Category: Baseball

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Friday, in case you missed it...

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• Last year he was a reliever, this year Clay Holmes will be the Mets' Opening Day starter
• Carlos Mendoza spoke about Holmes getting the call before the right-hander said he was "honored" to get the nod
• Brandon Nimmo said his ailing knee feels good, but that his status for Opening Day is uncertain
• On the diamond, Juan Soto smacked a home run and drove in two against the Cardinals
• The big highlight came on the mound where Kodai Senga debuted a new pitch: the "miracle ball"
• Mendoza praised the righty, saying "If he's healthy, he's an ace"
• After pitching 3.1 innings against St. Louis, Senga spoke about the new pitch and his goals for the 2025 season
• From Port St. Luice, our Anthony McCarron explained why Senga rediscovering his peak form is more important than ever to the Mets
• In addition to Nimmo's injury update, we learned that José Butto is dealing with a "minor" groin injury

Shohei Ohtani produced on command.

Again.

Just as he did when he played in the World Baseball Classic. Just as he did when he reached the 40-40 and 50-50 homer-steals milestones last season. Just as he did in his first playoff game with the Dodgers.

Technically, the game in which Ohtani played on Saturday night was an exhibition game.

In reality, it was more than that.

Read more:Battling illness, Dodgers' Mookie Betts questionable for Tokyo Series games

Many of the fans who packed the Tokyo Dome paid hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to watch the Dodgers play the Yomiuri Giants. Tickets for the game were selling on the secondary market for upwards of $600.

Years from now, people who weren’t here will claim they were. The people who actually were here won’t be complaining about the outrageous ticket prices.

Moments are what stay with fans, and Ohtani delivered another in the Dodgers’ 5-1 victory.

In his second at-bat of his first game wearing a major league uniform in his home country, Ohtani was thrown a curveball by Giants right-hander Shosei Togo that remained over the plate.

Ohtani pounced on the mistake, launching the ball halfway up the right-field stands.

“It went up at a good angle, so even though it was [hit] a little with the end [of the bat], I thought it would get in,” Ohtani said in Japanese.

In person, the people here witnessed scenes with which they had become familiar on television.

The waving of his hands in the direction of the bench as he rounded the bases.

The tossing of sunflower seeds by Teoscar Hernández.

Ohtani knew the game counted, even though it didn’t.

“So many people came,” he said, “even though it was an exhibition.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts arrived in Japan this week battling an illness, and is questionable to be ready for the club's regular-season openers on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs, manager Dave Roberts said.

Betts did not play in the Dodgers' 5-1 exhibition win over the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league, and will be again held out of Sunday's exhibition against the Hanshin Tigers.

However, as Betts left the ballpark Saturday, he joked that he's "still alive" and was feeling better.

“He’s been really sick, lost some weight, so we’re trying to get him hydrated,” Roberts said earlier in the day. “We’ll see how these days go before we even think about making a decision for opening day.”

Read more:Hernández: Shohei Ohtani home run at Tokyo Dome delivers yet another moment seemingly on command

Betts first started feeling under the weather during the Dodgers’ final week of spring camp, sitting out their final two games of Cactus League play.

Roberts said there wasn’t much consideration to having Betts stay back from the team’s week-long trip to Tokyo, noting that “the doctors felt it was safe enough for him to make the trip.”

Betts did not participate in the Dodgers’ workout at the Tokyo Dome on Friday, but did take the field Saturday for pregame drills. On Sunday, Roberts said Betts is scheduled to have a "full day" of hitting and infield work.

"Then we’ll see how it goes from there,” he reiterated.

On the field Saturday, all the attention was fixed — as expected — on Shohei Ohtani, who was playing in his home country for the first time since representing Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

In his first trip to the plate, Ohtani received a loud ovation before drawing a full-count walk. In his next, he brought the Tokyo Dome to life, launching a 391-foot, two-run home run to right field as part of a five-run third-inning rally by the Dodgers — who also got long balls from Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernández in the frame.

“He just has the ability, when there’s expectations for him, to do something special,” Roberts said.

Just like on Friday, when the more than 10,000 fans who attended the Dodgers’ open team workout roared at the sight of Ohtani on the field, the mere presence of the three-time MVP caused a stir before Saturday’s sellout crowd.

