Feb 20, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Justin Yeager (70) throws in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners during a Spring Training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Justin Yeager - Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
San Diego Padres at Kansas City Royals, February 21, 2026, 12:05 p.m. PST
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 21: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on August 21, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Athletics defeated the Twins 8-3. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BASEBALL IS BACK BABY!!!
Okay, maybe it’s just Spring Training and today’s games will likely feature mostly backups, depth players and prospects, but baseball is baseball damn it. We got a game today against the Chicago White Sox to kick off our spring schedule, the first of 32 exhibition contests including a few split-squad contests (plus a Prospects Breakout Game). Things are about to ramp up quickly and before we know it it’ll be Opening Day in Toronto with our A’s on the first base line listening to the national anthems.
The first game begins just after noon and will see righty Jack Perkins beginning the game for the Athletics. It’s going to be a quick outing for Perkins, who is surely looking to prove that he’s more than a swingman. There’s value in that role but Perk wants to start and his path in that regard begins with a strong outing this afternoon.
After Perkins’ inning of work we can expect Wei-En Lin and Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang to come after. The left-handed Lin is one of the better prospects in the A’s system and could be an option this summer so impressing the coaches today could speed up that promotion a bit. Zhuang is another starter prospect that has shown some promise and could also be an option sooner than later,
The A’s starting lineup for their first game of 2026:
The only sure-fire everyday starter in today’s lineup is center fielder Denzel Clarke, who will bat leadoff this afternoon. We all know about his elite defense in center field, now we need to see some production with his bat. Infielders Max Muncy and Darell Hernaiz are both in today’s lineup as they fight over the right to third base. Muncy seemingly has the edge because he’s getting the nod at the hot corner but Hernaiz could end up being the option because he’s capable of handling shortstop if the worst happened to Jacob Wilson. The battle for the hot corner begins!
Elsewhere in the starting lineup we see speedy/powerful outfielder Junior Perez getting the start in center field this afternoon, alongside fellow top prospect Henry Bolte in right field and Colby Thomas in left. The outfield situation is quickly getting crowded so these starts will be big for Perez to remind the coaching staff not to forget about him. He was, after all, added to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Time to start showing how smart the front office is.
Here’s how the White Sox will line up for today’s start to Cactus League games:
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Colby Thomas #32 of the Athletics celebrates hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park on September 14, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A seasoned center fielder camps under a lazy fly ball, drifting with it as it gets carried by a strong wind. Suddenly blinded by the intense desert sun, at the last moment the center fielder ducks and covers his head with his glove as the ball falls a few feet behind him on the outfield grass. Official scorer ruling: double.
That is just Exhibit A as to why spring training stats should be taken with a grain of salt — and then discarded. Exhibit B is the parade of A and AA players on the field by the 5th inning, Exhibit C the way the ball carries in the desert air, Exhibit D the helpless feeling a pitcher gets watching playable ground balls work their way through a B-squad infield.
Don’t get me wrong: spring training can indeed be a place jobs are won or lost. But not on numbers, by the many eyeballs focused on players who are on the bubble for a position or roster spot. So as the Cactus League opens today, here are some things to watch/listen for in the quest for the starting job at 3B or a bench role filling out the roster:
Max Muncy
Does he look more fluid and comfortable at 3B than when he learned it on the job during the 2025 season?
Can he maintain accuracy with his throws, something which has plagued Muncy whether at 2B, SS, or 3B?
Is he hitting the ball with more authority than the low exit velocities and squared up percentages he showed in 2025?
Is he more relaxed and patient at the plate, rather than jumpy as he was in his first go around with the big league club?
Regardless of what Muncy’s batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, or number or errors look like, the answers to these questions likely will inform whether he wins the 3B job that appears to be his to lose coming in.
Brett Harris & Darell Hernaiz
Muncy’s main competition for 3B, Harris and Hernaiz share the same ‘deadly flaw’ they are hoping to show coaches they have conquered at least to some degree: they simply don’t slug or drive the ball nearly enough.
