Feb 26, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a RBI double in the second inning against the Florida Marlins during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Marlins 8 Blue Jays 7
When I had to leave the Blue Jays had this one well in hand, but they gave up 4 runs in the 8th and 2 more in the 9th and lost.
Pitchers:
Kevin Gausman: 1 inning, 1 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts. A nice start to his spring.
Tyler Rogers: 1 ining, clean, 2 strikeouts.
Yariel Rodriguez: 1 inning, 2 hits, 1 earned, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. I’ve seen him twice this spring and he hasn’t impressed. He’s going to have to be a lot better than this to get back on the 40-man roster.
Spencer Miles: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 earned, 2 walks and 1 strikeout. It wasn’t a good outing, but he got to 98 mph on the fastball. He’s making a case to be on the team.
Gage Stanifer: Got two outs, no hits, 3 earned, 2 walks 2 strikeouts, 1 hit batter.
Geison Urbaez: One out, 2hits, 1 earned,
Michael Plassmeyer: 1 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned, 1 k. Got the loss.
Hitters, Starters:
George Springer: 0 for 2, walk. His first game of the spring. No need to panic. He’s done this before, he knows he doesn’t need to play in every spring game to get ready:
Daulton Varsho: 2 for 2, walk, double. Hitting .625 this spring.
Vladimir Guerrero: 1 for 3, RBI. .286. And stole a base. I wish he wouldn’t try to steal, but stole it easy.
Addison Barger: 0 for 3, RBI, 2 strikeouts. .000.
Alejandro Kirk: 1 for 2, double, walk, strikeout. .222.
Kazuma Okamoto: 1 for 3, double, 2 RBI, strikeout. .333.
Ernie Clement: 0 for 3. .500.
Andrés Giménez: 2 for 3, home run, double. .222.
Myles Straw: 1 for 2, walk. .250.
Others:
Eloy Jiménez: 0 for 2, strikeout. .500.
Rafael Lantigua: 1 for 1. .500.
Je’Von Ward: 0 for 1, strikeout.
Riley Tirotta: 0 for 2, strikeout. .125.
RJ Schreck: 0 for 2, strikeout. .222.
Brandon Valenzuela: 0 for 2. .200. Looks good behind the plate. I”ll bet that we see him in Toronto at some point this season.
Charles McAdoo: 0 for 1. .333. He’s impressing me with his defense at third.
Cade Doughty: 0 for 1.
Josh Rivera: 0 for 2, strikeout.
Josh Kasevich: 1 for 1. .571.
Carlos Mendoza: 0 for 1.
The Jays are now 1 and 4 this spring. It doesn’t look like they going to win the Grapefruit League Crown again this year.
Tell us who has impressed you this spring, so far.
Los Angeles, CA - November 03: Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Mark Walter during a celebration of the Los Angeles Dodgers back to back World Championship at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday, November 3, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Can the way a baseball team operates be successfully imitated in basketball? Lakers fans are about to find out.
Not only is their new majority owner Mark Walter in charge of the Dodgers, but he’s also bringing some of those talents to the Lakers. Lon Rosen is now the President of Business Operations for the Lakers after spending the last decade-plus with the Dodgers.
The plan, according to Pelinka and sources, is for the Lakers to expand its front office around the president of basketball operations by reforming its college scouting staff, building a modern pro scouting department and adding to its existing analytics department. The goal is to mirror the Los Angeles Dodgers’ successful front office, which has mastered player identification and development, in addition to working with a seemingly unlimited payroll.
While baseball fans complain about the Dodgers’ wealth, a lot of their success stems from their ability to identify and develop players. Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger won back-to-back National League Rookie of the Year Awards in 2016 and ‘17.
The Dodgers continue to develop young prospects like Josue De Paula, who will likely impact the team’s success in the future. This is why the Dodgers are considered by many baseball experts to be one of the best organizations at developing homegrown talent.
There are also players like Chris Taylor and Max Muncy, who were miscast or misused with other franchises but landed with the Dodgers and became key pieces to winning teams. In a sport with a salary cap like the NBA, being able to identify those types of players is even more valuable than in baseball.
The Lakers have found plenty of quality players in the draft before, from top picks like Lonzo Ball to undrafted players like Austin Reaves. Recently, though, they missed on their first round selections, such as Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Dalton Kencht is out of the rotation and viewed as a negative asset by NBA scouts.
Given that the Lakers let go of the Buss brothers, who were integral to the scouting department, bringing in new people is a top priority. Tony Bennett has recently been brought on as an NBA Draft advisor, the first publicly announced hire for the team’s scouting department.
The idea of copying the Dodgers’ dynasty and applying it to the Lakers is exciting, but basketball is an entirely different sport.
The Lakers can’t spend on players like the Dodgers under the NBA’s CBA. They can, however, spare no expense on all other hires. Being aggressive in providing the franchise with as many top resources as possible will give them the best chance of success.
Things might be changing all around the Lakers front office, but at the top, it will remain the same.