When he took the field pregame for a session of catch play in the outfield — Ohtani has maintained his flat-ground throwing sessions this week, even though he paused bullpen sessions near the end of spring camp in his continued recovery as a pitcher from a 2023 Tommy John surgery — fans stampeded toward the bottom of the lower bowl, roaring in approval with almost every throw.

When he came to the plate for the first time, seemingly everyone in attendance whipped out their phones to capture the moment — getting their first chance to see the country’s baseball hero in person with a Major League Baseball team.

“This many people came, even though it was an exhibition,” Ohtani said in Japanese afterward. “Personally, it felt like I was back for the first time in a while.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke following Friday's tie with the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park.

Here are the takeaways...

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Jose Butto not pitching at full strength

Butto didn't see any Grapefruit League action this past week due to a "minor" groin injury, but the starter-turned-reliever threw a bullpen on Friday that encouraged the Mets' coaching staff.

"He was good. I didn't see it, but talking to [pitching coach Jeremy Hefner], he felt good and there was no hesitation," Mendoza said. "The ball was coming out fine. He was fine. We'll see how he feels tomorrow, and whether we want to throw him on the backfield or feel comfortable putting him in a game tomorrow."

Considering that the Mets aren't too worried about Butto's groin, it's safe to assume the 26-year-old will be an available bullpen arm once Opening Day arrives in two weeks. Butto thrived in a multi-inning relief role last season, posting a pristine 2.00 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 36 innings (23 appearances).

Entering camp, the goal was for Butto to increase his workload to 40-45 pitches per outing. While the time off from games has been inconvenient, his arm is at least fresh and healthy. Butto's logged just 3.2 innings of work this spring.

Kodai Senga lauded for his diligence

Senga's second start of the spring wasn't exactly crisp -- he allowed seven hits and two earned runs across 3.1 innings (53 pitches) in the Mets' 3-3 draw with the Cardinals.

But the box score doesn't always dictate successes and failures for pitchers in mid-March. Despite the mistakes made Friday, Senga and Mendoza were still content with the overall performance. The Mets' skipper labeled the outing as "okay."

"I don't think he had his best stuff, but this is what spring training's for," Mendoza said. "On a day where he's probably not having his best pitches, he's got to battle. He's facing outside competition and he's got to find a way. I thought it was a good workday for him."

It's no secret that Senga, pitching at the top of his craft, would resemble a much-needed ace for a Mets rotation that's widely viewed as vulnerable. His stock dipped due to injuries in the 2024 regular season and uninspiring performances in the postseason.

But the Senga who recorded a stellar 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts during his first MLB campaign in 2023 is waiting to return. And Mendoza is appreciating the time he's taken to foster his relationship with the Japanese right-hander.

"The one thing I've learned is how meticulous he is in between outings," Mendoza said. "His preparation has been really impressive. When to back off, when to step up a little bit... We know what he means to this team and this rotation. Everyone saw it in 2023, and that's what we're looking for here..."

Brandon Nimmo making positive strides

Nimmo admitted on Friday afternoon that he isn't sure whether he'll be in the outfield for the Mets on Opening Day. The veteran outfielder is still dealing with right knee discomfort that emerged on Feb. 28, and he acknowledged that he isn't feeling 100 percent just yet.

The good news is that he returned to the Mets' lineup as a designated hitter on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox, and the expectation is for him to serve in the same role on Saturday against the Washington Nationals.

It's certainly possible that Nimmo isn't ready to play the field once March 27 arrives, but Mendoza didn't express any concern with his recovery and progression.

"I'm not [concerned]. Obviously, we'll be flexible," Mendoza said. "Talking to the trainers, this can turn the corner at any day. Let the medicine, the shot kick in. Sometimes it takes 7-10 days, sometimes it takes two weeks. He's getting at-bats, and I wouldn't be surprised if, pretty soon, he comes in ready to go."

Nimmo, who received a gel injection in his knee last week, resumed baseball activities in Port St. Lucie on Monday. He ripped a single in his first at-bat against the Red Sox, and proceeded to strike out in the third inning and fly out to left in the sixth.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The big pregame news out of Mets camp Friday came when Carlos Mendoza revealed that Clay Holmes, former reliever, had pitched his way into being named the club’s Opening Day starter. Kudos to Holmes, who has been both diligent and dazzling in his transformation from Yankees closer to the top of the Mets' rotation.