If either player shows up to the Cactus League truly having adjusted his swing to where he can drive the ball more consistently, suddenly you have a far more legitimately 3B candidate on your hands.
Colby Thomas
Fighting for a bench spot, probably vying with Carlos Cortes for that 4th OFer role, Thomas needs to show that he can hunt strikes and not just “most pitches”. Thomas has the reputation of feeling like he can drive most any pitch, but in order to be successful at the big league level he is going to have to develop more discernment.
Nobody questions that when Thomas makes contact, the ball flies off his bat with impressive authority. But the chase rate, the tendency to put balls in play early in the count — these are qualities you can still thrive with against MiLB pitchers but not so much against MLB arms.
Junior Perez
Perez is starting in CF for the A’s in their opener and he might get a lot of looks with Denzel Clarke soon leaving to represent team Canada in the WBC.
We all know Perez is a gifted CFer, so how he fares against the Arizona sun and wind isn’t all that important. What matters is whether he looks like the hitter who thrived upon being moved up to AAA Las Vegas last year or whether he looks at all like the confuzzled and “in his own head” mess he was at AA Midland prior. A lot of that will be seen in approach and swing decisions as well as the ability to square up pitches in the zone.
There’s a sampling of relevant specifics worth following — it’s only position players leaving room for similar analysis with pitchers another day. Any to add? Or any modifications you would suggest for the areas I have identified for these players?
Play ball! Jack Perkins gets the start at 12:05 PST but I’m guessing he won’t go all 9.
Mar 14, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Garrett Stallings against the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Baseball is back!
The Milwaukee Brewers kick off their Cactus League slate Saturday afternoon in Phoenix as they’ll welcome the Cleveland Guardians in a battle of the two two-time reigning Managers of the Year in Pat Murphy and former Brewer Stephen Vogt.
Today’s game is one filled with non-roster invitees, including a few you may see in the World Baseball Classic in just a few weeks. On the mound, right-hander Garrett Stallings, 28, is slated to start after appearing in 30 games (15 starts) at Triple-A Nashville last season.
Brett Wichrowski, Tyson Hardin, Jaron DeBerry, Will Childers, Blake Holub, Manuel Rodríguez, Mark Manfredi, and Stiven Cruz are all slated to pitch as well. Cruz is among those WBC players, as he’ll represent Nicaragua.
In the lineup, Brice Turang leads off and starts at second base, followed by Jackson Chourio at DH, Akil Baddoo in left, and Joey Ortiz at shortstop batting cleanup. Tyler Black bats fifth at first base, Brandon Lockridge is in center, and new Brewers David Hamilton and Reese McGuire start at third and catcher, respectively. Prospect Luis Lara rounds out the order and starts in right.
A few quick updates from spring camp, courtesy of Adam McCalvy and Todd Rosiak:
A few injury updates from Pat Murphy:
RHP Gerson Garabito had surgery for a broken bone in his foot and he's out for four months.
Brock Wilken has a shoulder impingement that's not believed serious (he's DHing today).
Brewers players and coaches are wearing “FC United” shirts today in support of Frank Cairone, the pitching prospect who was hospitalized in January after a car crash. Cairone recently resumed some light throwing. pic.twitter.com/zpKrkx1Mmq
Two other quick notes: Jaison Chourio, Jackson’s younger brother and a top prospect for Cleveland, is part of the Guardians’ travel roster today, meaning we may see him go head-to-head with his brother. The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is also in play today. Pat Murphy had this to say in a conversation with McCalvy.
First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on 620 WTMJ and statewide on the Brewers Radio Network.
Feb 19, 2026; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson (85) during spring training photo day in Peoria, AZ. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
And we’re back.
Yesterday we got our first taste of Mariners baseball for 2026 , which is a great milestone to mark off the calendar. The pomp and circumstance may be somewhat lesser today, but we do get our first reminder for the steady rhythm of the season: the Mariners play every Saturday from now until Oct. 10, when the schedule makers offer a rest day before the ALCS. Hopefully it works out that way.