The Lakers will need people who understand NBA basketball and its politics at the highest level for this to work anywhere near as well as it has for the Walter’s baseball team. Perhaps that’s the role Pelinka can thrive in.
Hopefully, the number of new people like Bennett and the workers Walter trusts, like Rosen, can blend to make something special in downtown Los Angeles. And soon, the baby Lakers will be a sign that the front office is winning in the margins while its star players rack up victories on the floor.
Tyler Glasnow made his first start of spring training a good one, pitching two perfect innings and striking out four against the Chicago White Sox Thursday at Camelback Ranch. (Norm Hall / Getty Images)
Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow is an admitted overthinker. But you wouldn't know it based on his efficient first spring training start Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.
Glasnow pitched two-plus innings, retiring the first six batters before coming out after giving up a single to start the third inning. Using a pitch mix that included a fastball that sat at 97 mph, Glasnow struck out the side in the first inning before recording another strikeout to close out the second. Having thrown just 28 pitches, Glasnow started the third inning and threw three more pitches before coming out of the Dodgers' 7-6 win.
"Very in rhythm," manager Dave Roberts said after the game. "Very efficient, used his entire pitch mix, it was really good. Good to see him get into the third inning. Positive day."
The 32-year-old entering his third season with the Dodgers credits his coaches for keeping his mechanics on point.
"It allows me to just go out and pitch and be athletic," Glasnow said after his outing. "I'm able to just go out and play baseball as opposed to trying to tinker and fix certain stuff."
Though he was plagued by injuries in his second season with the Dodgers, Glasnow finished on a high note, giving up just four earned runs over 21-1/3 postseason innings, good for a 1.69 ERA, pitching as a starter and a reliever. It was Glasnow’s first taste of the postseason as a Dodger, since a right-elbow injury ended his 2024 campaign in August, and was highlighted by his first career save in Game 6 of the World Series.
Glasnow called the experience "great."
"When you go in with all those nerves and that pressure and that excitement, it’s just such an unbelievable feeling to go out [there]," he said last week. "Especially to be a starter and a reliever and just to be thrown into different situations. It was awesome. It was extremely memorable for me, and I’m craving to do it again. And hopefully we can do it again and get a three-peat.”
Looking to build off his impressive postseason, Glasnow enters the season with a newfound confidence.
Last year Glasnow was placed on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation at the end of April and did not pitch again until just before the All-Star Break. The Santa Clarita native has a long history of injuries — including Tommy John surgery in 2021 — and never has clocked more than 135 innings in a season.
Over the winter he got married and made adjustments that he hopes will better his health. A successful season means staying off the IL.
“Pitching well and staying healthy,” Glasnow said when asked about goals. “Just doing all that and trying to make as many starts as I can, and just executing every start and being healthy in the postseason.”
Mookie Betts to make Cactus League debut soon
With most of the Dodgers’ regulars having made their spring debuts, there is one who has yet to get an at-bat in a Cactus League game: Mookie Betts. Roberts said his star shortstop will not play until Sunday at the earliest.
“It’s load management," Roberts said. "I wanted Mookie to start a little bit later, as far as not getting into spring training ready to go, and kind of use spring training to build up, given it’s six weeks. So, he’s building up nicely. So, he’ll be in the lineup soon.”
Hyeseong Kim departs for WBC
Infielder Hyeseong Kim played his final spring training game Thursday, Roberts confirmed, as the utility man is set to join Team South Korea for the World Baseball Classic.
Kim has been perhaps the Dodgers’ most pleasant surprise of the spring, batting .462 with a 1.154 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, five RBIs and a home run in the sixth inning Thursday, while playing deft defense at second base and in center field.
It's a key development since Tommy Edman will start the season on the IL.
“He’s had a great spring,” Roberts said of Kim. “I think his confidence is continuing to grow. His comfort level, being around the guys. I think he’s taking great at-bats. It was good to see him in center field yesterday. He made a couple of nice plays out in center field. We’re going to lose him shortly. He’s going to go to his team for the WBC, which I’m excited for him. Disappointed that we can’t watch him every day, but he’s had a great spring and looking forward to him having a great WBC and getting back.”
Feb 25, 2026; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) looks on in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields...
PHOENIX –– Hyeseong Kim is building from the ground up this spring.
Last year, the 27-year-old South Korean import did not have the rookie season he wanted. His struggles, however, were hardly unexpected.
Hyeseong Kim is building from the ground up this spring. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While the contact-first hitter enjoyed great success in his KBO career, he was ill-equipped to handle MLB pitching when he arrived on a three-year, $12.5 million contract last winter.
His swing was too “twisted,” in the words of Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates. His inability to adjust to breaking pitches made him an easy target for big-league arms to attack.
That’s why, over the last year, Dodgers hitting coaches have meticulously worked to alter his mechanics.
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First, they focused on Kim’s legs, trying to get the strong-for-his-size, 5-foot-10 infielder to use the ground to generate more power and stability. Then, they honed in on the alignment of his torso and back, making subtle adjustments aimed at keeping Kim squared up to the ball longer.