But another awfully important pitching story for the Mets further unfolded when Kodai Senga started Friday evening against the Cardinals. This one is not nearly as tidy as Holmes’ ascension, which boasts a crazy .065 batting average against and pinhead-small 0.62 WHIP this spring.

Senga was, as Mendoza put it, “OK” across 3.1 innings against St. Louis in a 3-3 tie at Clover Park, allowing two runs and seven hits. It’s just spring training and Senga, through an interpreter, and Mendoza both deemed the outing a productive night, work-wise. Overall, though, the pitcher coming off a lost 2024 admitted there are “things I’m content with and some things not so much” with his mechanics this spring.

However he sorts that out, one thing is clear – "peak" Senga, something seen only in flashes since his breakout 2023 season, would be an enormous boost to the Mets. They are already dealing with injuries to two members of their rotation – Sean Manaea, who might’ve been the Opening Day starter if he were healthy, and Frankie Montas. The Mets possess starting depth, sure, but Senga, right now, represents a huge slice of the rotation’s star power.

And they’ll need him this year as they aim to compete with the Braves and Phillies in the NL East, two powerful teams with stacked rotations.

“That’s 20 more wins,” said Francisco Lindor when asked what kind of impact Senga, at his best, would make. “He’s an ace. He’s an All-Star. I think he can definitely help us a lot. I’m looking forward to it. I feel like he’s in a good spot and he wants to win.”

“We know what he means to this team and this rotation,” Mendoza added. “I think everyone saw it in 2023 and that’s what we’re looking for here. If he’s healthy, he’s an ace and we need that.

“And, right now, everything is trending in the right direction. I think he's in a really good place, mentally. Physically. And there’s something that I didn't see last year, there's that smile on his face, that joy, you know, being around players. Last year, he went down early in camp, and he was rehabbing and trying to play catch-up the whole year.

“Seeing the way he’s carrying himself in that locker room right now, his presence, knowing that he’s healthy, everybody will feel it.”

Still, with Senga’s recent injury history, there are no guarantees. His spring and how he fares following his starts are key questions for the Mets. Mendoza admitted earlier in the day that Senga was not the choice for Opening Day because “he won’t be ready.”

Senga will start at some point the first time through the rotation, Mendoza said. But the manager also said, “let’s go one outing at a time” when asked for further clarity on when.

Senga missed most of 2024, starting the season on the Injured list with a shoulder capsule strain and then hurting his calf in his return start. He made it back for the postseason, but allowed seven runs in five playoff innings over three appearances (two starts).

But when he’s right, he can be great. In 2023, he was 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and struck out 202 batters in just 166.1 innings pitched while allowing only 126 hits. He was one of just five qualified pitchers in the majors with a sub-3.00 ERA and one of 17 to fan at least 200.

His “ghost fork” became a sensation, too. In part because of the cool name, but mostly because of its effectiveness. Opposing hitters had a .110 average in at-bats that ended on Senga’s forkball, and 58.5 percent of the plate appearances that finished on the pitch were strikeouts.

Senga was named to the National League All-Star team, making him only the fifth Mets rookie to make the Midsummer Classic. He joined a Flushing Who’s Who of big names: Tom Seaver (1967), Jerry Koosman (1968), Dwight Gooden (1984) and Pete Alonso (2019).

He’s also just fun to watch. At one point Friday, he threw a 63.5 mile-per-hour curveball, two pitches after he had thrown a pitch nearly 30 mph faster. He called it “the miracle ball.”

Maybe the miracle ball, plus the ghost fork, plus a new sinker he’s tinkered with this spring, will add up to something big for Senga and the Mets.

He’ll need health, too, obviously. That’s the first step back to "peak" Senga.

In their third meeting of Grapefruit League play, the Yankees rallied late to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-5, on Friday night at Steinbrenner Field.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Now in the mix as a rotation option, Carlos Carrasco made his fourth appearance (third start) of camp. While the veteran right-hander allowed a walk and a double in the first inning, he escaped the jam when Aaron Judge gunned down Kyle Schwarber at home plate on a fly-ball double play off the bat of Edmundo Sosa.

-- It didn't take long for the Yankees to produce offense against Phillies veteran Taijuan Walker. With two outs, Cody Bellinger doubled on a sharp line drive to right, and just moments later, Ben Rice crushed a two-strike, two-run homer to right-center field. After one, New York led 2-0.