The Mariners roll out a lineup with dueling Emersons: Colt Emerson gets his first at bats of the spring and plays third base, while Emerson Hancock takes the mound for the first time. Both are looking to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 27: Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers looks on prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Texas Rangers infielder Cody Freeman has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back, the team announced today. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Freeman, who the beats say gave the team an injection of energy when he came up last August, was in the mix for a bench spot to start the season. This would seem to lock Ezequiel Duran in for the backup infielder spot, which, barring injury, would mean that one spot is still open among position players, given that Sam Haggerty appears to be a given.
The team also announced that Winston Santos has a fracture in his non-throwing hand, a result of being hit by a comebacker while throwing batting practice. He won’t be facing batters for the next four weeks, but he will be able to throw in that period, so once his left hand heals he should be able to get back into action pretty quick.
Santos missed most of the 2025 season due to injury, making only 6 starts — five for Frisco, one for Round Rock — before throwing 18 innings in the Arizona Fall League. I would expect he’ll start the season in Round Rock, though he could go back to AA Frisco to start the year.
Tarik Skubal is fresh off a record-setting $32 million dollar arbitration win and is one of the eight players on the MLB Players Association executive subcommittee, so his hands have been full this summer.
Skubal is also coming off back-to-back Cy Young awards and an absolute dominate showing in 2025. The 29-year-old LHP had a 2.21 ERA, 13-6 record, and career-highs in WHIP (0.89), WAR (6.6) innings pitched (195.1) to go along with 241 strikeouts to 33 walks. Looking over his baseball savant page, Skubal couldn't have really been better, unless he was a video game character playing on easy mode.
Tarik Skubal baseball savant page
Skubal is renown as the best pitcher in all of baseball, not just the AL, and a third-straight Cy Young would make him the sixth player to accomplish this feat after Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, Sandy Koufax, and Jim Palmer. Barring injury, Skubal will be a top-two candidate to win the AL Cy Young all season, and all trade rumors should be put to rest. The Tigers would be fools to deal Skubal.
2. Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox (+425)
The leash was off of Garrett Crochet last year in his debut season with Boston and it resulted in as second-place finish for the AL Cy Young. Crochet totaled four first-place votes and 26 second-place votes last year finishing behind Tarik Skubal and ahead of Hunter Brown, Max Fried, and Bryan Woo.
Crochet led all of baseball in strikeouts (255), was second in wins (18), second in innings pitched (205.1), sixth in ERA (2.59), eighth in WHIP (1.03), and 12th in OBA (.217). Crochet matched his 2024 season with 32 games started, but tripled his wins from 6 to 18 and added almost 60 more innings pitched going from the White Sox to the Red Sox. The 26-year-old LHP is entering his prime and is the biggest contender to Skubal.
I bet Crochet last year to win AL Cy Young and he came as close as possible despite Skull's fantastic season. I will run it back and bet on Crochet to win the award, as it's difficult to win three consecutive Cy Young's and pitch 190-plus innings in three straight years.
3. Max Fried, New York Yankees (+1700)
In his first season with the Yankees, Max Fried led the MLB in wins (19) and set a career-high in victories, plus innings pitched (195.1), strikeouts (189), and games started (32). The 32-year-old picked up where he left off in 2021 and 2022 with the Braves and dominated the regular season.
The last time we saw Fried, he was bombarded for seven earned runs on eight hits against the Blue Jays in a Game 2 loss, which I'm sure added some fuel to the fire for this upcoming season. Fried finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting last season with six third-place votes, 20 fourth-place votes, and three fifth-place votes.
The Yankees get Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon back from injuries this season, so New York's rotation won't rely on Fried as heavily. I think a third-place finish is likely for the lefty and his odds should be a little shorter to match Hunter Brown (+1300), Cole Ragans (+1300) and the next pitcher on my list.
Before we get there, her are the top candidates for American League Cy Young courtesy of DraftKings.
