for the viewer (and the team) to take the next steps and enter the scene while the purple logo appears on the screen: BASEBALL AT ALTITUDE: HERE FOR THE CLIMB.

The Colorado Rockies logo, which, of course, includes mountains, is superimposed on CLIMB linking the two ideas together: the team and the journey. It’s not just about rebuilding; it’s about rebuilding and solving the puzzle that is baseball at elevation.

Too, it’s an invitation for fans: Come with us. This journey won’t be for everyone because it’s going to be hard work, and it’s going to take time.

But we think you — like the team the Rockies are building — are up for the task.

Well done, atRockies.

I’m in.

¹ The correct term would be “elevation,” not altitude. I suspect the Rockies went with “altitude” because it’s closer to “attitude,” and it’s a common usage error.

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In his first appearance for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Mets young hurler Nolan McLean couldn't have asked for a better start.

Starting the final game of pool play against Team Italy, the 24-year-old struck out the side and needed just 11 pitches to do it while looking absolutely dominant.

McLean began his outing by striking out Jakob Marsee of the Miami Marlins on three pitches, getting him to freeze on a curveball on the outside corner. His next victim was veteran Jon Berti, who struck out swinging on a sweeper down and away. McLean then made quick work of the Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino by getting him to chase a curveball out of the zone.

Nolan McLean starts his night off with a strikeout! 🇺🇸

(via @WBCBaseball) pic.twitter.com/o1rCXNNQky

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 11, 2026

Nolan McLean gets two more Ks to strike out the side! 🇺🇸

(via @WBCBaseball) pic.twitter.com/PzBhGhCGQK

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 11, 2026

Tuesday's start is McLean's first appearance in a game since Feb. 26, when he pitched four scoreless innings against the Houston Astros. He allowed a hit and a walk in that outing while striking out six.

Keith Hernandez had some fun at the expense of his SNY broadcast partner Steve Gelbs after news broke that the Jets were bringing back Geno Smith. 

The pair were on the call for Tuesday’s spring training game between the Mets and Cardinals when Gelbs started to read a promo for the network’s “Jets Nation” free agency special and mentioned the surprising trade news that had broken earlier in the day. 

“Apparently, the Jets are trading for Geno Smith,” Gelbs said, sounding somewhat exasperated.

Hernandez responded by expressing curiosity over who the Jets traded in the deal. 

“I’d like to know who they trade,” he said. 

“I don’t expect it would be all that much,” Gelb responded. 

After the two learned the details — with New York getting a seventh-round pick and Las Vegas getting a sixth-rounder — of the deal between the Jets and Raiders, there was a brief silence, which then prompted Hernandez to troll Gelbs. 

Keith Hernandez asking Steve Gelbs if he’s okay after learning the Jets are trading for Geno Smith…“I can take over for you for a half inning if you want” pic.twitter.com/KvtEfnGbEx

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 10, 2026

“Steve, are you OK? I can take over for you for a half inning if you want here,” Hernandez joked. 

“It is what it is here,” Gelbs then said back, which led Hernandez to let out a big chuckle at his broadcast partner’s response. 

The Mets legend and World Series winner tried to give Gelbs, who is part of the Jets’ postgame show during NFL season, some positive comments afterward. 

Hernandez did note the successful stint Smith had after the Jets, but Gelbs noted the QB’s issues last season with the Raiders. 

“He really struggled last year, one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL,” Gelbs said.

The decision to bring Smith back was surprising after his first stint in the Big Apple didn’t go very well. 

Smith played for the Giants, Chargers, Seahawks, Broncos and Raiders to varying degrees of success. 

The QB had a rocky tenure with the Jets that is most remembered for the altercation he had with then-teammate IK Enemkpali when Smith was punched and broke his jaw.

Spring Breakout was created by Major League Baseball in 2024 to showcase baseball franchises’ best up-and-coming players.

The Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 in an event unlike anything we’ve seen before, and instantly became a hit.

The top prospects from the Pirates organization will play against the top talent from the Tigers organization this year.

It’s a rare time when recent draft picks like 2025 first-round pick right-hander Seth Hernandez can play in the same game as a player who has already made his MLB debut, but is still a prospect like infielder Nick Yorke.

Earlier this month, the Pirates announced 40 players on their 2026 Spring Breakout roster. The unit includes 16 pitchers, five catchers, 12 infielders, and seven outfielders.

All of the Pirates’ Top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, are listed on the team. One question surrounds No. 25 prospect, Jack Brannigan. Brannigan suffered a broken nose at the start of spring training.