-- Carrasco ran into further trouble in the second inning, as he plunked a batter, allowed a single, and surrendered a sac fly. But he managed to complete 3.1 innings (61 pitches), recording six strikeouts with velocity that reached 93 mph. Carrasco lowered his spring ERA to 2.45 across 11 innings, and the interesting wrinkle is that he can opt out of his contract on March 22. He isn't on the 40-man roster.

-- Judge snapped a hitless streak of 13 at-bats with a single to center in the sixth inning. It was a quiet night for middle infielders Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Vople, who went a combined 0-for-6 with one strikeout. Rice's plate appearances were encouraging, however, as he bolstered his case for a role in the Opening Day lineup.

-- Luke Weaver, now serving as the Yankees' set-up man, entered in relief for Carrasco. He recorded two outs in his second appearance of camp, inducing a flyout and groundout with seven pitches.

-- There's a strong chance the Yankees will carry three catchers to begin the season, which is encouraging news for J.C. Escarra. The longtime minor leaguer flaunted his hot bat with a game-tying solo shot to right in the seventh. In 31 spring at-bats, he's hitting .355 with three homers and seven RBI. Escarra could very well serve as the backup to Austin Wells on Opening Day.

-- Allan Winans, who received a non-roster invite to camp, logged three innings out of the bullpen. He allowed two hits -- including a go-ahead two-run homer to Stevenson in the seventh -- along with three walks and three punchouts. Winans entered Friday with a 1.08 ERA across 8.1 spring innings.

-- With one out in the ninth inning, non-roster invitee T.J. Rumfield crushed a two-run, game-tying homer to right-center. The 24-year-old first baseman produced laudable Triple-A numbers last season, slashing .292/.365/.461 with 26 doubles, 15 homers, and 71 RBI in 114 games.

-- Facing a potential tie with two outs, Brendan Jones ripped a ball down the line that was stunningly snagged by the Phillies' first baseman. But the pitcher was late to cover the bag, and heads-up baserunning from Jesus Rodriguez -- who started at second on the hit -- forced a play at the plate and a late throw home. A funky rally and walk-off win for the Yankees.

-- It wasn't exactly a night to remember for Trent Grisham. During the second inning, he was thrown out at second base trying to stretch a single to right into a double, and two innings later, he surprisingly dropped a routine fly ball in center.

-- It's still unclear when -- or if -- Giancarlo Stanton will see playing time in 2025, but his indefinite stint on the injured list isn't only due to chronic tennis elbows. Prior to first pitch Friday, manager Aaron Boone said that the veteran slugger is also nursing a "minor" calf issue. Stanton underwent a third round of PRP injections on Monday.

Highlights

Aaron Judge battles the sun and still nails Kyle Schwarber trying to score on a sac fly! pic.twitter.com/WwSQrsptYP

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 14, 2025

Ben Rice 2-run shot! pic.twitter.com/yeghOg5nGp

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 14, 2025

Aaron Boone joined @flash17yes and @NYnellie43 for the top of the 4th inning. The first thing they discussed? Joe Torre being down in Tampa! #YANKSonYESpic.twitter.com/Q2y62Stsyk

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 14, 2025

JC Escarra 💪 pic.twitter.com/iJgqpmtFRg

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 15, 2025

TJ Rumfield 2-run game-tying homer in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/vSjYNjnSzI

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 15, 2025

Jesus Rodriguez hustles all the way around from second base and the Yankees have a spring walk-off pic.twitter.com/1pQH4ATz80

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) March 15, 2025

What's next

The Yankees (10-9) will spend the entire weekend south in Port Charlotte for a pair of games against the division-rival Rays on Saturday and Sunday (1:05 p.m. starts).

Mets ace Kodai Senga has become renowned for his array of pitches, including his infamous ghost fork. But the right-hander has introduced a new pitch, with an equally catchy name.

In the Mets’ 3-3 tie with the Cardinals on Friday night, Senga was on the mound against Yohel Pozo in the third inning. With the Mets up 1-0, the Cardinals were threatening with a man on second and no out when Senga threw a 63.5 mph curveball on a 1-1 count.

Pozo waved at it and fouled it back, but how slow the pitch was thrown caught the eyes of those in Port St. Lucie. 

Here's the "miracle ball" in action from Kodai Senga: https://t.co/GPCyBcZUh0pic.twitter.com/uNbjlMierh

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 15, 2025

Pozo would get the better of Senga, launching a two-run shot off an 84 mph slider to put St. Louis in the lead.