“He twisted (in his swing) before, where his body would almost get twisted behind his back,” Bates said this week. “Now, we’re basically trying to keep him more square, longer, with the way he loads and swings. Using the ground first and then going ground up.”
So far this spring, the results have been encouraging.
That’s why, over the last year, Dodgers hitting coaches have meticulously worked to alter his mechanics. Getty Images
In four Cactus League games, Kim is batting 6 for 13, punctuating his improvements with a towering home run in Thursday’s 7-6 win over the White Sox.
“What I’ve seen so far from Hyeseong,” manager Dave Roberts said, “has been really good stuff.”
So good, it has put him in position for a more prominent role to open the 2026 season.
Last spring, Kim failed to crack the Opening Day roster, spending the first month of the season in Triple-A. Then, after a briefly auspicious debut that saw him hit .383 over his first 36 games in the majors, his play gradually regressed as his role on the big-league club diminished.
From July on, he hit just .175 while missing time with a shoulder injury. In the playoffs, his only on-field action came as a pinch runner.
“I was not satisfied last year,” Kim said through his interpreter recently, after finishing 2025 with a .280 batting average overall, but only a .699 OPS and a 30.6% strikeout rate that was well above league average.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I found out some of the things that I needed to work on,” Kim added. “I just want to work hard and make sure that I make the roster right off the bat after spring training.”
A month out from Opening Day this year, Kim is on track to do just that.
He entered camp in a strong spot, having spent the final few weeks of the winter in Los Angeles working with Dodgers coaches on swing changes he said he felt “about 70% comfortable” with by the end of last season.
And with Tommy Edman ruled out for the start of the season, Kim is now making a strong case for a utility role with his spring play –– pushing for playing time at second base (where he could be a left-handed-hitting platoon partner for Miguel Rojas) and in the outfield (where he could be a backup option to Andy Pages in center field).
Kim still isn’t a lock to break camp with the big-league club. He will soon leave Arizona to join Team South Korea for the World Baseball Classic, something Roberts acknowledged will complicate the team’s ability to evaluate him for the next several weeks.
Still, he has already shown the progress the Dodgers were hoping to see after last year.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I think he’s closed some of those holes (where pitchers used to exploit him),” Roberts said. “The hitting guys worked really hard on cleaning some things up for him mechanically.”
Even before the start of Cactus League play, Kim impressed in live batting practice sessions against the Dodgers’ talented pitching staff (including an opposite-field home run off Yoshinobu Yamamoto last week).
Then, in what was his final game before leaving for the WBC, he produced his most promising moment yet with his big fly on Thursday.
After falling behind in the count 0 and 2, Kim laid off a couple pitches, stayed square and on-time against an inside sweeper, and pulled a 384-foot home run over the right field bullpen at Camelback Ranch.
“Those are good signs,” Bates said, “when he’s basically letting the ball travel and can make decisions later (on each swing).”
The Dodgers’ final decision on Kim’s role can also wait for now. The team will monitor his performance in the WBC but make no sweeping assessments on his performance in the tournament.
Instead, they will wait for him to return and then keep working on the ground-up swing changes that finally seem to be clicking.
“He’s had a great camp so far,” Roberts said. “The home run was icing on the cake.”
Tanner Murray continues his early-spring heater, launching his second Cactus League homer to briefly pull the Sox even in a back-and-forth battle with the Dodgers. | (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
First things first: Munetaka Murakami is just fine. Skipper Will Venable originally had the slugger penciled in the starting lineup, but he scratched him before first pitch. That is never a sight you want to see in late February. But crisis averted. Deep breaths all around.
Munetaka Murakami has been scratched from the lineup with general fatigue. White Sox say it’s precautionary in advance of his long travel day to Japan for the WBC.
And while we’re here, best of luck to Mune and all the White Sox representing their countries in the World Baseball Classic. It’s going to be a blast watching them. We’ll hold down the fort.
For the Dodgers, Tyler Glasnow looked like an All-Star caliber righthander tuning up for meaningful games. He needed just two quick innings to demonstrate why he makes the big bucks. Three up, three down in the first on consecutive punchouts. Then it was on to the second, and he was equally as efficient. Edgar Quero and Curtis Mead did at least manage to put wood on the ball, but both grounders were routine.
Dave Roberts even sent Glasnow back out for the third because when you’re carving up hitters like a Thanksgiving turkey, why not? Braden Montgomery finally broke through, however, with a sharp single to left, ending Glasnow’s afternoon after 32 pitches (22 strikes, because of course).
The new offensive Sox did make that brief crack count, though. Carson Hobbs entered with one on and nobody out, and Tanner Murray, everyone’s early Cactus League folk hero, unloaded for his second bomb of the spring to knot things at 2-2. Suddenly, the dugout had a little juice.