American League Cy Young odds via DraftKings
4. Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers (+1300)
Last season, Jacob deGrom recorded his most wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, and more since 2019. After being riddled with injuries over the last five seasons, with the Mets and Rangers, the 37-year-old won American League Comeback Player of the Year.
deGrom had the second-best WHIP (0.92) behind Skubal, the fifth-best OBA (.196), and the 12th-best ERA (2.97). If he posts similar numbers, drops the ERA a bit, and can give Texas more than 172 innings of work, then he should be a top five contender for the Cy Young. deGrom won back-to-back Cy Young awards in the 2018 and 2019, which were the last healthy seasons for the veteran.
With only a few years left before retirement, deGrom's last chance to join the elite ranks of an AL and NL Cy Young trophy is running out. Since 2000, only Max Scherzer has won a Cy Young in the AL and NL. Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens are two more stars who accomplished this feat in the 1990's. With Skubal and Crochet in their primes, I personally don't see deGrom winning this season, but anything can happen.
A sleeper for this award is deGrom's teammate, MacKenzie Gore (+4000). Gore joins the Rangers after a 5-15 season with the Nationals and a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 159.2 innings pitched. The trio of deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Gore will be one of the most fun pitching rotations in baseball this year.
5. Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers (+2200)
This may come as a surprise having Framber Valdez as my No. 5 pick for Cy Young, but the move to Detroit was massive. Valdez has five-straight seasons of double-digit wins, four consecutive of 176-plus innings pitched, and at least 169 strikeouts over the past four years.
While Valdez is coming off his worst ERA (3.66) since 2020, the former Astro posted the second-best WAR of his career (3.8) and tied for the most games started (31). Valdez is durable and he will join Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize in one of the best rotations in not just the American League, but all of baseball. That rotation will boost Valdez's status and he won't be playing indoors as often like he was with Houston.
Detroit has hitters all over the lineup and I fully expect Valdez to post another double-digit win season and a sub 3.00 ERA like he did in 2022 and 2024. Winning the award is a different story though with Skubal in the lineup, but Valdez could be a top-five finisher for Cy Young and beat out guys with better odds like Hunter Brown (+1300) or Cole Ragans (+1300).
MLB Futures Card
3 units: Pittsburgh Pirates Over 76.5 Wins (-115) 1 unit: Pittsburgh Pirates to win NL Central (+800) 1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+250) 1 unit: Garrett Crochet to win AL CY Young (+425) 0.5 unit: Konnor Griffin to win NL Rookie of the Year (+600) 0.5 unit: Bubba Chandler to win NL Rookie of the Year (+1200)
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SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 11: Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches live during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener yesterday was a resounding success, at least if you’re a pitcher or Pete Alonso. The Birds’ newest slugger mashed a two-run homer in his O’s spring debut to provide all the offense in a 2-0 win over the Yankees. Trevor Rogers, Keegan Akin, Rico Garcia, Grant Wolfram, Jose Espada, and Trey Gibson combined on a three-hit shutout, with Gibson pitching the final three innings for the save. All of those guys except Gibson are either locks or strong candidates for the Opening Day roster, so it’s nice to see them all start well.
The O’s have a return engagement at Ed Smith Stadium today against the Pirates. Dean Kremer, who will soon be leaving the Orioles to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, takes the mound today. It’s strange to think that Kremer might have to compete for a rotation spot, but that may be the case, as he, Chris Bassitt, and Zach Eflin (if healthy) are three candidates for two openings behind Rogers, Kyle Bradish, and Shane Baz.
Today’s game marks the Orioles debuts for Taylor Ward and Blaze Alexander, while Dylan Beavers and Ryan Mountcastle will also be starting for the first time this spring. Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the latter of whom will soon leave for the WBC as well, are the only Orioles from yesterday’s game who are starting again today. They’ll take on Pirates prospect Wilber Dotel. Former Orioles Ryan O’Hearn and Billy Cook are in the Pirates’ lineup this afternoon.