After his outing, Senga was asked about that curveball. The right-hander simply called it the “miracle ball” before a smirk came over his face.

When pressed about the pitch, the 32-year-old was reluctant to go into too much detail. The media present pressed a bit, asking if he was trying to throw a Yu Darvish eephus pitch.

Senga laughed before answering through his interpreter, “Didn’t have any thoughts. Threw it lightly and it went in the zone. So…great.”

Unlike his ghost fork, however, fans probably shouldn't expect the miracle ball to be added to Senga's repertoire.

"If it's that slow, I'm going to regret it if it gets hit," Senga said. "So I don’t know [if I'll add it]."

Friday was Senga's second spring start this year, and he was inconsistent. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out just one batter on 53 pitches. While there was a lot of traffic, Senga's lone mistake was the two-run shot to Pozo.

Despite his struggles, Senga was relatively pleased with his outing.

"Feel good. Came out of the outing healthy and was able to try out a bunch of things," he said. "It was a productive outing."

The Mets are now 8-10-3 in spring training games. The Cardinals are 8-11-2.

Here are the main takeaways...

-Kodai Senga threw 3.1 innings and allowed seven (!) hits and two runs while striking out one, walking none, and also throwing a wild pitch. He threw 53 pitches, 30 for strikes and 30 of his pitches overall were four-seam fastballs – he said afterward it was a fastball-heavy night as he hones his repertoire during camp.

-Senga gave up several hard-hit balls, including a 356-foot home run to No. 9 batter Yohel Pozo in the third inning. Senga got some help from José Siri, who made two nice running catches in center field on back-to-back plays to end the second inning. 

-Senga came out of the game with one out and a runner on first in the third inning after throwing 23 pitches in that frame alone. Righty Carlos Guzman got the final two outs of the inning. But then Senga returned to the game to pitch the fourth inning, which is allowed by spring training rules. Carlos Mendoza had said before the game that Senga would have four “ups” in the game. Senga gave up a hit to the leadoff batter in all four innings. The fourth inning started with Senga allowing a single and a double on the first two pitches, but he retired the next three in order.

-The Senga vs. Pozo at-bat had some interesting wrinkles, and came after Michael Helman hammered a double over the head of left-fielder Tyrone Taylor. The first pitch of Pozo’s at-bat was a 93.4 mile-per-hour fastball. Two pitches later, Senga threw a 63.5 mph curve. Pozo, who had not had a hit this spring prior to his homer, connected for his homer on a 3-2 sweeper traveling about 84 mph.

-Brett Baty, vying for playing time as either the second baseman while Jeff McNeil is on the mend or as a utility player, smacked a two-out double to left in the fourth inning and finished 1-for-3. Baty entered the game tied for eighth with 11 Grapefruit League hits. 

-Reed Garrett threw a 1-2-3 fifth inning and now has tossed five innings this spring and allowed no runs and just one hit. He fanned one, giving him six strikeouts against one walk. Chris Devenski and Sean Reid-Foley also threw scoreless frames and Trey McLoughlin, a 16th-round pick out of Fairfield in 2021, struck out the side in the top of the ninth.

-The Mets tied the score at 3-3 in the eighth inning when José Azocar scampered home on a wild pitch. Azocar singled and then stole second and moved to third when the catcher’s throw went awry. 

Game MVP: Juan Soto

Soto entered the night with a .905 slugging percentage this spring. In the first inning, he smacked a solo home run off righty Michael McGreevy. It was Soto’s fourth homer of camp and he had entered the game tied for ninth in MLB spring blasts. In the fifth, Soto sprinted to make a sliding catch in right field.

One inning later, he hit an RBI single to bring the Mets within one, 3-2. Soto drove in Francisco Lindor, who had started the inning with a chopper that glanced off Helman’s glove at second. Lindor never stopped running and dove into second base with a hustle double. 

Highlights

Luis Torrens got 'em 🎯 pic.twitter.com/YJb97gTl3G

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 14, 2025

ANOTHER JUAN SOTO SPRING HOMER! pic.twitter.com/vhKmCABwsy

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 14, 2025

A knock up the middle for Starling Marte pic.twitter.com/looAVs2pvN

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 14, 2025

José Azócar comes in to score and tie the game on a wild pitch! pic.twitter.com/c01QbRAzHI

— SNY (@SNYtv) March 15, 2025

What's next

The Mets hit the road to take on the Washington Nationals on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

Giancarlo Stanton can't catch a break.