The group is led by No. 1 overall prospect phenom Konnor Griffin. Right-handed pitchers Bubba Chandler (No. 2) and Seth Hernandez (No. 3), outfielder/first baseman Edward Florentino (No. 4), and lefty Hunter Barco (No. 5) round out the top five.

It’s a chance for fans across the country to see some of the biggest names in the organization all compete on the same field, potentially watching players they’ve heard much about for the first time. 

Baseball America ranked the Pirates as the No. 1 farm system in baseball earlier this year.

The Pirates battle the Tigers on March 20 at their spring training home, LECOM Park in Bradenton,

Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. and will air on SportsNet Pittsburgh. 

Full Spring Breakout roster:

Pitchers: 

RHP (13): Bubba Chandler, Brandon Bidois, Khristian Curtis, Wilber Dotel, Thomas Harrington, Seth Hernandez, Yonleg Gaetano, Antwone Kelly, Justin Meis, Jeter Martinez, Levi Sterling, Mike Walsh, Zander Mueth

LHP (3): Cy Nelson, Hunter Barco, Reinold Navarro

Catchers (5): Omar Alfonzo, Rafael Flores, Easton Carmichael, Edgleen Perez, Axiel Plaz

Infielders (12): Konnor Griffin, Termarr Johnson, Tony Blanco, Jack Brannigan, Duce Gourson, Murf Gray, Yordany De Los Santos, Michael Callan Moss, Darell Morel, Nick Yorke, Sammy Stafura, Wyatt Sanford 

Outfielders (7): Jhostynxon Garcia, Edward Florentino, Esmerlyn Valdez, Mitch Jebb, Titus Dumitru, Brian Sanchez, Will Taylor 

PHOENIX –– Despite his shaky start to spring training, the Dodgers have been steadfast about having Roki Sasaki in their opening day rotation.

On Tuesday afternoon, in a performance that Dodgers officials described as “electric,” the Japanese phenom finally started to validate that faith.

It was only a backfield B-game at Camelback Ranch. He was only facing minor-leaguers from the Chicago White Sox organization. But in a scoreless four-inning outing in which he allowed just one hit and struck out nine batters, Sasaki showed why manager Dave Roberts reaffirmed him as a virtual roster lock for the start of the season earlier in the morning.

“I just don’t see a world where he doesn’t break (camp) with us as a starter,” Roberts said in his pregame address with reporters, before later adding:  “I’m betting on the performance to continue to trend up, to be good enough (to be in the rotation), and to only get better with the talent that he has and the work that he’s put in.”

The fact Sasaki was relegated on Tuesday to backfield duty –– where he pitched against a White Sox lineup full of mostly double-A caliber talent, and in front of only a smattering of fans, team officials, scouts and autograph hounds –– was a reflection of the rough form he’d shown at the start of camp.

In each of his first two Cactus League starts, the 24-year-old right-hander had struggled to command his pitches, and his fastball especially, allowing a combined seven runs and five walks in just 3 ⅓ innings.

Even worse, his inefficient workload had complicated his primary objective this spring, needing to build up innings in his return to a starting role following last postseason’s cameo as emergency closer.

Thus, the Dodgers decided to stick Sasaki with the minor-leaguers on Tuesday, while Tyler Glasnow got the start in the team’s main game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Roberts described the decision as a way to ensure Sasaki would get through four innings, given the more controlled environment a B-game allows.

Still, it also felt like a chance for the Dodgers to take some pressure off the second-year fireballer, and shield him from the spotlight as he continues to refine his delivery.

“Command the fastball, use the split, use his breaking ball to get through the lineup, and get through four innings,” Roberts said ahead of Sasaki’s outing. “That’s what the goal is today.”

For the most part, Sasaki checked all those boxes.

He was erratic with his fastball early, but gradually dialed in his command while hitting 98-100 mph on the radar gun.

His trademark splitter and newly-added cutter left White Sox prospects looking overmatched and helpless, accounting for the majority of the 17 whiffs that helped him breeze through his outing.

The lone hit he gave up came to his first batter of the game, on a ground-ball single through the right side of the infield. After that, he struck out seven in a row and nine of his final 12 batters, allowing only one more baserunner when he plunked a hitter in the third.

Most importantly, Sasaki emerged from the afternoon feeling confident about the latest adjustments he has made to his mechanics.

“Yesterday and the day before, the process of making adjustments didn’t go well,” he said in Japanese. “But the fact it was good today means … I responded with results. I needed that right now.”

Roberts agreed, downplaying a question about the quality of competition Sasaki faced on Tuesday by pointing to the way it could provide him renewed confidence –– and catapult him through the final two weeks leading up to opening day.