The game will be televised on MASN and on radio on 98 Rock.
Orioles lineup:
LF Taylor Ward C Adley Rutschman 1B Ryan Mountcastle 2B Blaze Alexander DH Gunnar Henderson RF Dylan Beavers CF Leody Taveras 3B Weston Wilson SS Luis Vázquez
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (right) and pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) shake hands after pitching drills during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander talks to pitching coach Chris Fetter after practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
CUBS vs. RANGERS: The Cubs will also face the Rangers in a Spring Training game Tuesday, March 10 at Surprise Stadium. The teams will play a three-game regular season series in Arlington, Texas May 8-9-10.
UPCOMING STARTERS: Colin Rea will start Sunday against the Giants at Scottsdale and Ben Brown will go against the Royals Monday at Surprise.
Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Daniel Palencia, Hoby Milner, Luke Little, Jack Neely and Jeff Brigham.
Kumar Rocker will start for the Rangers. Other Rangers pitchers scheduled today: Cal Quantrill, Luis Curvelo, Carter Baumler and Patrick Murphy.
Today’s game will be on Marquee Sports Network. There will also be a radio broadcast on 670 The Score, as well as on the Rangers radio channel, Rangers 105.3.
Please note that during spring training, Gameday sometimes doesn’t go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season — usually, it will update after each at-bat.
Please visit our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball. If you do go there to interact with Rangers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Jackson Ferris #93 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a throwing session during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers on Sunday take on the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex for their second game of the spring schedule.
Jackson Ferris gets the start on the mound on Sunday. The Branch Rickey Award in 2024 as the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year, Ferris struggled at times in Double-A Tulsa last season but rebounded down the stretch with a 1.95 ERA and three home runs allowed over his final 15 starts of 2025.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Arizona Diamondbacks infielder, Nolan Arenado steps up to the plate during the first 2026 spring training game at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 20, 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks went onto beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Lawlar Gets Center Field Nod Once the team takes the field today, Jordan Lawlar will begin to make his case for or against all the faith that has been placed in him over the last few years.
Arenado Discusses Full Circle Home Run Jake McCarthy was wearing Colorado purple and Nolan Arenado was wearing Arizona colours. McCarthy showed he still has wheels. Arenado showed he still has pop in his bat. The veteran third baseman reflects on swatting a dinger against the club that brought him up.
Arizona’s Top Prospect Getting a Taste Arizona’s top prospect, Ryan Waldschmidt, is getting an opportunity to impress this spring. The slugging outfielder is unlikely to make the opening day roster, but this is an opportunity to put himself on the fast track to MLB promotion.
Bill Mazerowski Passes Away at 89 The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that 17-year Pirate, and Hall of Famer, Bill Mazerowski passed away yesterday. As one of the greatest Bucs of all-time, he will be missed.
If you aren’t already familiar with the name Dax Whitney, get familiar with him ASAP.
2027 MLB Draft 1.01 candidate – and if he was in the draft this year, he would very much challenge UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky for that slot. #MLB#NCAA#MiLBhttps://t.co/bx6KNPyTJR
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a batting drill during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers open their Cactus League schedule on Saturday afternoon, hitting the road to face the Angels at Diablo Stadium in Tempe. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is on the mound for Game 1, plus regulars Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernández, and Andy Pages occupying the top three lineup slots. Here are the active players making the trip to Tempe.
Lineup
Shohei Ohtani DH Teoscar Hernández LF Andy Pages CF Dalton Rushing C (starting on his 25th birthday) Santiago Espinal 3B Hyeseong Kim 2B Alex Freeland SS Ryan Ward 1B Zach Ehrhard RF
Yamamoto starting on the mound
Other pitchers
Paul Gervase is the other Dodgers 40-man pitcher on the trip, as are non-roster invitees Ryder Ryan, Wyatt Mills, Luke Fox, Antoine Kelly, and Adam Serwinowski.