The Yankees designated hitter is already dealing with tennis elbow in both his arms, which will keep him off the roster to start the season, but manager Aaron Boone revealed that Stanton has a calf injury as well.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that Stanton's calf ailment is "chronic" but that the elbow injuries are the bigger problem.

Stanton is back with the Yankees in camp after he had his third PRP injection on his elbows, but the team still doesn't have a timetable for the slugger's return.

Heyman did report that an optimistic estimate for a Stanton return is Memorial Day, but it's way too early to tell.

As Stanton tries to overcome his elbow issues, surgery has not been ruled out for the slugger. But the former NL MVP admitted that if he were to go under the knife, it could certainly be season-ending.

Stanton had an injury-plagued 2024 season, managing to play in 114 regular season games and slash .233/.298/.475 with 27 homers and 72 RBI. He hit seven home runs and had 16 RBI in 14 playoff games, however.

The Mets have taken a cautious approach to Brandon Nimmo's spring training workload since the outfielder expressed soreness in his right knee on Feb. 28. And while his return to the lineup as a designated hitter on Thursday reaffirmed optimism in his availability for Opening Day, his role for the start of the regular season remains undefined.

Nimmo is expected to be the Mets' designated hitter again on Saturday against the Washington Nationals. But he believes his assignment for Mar. 27 against the Houston Astros is up in the air since the discomfort in his knee isn't completely gone yet.

"All I know is we're trying to progress every day and see if we can get a little bit of gain every day," Nimmo said Friday. "I don't know what it means for Opening Day, I just know we're trying to get the at-bats. As soon as I can get close to 100 percent, then I'll be able to play the outfield. But before that point, it's probably going to do more harm than good to try and get out there before it's ready.

"I'm hopeful [to play the outfield]. But I also know if you're not playing near 100 percent, you're probably a liability out there. I'll go and progress every day and do my best to be ready for the outfield on Opening Day. But right now, I've never been through this process before... I'm good at the plate right now, we're still working on getting the percentage higher on running. Sometimes it's a little bit of a slow process."

Nimmo, who received a gel injection in his knee last week, resumed baseball activities in Port St. Lucie on Monday. He ripped a single in his first-bat against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, and proceeded to strike out in the third inning and fly out to left in the sixth. So far, he's logged only four spring at-bats.

At full strength, Nimmo will be valued in the heart of the Mets' batting order. But the team isn't focused solely on his knee recovery -- he also dealt with plantar fasciitis in his left foot throughout the 2024 campaign.

The 31-year-old veteran still managed to play 151 games last season, and drive in a career-high 90 runs with 23 home runs and 25 doubles across 663 plate appearances. In the meantime, the Mets can only hope that Nimmo's bat speed remains sharp and his lower-body movements become more pain-free.

Why Melvin believes Doval in a ‘great place' entering 2025 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Giants pitcher Camilo Doval has created an interesting predicament over his past few outings. 

The Giants want Doval to spend his entire spring working on the little things, like holding runners at first and being quick to the plate. But Doval has been so efficient lately that he hasn’t had any opportunities to throw over, step off or try to deliver a strike well before the clock expires. Over his last three outings, it’s been nine up, nine down, with four strikeouts in those three quick innings.

The intricacies of the game will have to be mastered on the back fields at Scottsdale Stadium during workouts, and thus far, the Giants are thrilled with how Doval has attacked that process. Coming off a disappointing season that cost him his job as San Francisco’s closer, Doval has been locked in from the first day of camp.

He is taking the work seriously, and staffers speak glowingly of the leadership he has shown with younger Spanish-speaking players. Every morning, Doval picks up a few less experienced teammates and drives them to the ballpark.

“Camilo is in a great space right now,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s pitching really well, too. He’s throwing strikes, he’s efficient, he’s worked on a lot of things. We haven’t seen any baserunners recently but he’s working on his times to the plate, too. He knows it’s about throwing strikes and limiting walks.”

Doval too often lost contact with the strike zone last season, issuing 5.9 walks per nine innings and throwing seven wild pitches. The lack of command — and the inability to manage all those hitters he walked — led to the Giants shockingly sending him back to Triple-A, but Doval took the assignment in stride, arriving two days before the staff expected him to.