“There’s still value to getting hitters out and seeing guys swing and miss,” Roberts said. “We accomplished what we wanted to.”

“Couldn’t have asked for a better day,” he added.

Team USA is 3-0 thus far in Pool B and can win the pool and advance to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals with a win Tuesday night against 2-0 Italy. Will Smith is back in the lineup behind the plate and batting fifth.

Tuesday game info

• Event: World Baseball Classic, Pool B
• Teams: United States vs. Italy
• Ballpark: Daikin Park, Houston
• Time: 6 p.m. PT
• TV: FS1
• Radio: MLB Audio, Sirius XM

If you spent the $20-$30 needed to attend today’s game as a spectator, you would’ve walked away having gotten your money’s worth.

It was a back and forth battle at Hohokam Stadium! The White Sox got to A’s starter Jeffrey Springs early, in the first inning Edgar Quero and Lenyn Sosa would do some damage. A run scoring single and a double between the two would give the South Siders a 3-0 lead before the A’s even picked up a bat.

That 3-0 lead would be short lived though. In the bottom half of the first, the A’s answered right back with a an RBI double and single of their own – – thanks to Brent Rooker and Jeff McNeil.

After a quiet second inning for both clubs, the White Sox would strike – – three times – – all off of one swing by Korey Lee. Miguel Vargas and Jarred Kelenic both scored on the dinger. Springs would not return for the fourth inning. His day ends with the troubling line of 2.2 IP, 4H, 6ER, 3 BB, and 3K :/

Tough day for the A’s southpaw but us fans have grown custom to poor pitching performances by our starting pitchers this spring.

Thankfully the offense has been cartoonishly hot. Three solo home runs by Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, and Shea Langeliers had the game all tied up by the end of the fourth inning. That lead, however, would be short lived thanks to a Derek Hill RBI single off of Mark Leiter Jr. in the top of the fifth.

That would be the last of the offensive damage for the White Sox. They’d carry that 7-6 lead up until the bottom of the seventh, where the Non-roster trio of Tommy White, Michael Stefanic, and Cade Marlowe tied it all up, leading to a Jared Dickey single that brought Stefanic and Marlowe home, making it 9-7 A’s.

For good measure, the A’s tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Tommy White’s single scored Leo De Vries, who just missed a home run. White would then be brought in on a Cade Marlowe fielder’s choice.

Final score sits 11-7, A’s over the White Sox. They’ll be back at it against the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow. Right now, the pitching matchup is scheduled to be Luis Morales vs. Ryne Nelson. This’ll be Morales’ fourth outing so far this spring. Let’s hope he can build off of the small flashes of success he experienced last week against the Angels.

For those of you tuning in to tonight’s USA vs. Team Italy WBC game, feel free to keep the conversation going below!

PORT ST. LUCIE — Jonah Tong finished last season in the major leagues, but will have to wait before receiving another chance at that level.

On Tuesday, the rookie was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, as the Mets look to find innings for the right-hander that won’t be available in major league camp.

“He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do here,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets faced the Cardinals in an exhibition game. “Just go down there and continue to develop and work on some things that you need to work on.”

Tong, 22, pitched to a 7.71 ERA in five starts for the Mets last season.

Entering camp he was viewed as rotation depth, behind Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga and David Peterson. The Mets also have Christian Scott, who is returning from Tommy John surgery rehab, as rotation depth.

“We were pretty honest with [Tong] from the very beginning, understanding that injuries happen throughout camp,” Mendoza said. “But the most likely outcome was he was probably going to start the year at Triple-A. But having that relationship with him now is more like some of the things he needs to work on.

“He’s a humble guy that wants to continue to get better, always asking good questions, which is basically what we saw [previously]. And the way he handles adversity.” 

Scott, in his first Grapefruit League outing (he previously pitched against Team Israel in a scrimmage), pitched three scoreless innings in relief in the 6-1 victory over the Cardinals. The right-hander walked four and struck out four, allowing only one hit.

The right-hander missed all of last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He pitched 2 ²/₃ scoreless innings against Israel in his spring debut.

Luis Robert Jr.’s debut in the Grapefruit League is scheduled for Thursday against the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.

The outfielder has been playing minor league games every other day to slow-play his spring in an attempt to preserve his legs.

Francisco Lindor played four innings on defense in a simulated game as he rehabs from left hamate bone surgery.

Team officials remain optimistic the shortstop will be available to play Opening Day in two weeks. 

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jasson Domínguez’s first-inning at-bat against Tanner Banks on Tuesday featured a different result and a different swing than “The Martian” had been accustomed to against lefty pitching.