From minor league camp, Nicolas Cruz (wearing uniform number 05), Cody Morse (06), Antonio Knowles (90), Christian Suarez (91), and Cam Day (93) made the trip
Other position players
Non-roster invitees who made the trip east are outfielders Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Kendall George, and James Tibbs III, plus infielders Keston Kiura, Nick Senzel, and Ryan Fitzgerald, and catchers Griffin Lockwood-Powell and Nelson Quiroz.
Infielder Sean McClain (wearing number 87) is also on the trip, from minor league camp.
Peoria, AZ - February 18: Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres waits for a throw during a spring training practice on February 18, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The 2026 MLB season is finally upon us and, with it, one of the sport’s newest major rule changes since commissioner Rob Manfred took up the mantle in 2015. The ABS (automated ball-strike system) is here.
As with many rule changes, fans of the sport are divided over it, but it’s here to stay. Because of that, teams will have to spend Spring Training figuring out a strategy for how to use the rules to their advantage. How will the San Diego Padres utilize this system in their clubhouse?
San Diego’s strategy
New Padres manager Craig Stammen offered some thoughts this week on the introduction of the system into MLB. “I want… to use at least [the] first challenge not with two out and nobody on but save it for a key situation,” Stammen said. This has been the prevailing idea for ABS with the majority of MLB clubs.
It’s worth wondering whether or not that philosophy will cause challenges to be hoarded by teams and end up unused (when they could have been in situations that may not have been deemed important enough to warrant it at the time). If teams go in without a strategy for utilizing the new system, they’ll get left behind, and San Diego cannot afford to lose ground on their opponents before the season even starts.
Behind the dish
That’s what makes one particular position so fascinating to look at when it comes to this new system. The catcher has, by far, the best view of the strike zone, as well as (hopefully) the greatest comprehension of what is and is not in the zone. My guess is that catchers will be given far more leeway than other players when it comes to challenging these calls.
In yesterday’s opener to Spring Training, Padres catcher Luis Campusano challenged two called balls and got both challenges correct, turning them into strikes (one of which resulted in a strikeout of Seattle Mariners star catcher, Cal Raleigh). It will be interesting to see how much, if any, value is added to the catcher position because of this system.
It’s possible that this added value affects the catcher race between current starter Freddy Fermin, Campusano and minor-league pickup Blake Hunt. After only one game played, time will tell.
There “will be strategies we come up with as we go through Spring Training,” Stammen said. “We’ll need to see who is good at it and who is not… that will be part of it. There should be some revoking of people’s challenge opportunities.”
As Spring Training continues on, will we see some players challenge less because of their poor knowledge of the zone? Will others challenge more often because they have it down? One thing’s for sure: pitchers will not be challenging.
What about the guy on the mound?
It’s an important and fair question. Why would pitchers not be trusted to challenge? A former pitcher himself, Stammen said “Pitchers are very trustworthy. However, they’re highly emotional while pitching. And they’re also the farthest away from the strike zone… [they] will have limited opportunities to challenge.” A lot of that makes sense. It’s likely that pitchers are liable to trust their stuff and still be wrong about the call.
That being said, pitchers are probably going to want to challenge the call, but they will likely be stopped from doing so. The Padres would be wise to avoid this as well. It’s easy to get heated in the moment on what you think is a bad call when, in reality, it’s off the plate.
The takeaway
With all that still to be solved before spring wraps up, it’s certain now that – love it or hate it – ABS is here to stay for the ‘26 season (and likely beyond). It’s impossible to ignore that robust knowledge of the strike zone already added value to players, this rule change just makes it more tangible.
Instead of simply being upset about a call batters know is bad, and being forced to protect by swinging at a bad pitch, the hitter can now take the at-bat into his own hands and change the outcome. It’s a wonderful merge of accurately calling games and maintaining the human component of the game we all love.
Nothing’s set in stone for the Friars now, but it’s important a strategy is formed in the weeks leading up to Opening Day. Otherwise, they’ll find themselves floundering without a way to use this new aspect of the game to their advantage.