When Doval returned to the big leagues, Ryan Walker had a stranglehold on the ninth inning, and nothing has changed this spring. Walker is the closer, and Doval — who has 92 career saves and made the 2023 All-Star team — has no issues with that. 

“He’s doing a great job,” he said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “With me, it’s just continuing to work, continuing to work, and I know that an opportunity is going to be there.”

Doval himself is an example of just how quickly things can change in the late innings. He was so dominant at times early in his career that the Giants considered locking him up long-term, but a few rough months bumped him way down the depth chart. The Giants don’t expect any sort of slump from Walker, but if help is needed at some point down the line, they know they have another option who is comfortable with the game on the line. 

For now, Doval is settling into life as a setup man. Melvin is still trying to decide whether it’s Doval or Tyler Rogers who will get the eighth, but he offered a hint Thursday, pointing out that Rogers has been very effective in getting a lead to his closer. The submariner pitched in the eighth inning 62 times last year and posted a 2.53 ERA.

If Rogers is the main setup man, Melvin would have a bit of flexibility with Doval. Left-hander Erik Miller will usually be saved for the best lefties on the other side, which means he could be used anywhere from the sixth to the eighth when the Giants are protecting a lead. Doval could wind up being a valuable bridge piece to Rogers and Walker, one who is capable of giving Melvin multiple innings if needed. 

Melvin is also toying with the idea of using Doval as his fireman with runners on base, a role Walker excelled in before being elevated to the ninth. Doval has the stuff to get out of any jam with strikeouts. That role, though, requires throwing strikes and making sure any inherited runners don’t immediately take off for the next base. That’s why this spring’s steps forward are so encouraging. 

“He’s got strikeout stuff,” Melvin said. “It’s the other stuff — it’s being quick to the plate, not allowing stolen bases, and certainly a wild pitch or two can affect (inherited runners) as well. But this spring, he has been really efficient.” 

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Clay Holmes knew going into this offseason that he wanted to be a starter. 

That dream became a reality when he signed with the Mets on a three-year deal, and the right-hander immediately went to work -- grinding his way throughout the offseason to ensure that he’d be ready by the time camp opened. 

He reported to Port St. Lucie early and has been working tirelessly with the coaching and training staff to refine his arsenal and make sure he’ll be stretched out as much as possible when the regular season comes around. 

And now, Holmes is being rewarded for all of his hard work -- as manager Carlos Mendoza officially named him the starter for the Mets’ Opening Day matchup with the Houston Astros on March 27. 

“It's a special thing," Holmes said. “I’m honored. It’s been a crazy few months, but it’s a testament to the work I’ve put in and the people I’ve been around here with the organization. There was a plan in place from the get-go; I believed in it and they believed in me. 

“There’s been a lot of work put in these last few months and this is just another step. It’s definitely an honor to be out there for the first game -- I’m pumped to get to represent the Mets and this organization, and just excited to get the season going.”

Mendoza -- someone who Holmes has been around since his days with the Yankees -- called the big right-hander into his office along with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to give him the good news on Thursday. 

“He earned it,” the skipper said. “We like what we're seeing. I know it's a small sample size, but it's really encouraging. He put himself in a really good position. Showed up here early in camp. He was ahead of everyone -- I know he’s worked really hard. We’re proud of him.”

The results don’t matter much, but Holmes’ first few spring outings certainly have been extremely encouraging, as he is yet to allow a run and has struck out 13 batters in just 9.2 innings of work while showcasing his revamped arsenal. 

The 31-year-old is scheduled to take the mound again Saturday -- he expects to stretch out to around 70 pitches during that outing and will build from there with hopes of being around 90 pitches and ready for a full slate come Opening Day.

"At the end of the day, we just have to go out there and put our best foot forward and show everyone what we're about," Holmes said.

Giants notes: Matos makes case for roster spot with strong spring originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

MARYVALE, Ariz. — In the early innings Friday, Giants outfielder Luis Matos hit a rocket that nearly cleared the left field berm at American Family Fields and then jumped up against the center field wall to rob a Milwaukee Brewer of extra bases and save at least one run. But it was his slow jog to first in the top of the fifth that might have been just as impactful to his bid for an Opening Day roster spot.