The switch-hitter has struggled significantly against southpaws in his career, last year hitting just .204 with a .569 OPS and one home run in 104 plate appearances.

But against Banks, he jumped on a 1-2 four-seamer on the inside part of the plate and launched it to left field for a home run.

He jumped on the pitch, but his front foot did not jump. He took a step forward rather than the large leg kick he had displayed last season.

“Just trying to try something new,” Domínguez said after the 4-2 win over the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark. “When you’re doing bad, you’re already at the bottom.”

Perhaps the lesser movement will help Domínguez, who in all likelihood will have to prove himself against lefties — and righties, too — with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre because the Yankees do not have an opening in the Opening Day outfield barring injury.

It is also possible that simply getting more at-bats against lefties will be the key to unlocking his righty swing.

He is a natural righty but only has logged a couple hundred plate appearances as a righty in his minor league career.

“He still controls the zone from that side. It’s just continuing to get reps from that side,” manager Aaron Boone said of Domínguez — who overall is having a nice spring, going 10-for-30 with two homers, two steals and a .944 OPS. “I feel like this spring … he’s hit some balls hard for outs from that side of the plate as well. 

“He’s still a better left-handed hitter, but there’s no reason to think that over time, the right side can’t come up because he’s got power on that side, he’s got plate discipline, it’s just a matter of continuing to gain experience.”

Asked how many spots could be open in the bullpen, Boone said, “Two. Maybe one.”

That list of potential options includes Rule 5 draft pick Cade Winquest, who has had a rocky spring. If he doesn’t stick on their major league roster for the entire season, he would be sent back to the Cardinals.

But Boone said, “Frankly, there have been mixed results for the guys in the mix for the last two spots. We’ll see that play out a little bit. … There are opportunities for guys to grab it.”

That list also includes Jake Bird, who has struggled. And Boone also mentioned right-hander Kervin Castro, who spent last year with SWB.

“I think he can be a factor,” Boone said of the 27-year-old. “He opened my eyes this spring, seeing him in person for the first time.”

Boone said Anthony Volpe’s recovery from offseason labrum surgery is progressing, and the shortstop is scheduled to begin taking live at-bats in about three weeks.

The Yankees want Ben Rice to continue to focus on first base in Grapefruit League games, while catching occasional bullpens.

Boone saw Aaron Judge’s strong one-hop throw from right field to third that resulted in an out Monday night in the WBC and thought it looked familiar.

“He’s so under control and not in a hurry,” Boone said of Judge, who dealt with a right flexor strain last season that prevented him from throwing at full strength.

It hasn't been the smoothest spring training for right-hander Roki Sasaki as he prepares for his second season with the Dodgers.

Sasaki's first two starts in Cactus League play featured some issues with command and plenty of hard contact. But with left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Gavin Stone sidelined with shoulder issues, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts left no doubt where Sasaki stood as he got ready to pitch in a B-game against White Sox minor leaguers on Tuesday.

“Having Blake [Snell] late to the season, which we know, [and] Gavin Stone, late to the season, as we know, we’re going to need Roki,” Roberts said. “With the buildup, I just don’t see a world in which he doesn’t break with us as a starter, and so, we’re going to need those innings.”

Sasaki took a promising step forward on a minor-league field at Camelback Ranch.

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The hard-throwing right-hander threw 59 pitches, 40 for strikes, across four innings while striking out nine of the 13 batters he faced and allowing two to reach base.

Although Roberts did not see Sasaki’s outing, he heard rave reviews from members of the organization who attended.

“They said it was electric,” Roberts said after the Dodgers' 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch. “They said [he was touching] 98 to 100 [mph]. The fastball was spraying a little early, but then he locked it in. And then the split was on-play, short, lot of swing-and-miss. Couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

Sasaki surrendered a single through the right side of the infield to the first batter he faced, then proceeded to strike out the next seven batters. His only other hiccup came in the third inning, when he hit Jason Matthews with a stray breaking ball on a full count.

“I actually felt pretty bad the last couple days, but today I was able to make an adjustment, so that’s what I really need for right now,” Sasaki said via an interpreter after his outing. “I think I can keep moving forward.”

Sasaki was shelled in his second Cactus League start last week, allowing four runs, three walks, a single and a grand slam to the Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. He was lifted from the game without recording an out, only to get re-inserted in the second inning to complete two scoreless innings.

Sasaki noted mechanical issues as the reason for his struggles after the game. Tuesday, he said he felt much better, focusing on his core and obliques.

“I was actually focusing on core, oblique stuff,” Sasaki said. “I think it’s all about mechanics. If my mechanics are really good, my command is good, too.”