Ryan Galanie followed with a base hit, and after Austin Hays struck out, Kyle Teel ripped a double to right. The line kept on moving with Lenyn Sosa lifting a long sacrifice fly and Quero adding an RBI single. Four runs in the frame and the Good Guys now led 4-2. Important to note, though, that before we start planning the parade, Hobbs is a 23-year-old Double-A arm. Well, at least we know these guys would be killing it if they played in Birmingham.
Sean Newcomb opened the game for the South Siders by allowing a single and a walk, and then two fly outs later, it was 1-0. In the second, Alex Call singled, Hyeseong Kim moved him over, and Miguel Rojas brought him home. Efficient and annoying. Overall, it was an afternoon of death by a thousand cuts because this is what the Dodgers do. Just little paper cuts over and over until you look down and realize you’re bleeding.
Chris Murphy took over for Newcomb in the third and watched Will Smith double, advance on a wild pitch, and score on a ground out. In the fifth, Smith went ahead and tied it himself with a solo shot because, of course, he did.
The Sox briefly reclaimed the lead in the sixth when Curtis Mead launched a two-out, nobody-on dinger to make it 5-4. A response and a punch back. I appreciate that.
Former North Sider and non-roster invitee Tyson Miller entered and immediately served up back-to-back home runs to Keston Hiura and Hyeseong Kim. Just like that, it was 6-5 Dodgers. Then, a walk, a ground out, and a single later, Los Angeles had a two-run lead. Good times. Thanks, Cubs. Miller recorded just two outs and did little to inspire confidence.
To their absolute credit, the Sox didn’t fold. This Will Venable club sure has got some fight in them, but I’m just not sure there’s quite enough talent yet.
In the eighth, Drew Romo singled, and 20-year-old prospect George Wolkow tripled off 27-year-old Kyle Hurt to trim the deficit to one. The pressure was on with just out, but Hurt buckled down, striking out Quero and Matt Hogan to escape.
Duncan Davitt entered for the Sox and quietly did his job, tossing the seventh and eighth while allowing just one hit and striking out two. It was the kind of tidy spring outing that earns a few extra looks.
In the ninth, the Sox finally drew their first walk of the afternoon to get the leadoff man aboard. Unfortunately, it lasted approximately one batter as Jacob Gonzalez rolled into a double play, and the rally was officially dead.
Eight hits. Six runs. Twelve strikeouts. Two walk. The bats are staying aggressive, but maybe it’s too aggressive. While the Sox showed some thump, they’ve got to manufacture a few more free passes and be better with RISP (only 1-for-4 again today) if they want more of these back-and-forth games to fall their way.
With the loss, Chicago drops its second straight and falls to 4-3 this spring. The Dodgers remain a perfect 6-0. The rich get richer. On to the next Spring Training marathon.
Feb 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Tyler Black (7) scores on a double by second baseman David Hamilton (6) in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
If Tyler Black is playing for a roster spot, he’s off to a good start this spring. He collected three more hits this afternoon as the Brewers won their third straight game, 5-1 over the Rangers.
Black started his day out with a double in the first inning, though the Brewers didn’t manage anything else. In the next inning, Eddys Leonard and Luis Lara led off the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Lara ended up getting caught stealing second, and Leonard was left stranded at third.
On the mound, Aaron Ashby made his first spring appearance. It started a little rough, with back-to-back singles allowed with two outs in the first. Ashby left them stranded to escape the first scoreless. He allowed another single to Josh Smith to start the second, but picked Smith off as he tried to steal second. Ashby allowed a walk after that, but a double play ended the inning. Overall, Ashby allowed three hits and a walk over two innings without recording a strikeout.
The Brewers scored first in the third inning. Brandon Lockridge was hit by a pitch with one out, then Black singled to put runners at the corners for the second straight inning. Gary Sánchez drove in the first run with an RBI single to center, putting Milwaukee up 1-0. Plate patience paid off from there, with Leonard and Lara drawing back-to-back walks to bring in the second run.
In the next inning, Cooper Pratt hit a leadoff single, and Lockridge added a one-out single to put runners at the corners for the third straight inning. Black brought them both in with an RBI triple hit hard to right field, putting the Brewers up 4-0. It was Black’s third hit of the day and left him a home run short of the cycle. He would get a chance to complete the cycle in the sixth, but struck out for his only out of the day. Including that strikeout, he is now 8-for-12 this spring.
Tyler Black has three more hits today, including an RBI triple…
DL Hall pitched the third and fourth innings for the Brewers. He allowed a single and a walk in the third inning but did not allow either to score. In the fourth, former Brewer Danny Jansen led off the inning for the Rangers with a single. A wild pitch from Hall allowed Jansen to get to second, and Ezequiel Durán drove him in with an RBI single. Hall had a second wild pitch in the inning, but did not allow another run to score. He finished the day with one run, three hits, and one walk allowed, with one strikeout.