The walk that Matos drew his third time up was his first of the spring, but it’s hard to blame the 23-year-old too much for that. His aggression early in camp has paid off, leading to a .359 average entering play on Friday. He bolstered his case against the Brewers with his second spring homer, a single, the walk and the highlight-reel catch.

“I can only control what I can control,” he said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “My performance is going to dictate what the team wants to do.”

The Giants came to camp with an open mind about their bench, and the ability to go several different ways. Jerar Encarnacion is out of options and a near-lock to get one spot, and the Giants will also carry a backup catcher (likely Sam Huff) and a backup middle infielder (either Brett Wisely or Casey Schmitt). With the final bench spot, they can go with either a second backup infielder, a lefty DH option like Jake Lamb, or Matos as an extra outfielder.

If Matos gets the call, his initial role on the roster might be to start in right field when the Giants face a left-handed starter. They got veteran southpaw Nestor Cortes on Friday and Matos greeted him with a blast to left. 

Matos entered the day with 14 hits in 15 spring games and just four strikeouts, although given how his free-swinging ways hurt him last season, it certainly stood out that he had not drawn a walk until Friday. Manager Bob Melvin was not concerned, however. He said Matos’ at-bats have been better this spring and noted that he is being more patient in subtle ways. 

“His thing is swinging. He is getting better pitches to hit and that’s always going to be, for him, the most important thing, is not chasing too much,” Melvin said. “Last year, when he was getting good pitches to hit, he went crazy, and then all of a sudden he was a little bit too aggressive. Even though he hasn’t walked (before Friday), we’ve seen him taking some first pitches, we’ve seen him get a little deeper in counts, and I think that is progression for him.”

Matos is still just 23, and the Giants insist his time will come regardless of what they decide at the end of camp. If either corner outfielder (Heliot Ramos and Mike Yastrzemski) has to miss time, Matos is the next man up and might get a long runway to be a starter. But right now, he’s playing like someone who is ready for the big leagues, even if the role right now might be a more limited one. 

“Things are going well, and I’m working really hard,” Matos said. “I have no complaints. Everything is moving in the right direction.”

Fifth Starter Competition 

Bob Melvin skipped the Cactus League game to watch Landen Roupp pitch in a minor league game at Papago. Roupp made sure the trip was worth it. 

The right-hander struck out 13 in five innings, including the first nine batters he faced. He allowed just one hit and one walk and threw 51 of his 66 pitches for strikes. Roupp was facing minor leaguers, but 13 strikeouts will stand out in any situation, and it’s not like this came out of nowhere. Roupp has been as sharp as any Giants pitcher this spring. 

The Giants are holding an open competition for the fifth rotation spot and Melvin insisted this week that no decision has been made. The other two options will have a chance to keep pace on Sunday; Hayden Birdsong will start the game against the Athletics and Kyle Harrison will pitch several innings of relief. 

Making His Push

Melvin didn’t need to see much from Lou Trivino this spring. The veteran right-hander broke into the big leagues with Melvin’s Athletics and was one of the best relievers in baseball as a rookie in 2018.

Trivino came to camp in a good spot and he has done nothing to harm his case over the past month. He threw 1 1/3 hitless innings in relief of Jordan Hicks on Friday and struck out a pair, and in six spring appearances he now has 6 1/3 scoreless innings and six strikeouts.

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Carlos Rodonwill be the Yankees' Opening Day starter, manager Aaron Boone announced on Friday.

Rodon is set to face-off with Freddy Peralta and the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27 at Yankee Stadium.

"Really excited to give him the ball," Boone told reporters including Erik Boland of Newsday. "He's in the right frame of mind and throwing the ball well right now. He's excited to do it, and then at the end of the day, it's just the first one."

This will be the southpaw's first Opening Day start since joining the Yankees on a six-year deal two seasons ago, but it is the second of his big-league career -- the first of which came back in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox.

Rodon battled injuries and struggled mightily during his first season in the Bronx -- he pitched better last year but still put together a bit of an up-and-down campaign, posting a 3.96 ERA across a career-high 32 appearances.

New York would've turned to ace Gerritt Cole for the fifth time in his career if he were healthy, but with the righty set to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season, they'll look for Rodon to get them started on a high note.

Newly signed left-hander Max Fried was also an potential option to start the opener, but the Yanks didn't want to throw him off his schedule, so he will take the ball for the second game of the season as planned.