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Roberts took away plenty of value from the outing, even one against a lineup of minor leaguers.

"There's still value in getting hitters out and seeing guys swing and miss," Roberts said. "I think we accomplished what we wanted to today, we built him up. Obviously, built up some confidence. So, just go from there."

Tyler Glasnow cruises in third spring training outing

Tyler Glasnow pitched into the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, giving up a leadoff home run before settling in and giving up one other hit and one walk while striking out five in 4.1 innings of work.

“He looks as good as I’ve seen him over a period of time,” Roberts said. “And I just think that things are slowing down for him now. I really do. And I don’t know if it was going to the pen [and] pitching in the postseason the way he did, whatever it was, I just think there’s been real growth in him as a person and it is translating to on-the-field.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

This afternoon, the Colorado Rockies lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 8-1.

For a more detailed analysis, click here.

We’ll start with postgame comments from manager Warren Schaeffer:

And here’s starting pitcher Ryan Feltner:

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What exactly is the cost of a Mariners win. Certainly, it can’t be too expensive, right? Professional athletes work themselves out so hard everyday to grind out wins one-at-a-time, so you have to factor that in as an expense. Then there’s all the staff and coaches around keeping guys pointed in the right direction, their collective man hours is a heavy price. Oh, and you make sure that you spend the entire morning dealing with two of your All-Stars starting beef over a handshake on an international stage. That must be one of those hidden fees I’m always hearing about. Let’s get into the game.

Cooper Criswell took the start today opposite Royals ace Cole Ragans, and spent his 3.1 innings throwing as many strikes as possible, thirty-nine in fifty-seven pitches, and getting ten swings-and-misses. A couple hits, one to Isaac Collins in the first and a double to Carson Roccaforte in the third, were the only blemishes on his card for the day. Criswell battled against Isaac Collins in the bottom of third, getting an overturned call on an ABS challenge to stay in the count early, and ultimately get a fly ball out to right that ended an inning before it could get out of hand. He came out in the fourth and dismissed Carter Jensen on five pitches for his fifth strikeout and his day was done.

Dan Wilson had nothing but good things to say about Criswell after the game. “Really good outing for Cris. Throwing the ball well, staying ahead in counts, was pretty efficient.” Wilson went on talking about Criswell; “It’s been hard for hitters to get comfortable in there, and really try to figure him out.” On Criswell’s stuff, Wilson said, “he’s got the good movement, he’s got the good breaking balls, he’s got the good options, there’s nothing that they can get comfortable on.” When asked about Criswell’s resilience, Wilson said, “That’s the veteran experience that he’s gotten. He’s been around, he understands the game. It really does help him get back … take the next hitter and thwart whatever is going on. He’s got a slow heartbeat.”

After his outing, Criswell talked about his cutter and how it helps complete his arsenal of pitches, saying he likes to use it to, “reset the eyes of the hitter” away from the bottom of the zone that the sinker, change, and sweeper tend to end up, and making sure the hitter has to, “respect the top and bottom of the zone.”

Cole Wilcox was second out of the bullpen following Jimmy Kingsbury and pitched a clean top of the fifth but got into trouble quickly in the sixth, allowing a walk and a couple line drives, one to left for an out, and another that touched down in right. Dan brought in lefty Reid Easterly, to keep the lead, and his second pitch was taken deep to right by Kameron Misner. Those three runs ended up being all Kansas City would score.

The Mariners got the days offense started in the second by stringing together a couple of base-hits. Leo Rivas spanked a single to left before Spencer Packard doubled into the left-center gap to drive him home. The offense continued in the bottom of the fourth when Lazaro Montes slugged a double 109 mph out to center to score Patrick Wisdom, and then scored later in the inning when Bill Knight singled up the middle.

Montes and Knight teamed up again in the bottom of the sixth to generate a run. After Montes singled on a 100.8 out to right, he was standing at third with two outs when Knight managed to put a bloop into shallow right to bring him home, and get a hustle double for himself.

After the sixth it was zeroes across the board, and Michael Rucker got his first Cactus League save to close out a cool-hand-across-your-fevered-brow win.

Mariners are back at it tomorrow in Peoria hosting the Colorado Rockies at 1:10pm PST.

Other notes:

• Casey Legumina worked a perfect top of the seventh against 3 straight lefties getting a fly out, groundout, and a strikeout.
• Cole Young, Brennen Davis, Leo Rivas, Lazaro Montes, and Bill Knight all played the full nine innings of today’s game, each getting four at-bats and going a combined 6-17 with 3 RBIs and two walks.