The Brewers’ fifth run came in the ninth inning with the reserves in the game. Dasan Brown drew a leadoff walk to start the inning. With one out, Brock Wilken pinch-hit for Sánchez. During the at-bat, Brown stole second, but Rangers’ catcher Ben Hartl had a throwing error on the play that allowed Brown reach third. Wilken finished the at-bat with a walk, and Luis Castillo followed with a single to score Brown.
On offense, the Brewers had 11 hits and five walks as a team. Lockridge reached base three times with a hit, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Leonard and Lara had a hit and a walk each. Several other Brewers also reached base at least once.
Out of the bullpen, Grant Anderson pitched a clean fifth and recorded a strikeout in his spring debut. Craig Yoho had to work around a hit and a walk in the sixth, but finished the inning scoreless with a strikeout. Jacob Waguespack followed that with a clean seventh inning, striking out one. Tate Kuehner closed out the final two innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four.
The Brewers are back home tomorrow to play the White Sox. First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m. CT, and it will be on the Brewers Radio Network.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 04: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies is greeted by teammates before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies’ starting rotation has been the backbone of their climb to back to back National League East titles. When Zack Wheeler went down last year to an unexpected surgery, it made his 2026 season look dire. Now, we’re even closer to his returning in full.
Zack Wheeler threw off a mound Thursday, a huge step in his recovery from thoracic outlet surgery in his right side. The team thought it was the right time, so they let him go.
“The velo was good, the ball flight was good,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said following a 7-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Nationals. “He hit the glove. It was good. He felt great. We’ll check him tomorrow, find out how he’s feeling and get a plan going moving forward.”
Wheeler throwing off the mound makes one possibly think that maybe he can be ready earlier than usual, but let’s pump the brakes a bit.
But asked if Wheeler could be ready for big league games in six weeks, Thomson said, “Possibly.”
Possibly doesn’t mean likely, however. Wheeler’s timeline is fluid. They will not rush him back.
His health is too important.
“It all depends on how he feels and how he recovers,” Thomson said. “It’s new stuff, and it’s different from a lot of other injuries. You can’t pin it down to a week or a day, really.”
Still, it’s good to hear that he has taken this step. Now, the strength building can begin.
Shohei Ohtani’s hunt to help Team Japan win its second straight World Baseball Classic is officially underway.
The Dodgers superstar formally joined his Japanese teammates on the field at Vantelin Dome Nagoya on Thursday — just days after he left Los Angeles at its spring training workouts in Arizona.
Shohei Ohtani pitching in a Japan national baseball team uniform with his name and number 16 on the back. APShohei Ohtani joined his Team Japan teammates on Thursday, just days before the start of the World Baseball Classic. AP
While Ohtani is not expected to pitch in the tournament, which kicks off next week, he was nonetheless seen warming up his throwing arm in the outfield.
Wearing a blue and red No. 16 jersey, he was also spotted loosening up with bands and enjoying the company of some of his closest baseball pals on the diamond.
Shohei Ohtani, a two-way Dodgers star, is not expected to pitch in the WBC. JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images
Team Japan is considered one of the favorites to win the WBC, as its lineup not only includes Ohtani, but also Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida and Cubs star Seiya Suzuki.
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Team Japan — which took down the United States to win the WBC title in 2023 — will open up play in this year’s iteration of the tournament on March 6 in Tokyo in a game against Chinese Taipei.
As for Team USA, whose roster includes Othani’s friends Clayton Kershaw and Will Smith, it kicks off its WBC schedule on March 6 against Brazil in Houston.
The Cubs lost to the Angels 5-4 in Tempe Thursday, but the big story of this one was Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd. Boyd had allowed five hits in less than two innings in his first spring start earlier this week.
Thursday afternoon in Tempe, Boyd was much better. He retired all nine Angels he faced — many of them expected to be on their Opening Day roster — and struck out three. He threw an efficient 34 pitches (23 strikes) and here’s how he struck out Mike Trout:
Boyd had seven swings-and-misses and looked really sharp. This is likely his last outing before heading to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. Team USA is having a workout next Monday in preparation for an exhibition game against the Giants in Scottsdale next Wednesday. Then they will head to Houston to begin WBC pool play against Brazil a week from tomorrow.
The Cubs took an early lead on doubles by Jefferson Rojas and Dylan Carlson in the first inning, although Carlson got himself picked off second to end the inning.
Then the Cubs added a pair in the second. Chas McCormick doubled and went to third on a single by James Triantos. McCormick then scored on a sac fly by Pedro Ramirez. A double by Justin Dean and walk drawn by Scott Kingery loaded the bases, and the Cubs’ third run scored when Michael Busch was hit by a pitch.
Unfortunately, Jaxon Wiggins got knocked around in an inning and a third of work. He faced 10 batters and six of them had hits. The Angels scored one off Wiggins in the fourth and four in the fifth to take the lead, with five runs overall charged to Wiggins. So Wiggins’ first spring outing was… not one he’ll want to remember, except for learning purposes.
After that a lot of the Cubs regulars departed. Riley Martin took over in the sixth and there was a brief delay while Craig Counsell and the Cubs trainer had a look at Martin after a pitch, but Martin stayed in the game. He threw a scoreless sixth.
Minor league plate umpire Louie Krupa had four calls challenged in this game and all four were overturned.
And that’s pretty much it from this game. Dylan Carlson had two hits and is 4-for-8 in the early spring going with three walks. It’s really hard to tell whether Carlson or McCormick has the “lead” in the fourth outfielder race, given the very small sample size. You can be sure, though, that both will get more opportunities, especially with Pete Crow-Armstrong departing soon for the WBC.
The Cubs return to Sloan Park Friday afternoon to take on the Cleveland Guardians. Game time Friday is 2:05 p.m. CT. Edward Cabrera will make his first spring start for the Cubs, and Logan Allen will go for Cleveland. No TV or radio coverage for Friday’s game.
There were a lot of firsts in Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, and all of them were good and promising.
Tyler Glasnow had his first outing of the season and is just another starter that looks like they are in mid-season form. He struck out the side first inning and had a ground out and two more K’s in the second inning.
Glasnow started the day with a two-inning/30 pitch limit. Since he finished the second inning with 29 pitches, he came out to start the top of the third where he gave up a base hit and called it a day.
Most promising was his fastball velocity. Last year, Glasnow’s fastball velocity averaged 95.7mph. In the first inning of Thursday’s game, it was sitting at a 97.1 average. Overall, for his 33 pitches, he averaged 96.7mph.
After his outing, Glasnow remarked that the uptick in velocity is something he had been working on over the offseason and has been very intentional about it. He feels like his mechanics are in a much better place and is feeling fully healthy. All that and the addition of 20 pounds on Glasnow’s long frame having him looking like he’s in a great spot to start the season.
In his first start of the season, Max Muncy grounded out to third in the first inning, followed by line drive base hit in his next at bat. He ended up going 1-3 on the day.
Muncy talked to reporters after the game and commented on why some of the older Dodgers are taking a slower approach in Spring Training. He noted that there was a conversation with several players, and it was “give your body as much rest as possible” mentality going into the season. The Dodgers have had to start back-to-back seasons with trips across the Pacific and have played more postseason games than any other team in the last two seasons. A slow start for the veterans is well deserved.
Blake Treinen also had first outing of spring where he set the White Sox down 1-2-3, with two strikeouts and a groundout using only 15 pitches.
The team finally broke their home run drought, with Will Smith hitting the first home run of Spring Training. He was followed later in the game by Keston Hiura and Hyeseong Kim who went back-to-back with solo homers of their own.
What the Dodgers did not have their first of, however, was a loss. They beat the White Sox 7-6 to remain the only undefeated team in spring. Does this mean anything? Of course not but it makes it a lot more fun.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have his second outing of the spring on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, before heading out to join Team Japan for the World Baseball Classis.
DUNEDIN, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Jake Bird #59 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on February 24, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees’ bullpen has a little bit of everything. It has All-Star fireballers, sinker specialists, a splitter maestro, a couple of guys who rely on finesse rather than pure stuff, a pitch-to-contact lefty, and a few flawed, but talented arms vying for a couple of spots. It’s not hard to see that a few guys, barring an unexpected turn of events, have a spot locked up already. This is the case of David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and Tim Hill. One has to think that Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn will be in there, as well.
After that, there are as many as six or seven pitchers with at least an outside chance of making the roster, not to mention the fact that the team usually takes a long look at the post-spring training cuts to add names, as well. The likes of Jake Bird, Cade Winquest, Kervin Castro, Osvaldo Bido, Ángel Chivilli, Brent Headrick, and Yerry De Los Santos are actively competing to see who makes the roster, and most of them are looking good if we combine their offseason, their early-camp work, and the first few days of Grapefruit League games.
It’s still February, though, so it’s too early to even think about who makes the roster of this group and who gets left behind. What we are seeing, however, is that at least a couple of interesting names from that list could be on the outside looking.
Just because of the assets invested in them, one can conclude that Winquest, as a Rule 5 Draft pick, and Bird and Chivilli, as trade pieces that required the organization to give away prospects, could have a leg up in the competition. It’s important not to rule out a guy like Headrick, though, owner of a 3.13 ERA and 30 strikeouts in just 23 innings with the Bombers last year. His swing-and-miss stuff could definitely boost the Yankees’ bullpen and give it another lefty to complement Hill.
Yes, there is still the feeling that the Yankees are one or two quality relievers short of boasting a high-flying bullpen, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t talented hurlers in the organization with enough juice to win a spot and contribute.
Bird himself is a solid bounce-back candidate after last year’s disaster, and he has thrown 2.1 scoreless innings this spring with no walks and three strikeouts. Chivilli has big fastball velocity and two breaking balls, his changeup and slider, that had a whiff rate over 40 percent last year. Sometimes, it’s a matter of bringing in guys one or two adjustments away from unlocking the full extent of their potential, and Chivilli could be that guy.
And if the Grapefruit League ends and the Yankees are still not happy with their group of arms for the bullpen, they can always review other teams’ cuts and bring in a useful pitcher. That’s exactly how they got Yarbrough last year, and he went on to put up a 4.36 ERA in 64 frames in 2025 with long stints of dominance. On top of it all, the Yankees’ relief corps could also get some reinforcements in the form of starters, if and when Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt rejoin the rotation. The first two are expected back in April, while Schmidt is more of a second-half play.
Other unexpected names might join the bullpen mix eventually, such as Carlos Lagrange. Yes, pitching coach Matt Blake revealed on Wednesday that moving him to relief is a possibility later down the road.
There are multiple avenues for a great bullpen, and having several talented guys taking the ball in spring training and showing off the improvements they made in the postseason in a healthy competition is definitely one of them. The Yankees may not have a top-five bullpen this year, but internal competition is strong and that’s always a positive.
Max Scherzer's 8-year-old daughter Brooke made a case for the Blue Jays to bring back the veteran pitcher months before reached they reportedly agreement on a one-year, $3 million deal on Wednesday.
Max Scherzer’s 8-year-old daughter got her wish.
After the news that the veteran right-hander and the Blue Jays agreed on a one-year, $3 million deal Thursday, his wife Erica shared a handwritten letter that their daughter, Brooke, wrote to the club, making a case for Toronto to run it back with her dad after their crushing World Series loss to the Dodgers.
“Dear Blue Jays, I am so sorry that you didn’t win the World Series. I hope that you win next time,” Brooke wrote, as seen in an image of the letter shared on Instagram.
Max Scherzer and his wife Erica Scherzer with their kids. Instagram/Erica Scherzer
“I hope my dad is back on the team. My whole family loves spending time in Toronto with our dad. We loved the aquarium, CN Tower and of course, the stadium. I am looking forward to coming back next season. Love, Max Scherzer’s daughter.”
Despite the Game 7 loss, Erica explained that last season with Toronto left a mark on their family.
“Back in December Brooke wrote this letter, put it in an envelope and asked us to mail it to the Blue Jays. Looks like she gets her wish! ” Erica captioned her post.
“Last season had an amazing impact on our entire family and we couldn’t be more excited to be back in Toronto!! Season 19 here we go! ”
The three-time Cy Young winner is returning to Toronto after the club’s 5-4 defeat in 11 innings to the Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
Scherzer, 41, posted a 3.77 ERA and a 1-0 record across three starts in the postseason.
He had a 5.19 ERA across 85 innings last season.
Max Scherzer and his wife Erica Scherzer with their kids. Instagram/Erica Scherzer
The Blue Jays and Scherzer had been in communication through the offseason.
“We’ve known him for a while now, and last year, when you meet a guy of that caliber and that personality, you want to take time to get to know them. We know him,” manager John Schneider said of Scherzer.
“He can still help us win games. All of the other stuff that he does, too, everyone appreciates — and I appreciate it.”
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during first inning in Game 7 of the World Series in Toronto, Saturday, November 1, 2025. AP
Scherzer, an eight-time MLB All-Star, won World Series titles with the Nationals (2019) and the Rangers (2023).
Sep 8, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The Mets cruised to victory in a road game as they visited the Astros in West Palm Beach this afternoon, and Nolan McLean was unsurprisingly the star of the show in his first spring training appearance.
McLean struck out six, walked one, and gave up just one hit in four scoreless innings of work.
Robert Stock was nearly as impressive as McLean, as he blanked the Astros for three innings himself as he took over for McLean. And he struck out six batters without walking anyone and gave up just one hit.
Anderson Severino and Ben Simon threw a scoreless inning each to finish the shutout.
Tyrone Taylor hit a three-run home run early in the game as he got the start in center field.
Marcus Semien went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in.
Bo Bichette went 1-for-3 with a double.
The Mets’ next Grapefruit League game is set for 1:05 PM EST tomorrow as they visit the Cardinals in Jupiter. Freddy Peralta is set to make his spring training debut in that one, and your only option for tuning in will be the Cardinals’ radio broadcast if you are so inclined.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 celebrates with Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees after Chisholm hit a two-run home run in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves during a Grapefruit League spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The main offseason talking point concerning the Yankees has concerned the phrase “running it back.” Is it a good thing? Is it the greatest misstep in franchise history? Well, a nearly Opening Day-vintage Yankee lineup looked more than ready to do damage this afternoon, as they plated five runs in the first inning en route to a 7-3 victory over the Braves. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, and Spencer Jones hit home runs, while Elmer Rodríguez provided three more quality innings on the mound.
If you blinked, you may have missed Rodríguez’s first inning. He got Brett Wisely to pop to left on his first pitch of the afternoon, induced a grounder to first from Nacho Alvarez Jr. two pitches later, then got Triple-A Scranton alum Dom Smith on a check-swing tapper in front of the mound. The whole affair took seven pitches.
Unlike his first start, the Bombers gave Rodríguez substantial run support in the home first. Chisholm faced old friend Carlos Carrasco with two men out and Aaron Judge on first, and sent a sky-high drive out to right field. In right field, long-ago Baby Bomber Ben Gamel had a shot to make the catch, but it bounced off the top of the wall and into the stands for a two-run homer.
Goldschmidt and Austin Wells kept the inning alive with consecutive base hits, giving Ryan McMahon a run-producing opportunity. Carrasco kept getting to the precipice of leaving the inning, but strike three was elusive. From 0-2 down, McMahon worked the count full, then slashed an opposite-field double down the line to plate both runners and double the Yankee lead.
McMahon also made third on an errant throw to the cutoff man. That only made the trot home easier when José Caballero spanked an offering from alliterative new pitcher Shay Schanaman in a similar spot for a double of his own. All run-producing hits came with two strikes and two outs. Ninth-place hitter Seth Brown finally popped out to conclude the frame.
After such a quick top half and lengthy bottom half, it could have been easy for Rodríguez to lose his command a bit in the second inning. Not so for the steady righty, who struck out the leadoff hitter Gamel. After a nice pick from McMahon at third, Rodríguez got DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to swing through a low fastball to retire the side.
Carrasco went right back out in the second thanks to the myriad delights of spring training. Go figure, he retired the top of the Yankee order on eight pitches. That included a backwards-K on Judge, who unsuccessfully challenged the third strike pitch. Much hay has been made about low strikes on Judge, but he certainly had no case there.
Rodríguez got into a jam in the third, allowing runners on the corners with one out. Back-to-back brilliant changeups struck out Wisely, then faced Alvarez with a chance to wiggle out unscathed. But a 1-2 sinker caught too much plate, and Alvarez roped it to right for a double to score both baserunners and end Rodríguez’s scoreless spring. He rebounded quickly to retire Smith and preserve a 5-2 lead.
Thankfully for Rodríguez, the Yankees offense came to play today. Paul Goldschmidt got one of those runs right back by taking Elieser Hernández deep to left for his second home run of the spring.
Camilo Doval got some work in the fourth inning replacing Rodríguez, whose line closed at three innings, two earned runs on two hits, four strikeouts, and a walk. Doval was greeted rudely by Gamel, who connected for a home run to right field to restore the three-run margin. Doval pitched around a pesky Keirsey, who stole second and took third on a wild pitch.
Rule 5 draftee Cade Winquest was called upon to pitch the fifth, as this hodgepodge Braves lineup tried to find its footing. They started well, picking up consecutive singles against Winquest, but the righty forced a key double play before setting Smith aside for a scoreless frame. He grabbed two more outs in the sixth without incident before being relieved. It looks like the Yankees would love to use him in a multi-inning role; that flexibility would be useful, especially considering that some of the Yankees’ rotational arms aren’t famous for pitching deep into ballgames.
No February party at Steinbrenner Field without a nuke off the bat of Spencer Jones. However you feel about his chances to stick in the majors, his power remains tantalizing. And with his new Shohei Ohtani-style toe tap, he looks the part. This particular blast traveled 401 feet out to right field and into the parking lot, giving the Yankees a 7-3 lead in the seventh.
That would be our final score from Steinbrenner Field, as Michael Arias retired the Braves in order in the ninth to seal the Yankees’ fifth win of the Grapefruit League schedule.
Tomorrow, Luis Gil will leapfrog Carlos Lagrange and make his second start of the spring as the Yankees hit the road to face the Twins. Cole Sands will be his opponent, with first pitch set for the usual 1:05 pm ET timeslot on the Gotham Sports App.
One month from today, the journey to immortality will officially begin.
Announced today, single-game tickets for the 2026 season are officially on sale. It’s the opportunity for fans to watch MLB’s modern-day dynasty attempt for a historic three-peat as World Series champions and secure the ever-elusive bobbleheads to help commemorate the season.
Dodgers fans celebrate at DodgerFest to celebrate the start of the 2026 season at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on January 31, 2026. Photo by Jonathan Alcorn for The California Post
Dodgerfest Fan Experience California Post
On March 26, beneath the palm trees of Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers will open their 2026 season against the Diamondbacks at Chavez Ravine. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m., and tickets go on sale today.
Fresh off their back-to-back World Series titles, the Dodgers look to make history by becoming the first team to three-peat since the Yankees did if from 1998-2000.
Shohei Ohtani has won back-to-back National League MVPs, and this year he has a Cy Young Award in his sights. But so does his teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Dodgers also welcome two newcomers to the team in closer Edwin Diaz and outfielder Kyle Tucker. Two former All-Stars who signed as free agents to chase greatness.
The Dodgers Ring Ceremony will not take place on March 26. Instead it will be on Friday, March 27, so if you’re looking for those tickets, Opening Day might not be for you.
After three games with the Diamondbacks from March 26-28, the Dodgers welcome the Guardians from March 30-April 1.
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