WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a spring training game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 11, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Grapefruit League all wrapped up, I wanted to discuss a pair of the Nats biggest stars this spring. Brady House and Cade Cavalli are entering key seasons in their pro career. Both are starting their first full season as a big leaguer. This spring, both of them looked ready to roll.
I want to start with House, who was the only Nats hitter to truly stand out this spring. He had a tough introduction to the big leagues last season, posting a .574 OPS in 73 games. Most people figured House would struggle with plate discipline and strikeouts, but that he would run into some homers. We saw the struggles, but we did not see that signature power.
House only hit 4 homers and 11 doubles in 261 at bats last season. This spring has been a totally different story. He has hit 3 homers and 6 doubles in just 38 at bats. House made a statement in his first game of the spring with a pair of homers, and never looked back. He has been totally locked in this spring.
Hopefully that can carry over into the regular season because that would be a big boost to the Nats offense. Consistently hammering the ball like he has this spring is what House has to do to succeed. His approach will never be great, so he has to feast on the pitches he does get in the zone. This spring, even House’s outs have been loud.
If House can consistently drive the ball with authority, the rest of his game will come together. He is a good defender at third base, which could offset some of the potential offensive holes in his game. If he can hit 25 homers and a bunch of doubles, the approach and whiff concerns become less of a problem. It is no guarantee that this happens, but the spring was a good sign.
The other big star of the spring has been Cade Cavalli. Entering Spring Training, he was the favorite to be the Opening Day starter, and he locked up that honor with his performances. Cavalli tossed 14 scoreless innings this spring with 10 strikeouts and just two walks. He generated a ton of weak contact and kept the ball on the ground.
If you have been following, you know this has been my breakout arm for 2026.
Cavalli has become a popular breakout pick, and for good reason. His stuff is dynamic and now he is finally 100% healthy. After undergoing Tommy John Surgery in early 2023, Cavalli had a tough road back. He had some setbacks, which led to him missing two whole seasons. However, he showed some major promise when he got called up to the big leagues in the second half of last season.
Now, Cavalli seems ready to take the next step and that will start in four days at Wrigley Field. Being the Opening Day starter with just 11 career starts feels crazy, but Cavalli is by far the most talented pitcher in the rotation. I would not be surprised if he outperformed the now departed MacKenzie Gore this season. He has the big sturdy frame to hold up for the whole season.
Cavalli’s stuff might be even better than Gore’s as well. He has a 4-seam and a sinker that are both in the mid to upper 90’s. They set the table for his power curveball and his new sweeper. Cavalli also has a really nice changeup he will show off every once in a while. There is also an occasional cutter he will mix in.
Cade Cavalli is a pitcher I need to talk about more!
After a myriad of injuries that kept him out effectively since 2022, Cavalli returned strong at the end of the last season and looks even better this Spring! He is sustaining his upper 90s velocity and producing well. pic.twitter.com/DtqoN4kufG
Overall, it is a very impressive arsenal. I think that new sweeper will be very helpful, especially against right handed hitters. Righties were actually Cavalli’s kryptonite last year, but the sweeper gives him a new weapon against them.
Cavalli and House were picked in the first round in back to back years. It has been a long road for both, but if this spring is any indicator, they have arrived. Now, it will be time for them to prove themselves in the regular season. They are two of the Nats I will be following the closest this season. House and Cavalli are two true breakout candidates. I can’t wait to watch their 2026 seasons, and we only have to wait a few more days.
“I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction. Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game,” Arozarena said in a statement issued by the Mariners. “Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates. He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”
The incident between the two took place on March 9 when Arozarena reached down to greet Raleigh in his catcher’s squat at home plate, and Raleigh declined to offer his hand back in a game in which the Americans beat Mexico 5-3.
Arozarena, speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, said Raleigh “has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated,” and added he recently hugged them during a friendly greeting at the team hotel.
He then used profane Cuban and Mexican slang to insult Raleigh before pivoting to English and saying Raleigh could shove his “good to see you” in his rear. Arozarena was born in Cuba but defected to Mexico to pursue an MLB career.
“I love Randy, I do,” Raleigh said. “I hate that this is a thing. There’s no beef when we get back to Seattle. He’s my brother. We’re family.”
On Saturday night after their spring training game, Raleigh reiterated his feelings.
“We talked it out, and everything went great,” Raleigh said, according to MLB.com. “Randy knows that I love him, and he’s a brother, and it’s in the past and none of us are carrying this forward. We’re in a good spot.”
The Mariners open the season Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians.
Seattle is coming off a season in which it won the franchise’s first AL West title since 2001. Raleigh helped lead the way by becoming the seventh different player in major league history to hit 60 homers in a season.
Mar 9, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Ty France (4) bats against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Good morning and happy Sunday everybody! We’re only three sleeps away from meaningful Major League baseball and that means rosters are being finalized and difficult decisions are being made in front offices across the league, all to bring us closer to the baseball we so desperately desire. And all so we can spend Thursday night yelling at our screens. It’s soooo close. Just a little longer.
The Mariners reassigned Colt Emerson to minor league camp yesterday, ending an impressive spring for the 20 year old prospect. Rhylan Thomas was optioned to Tacoma in the move as well, bringing the Mariners roster to 32.
Randy Arozarena released a statement yesterday to finally put to rest the “drama” between him and Cal Raleigh. Cal followed up Randy’s statement with a similar sentiment, firmly placing the entire exchange in the past where it belongs.
Cal Raleigh “We talked it out. Randy knows that I love him and he’s a brother. It’s in the past and none of us are carrying this forward. We’re in a good spot. We talked it out. We’re both sorry, and we both got in a good place, and we’re both happy to be here too.” https://t.co/Iw4cEABojh
New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston will join Netflix’s Opening Day coverage on Wednesday night. Jameis certainly strikes me as an entertaining and charismatic character, however I’m not necessarily convinced that baseball needs more football, and vice versa.
Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh start their season with the Mariners on Thursday. Photograph: Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Randy Arozarena says he has apologized to his Seattle Mariners teammate Cal Raleigh after an incident at this month’s World Baseball Classic.
Arozarena was representing Mexico against Raleigh’s USA when the teams met at the WBC on 9 March. Raleigh ignored Arozarena’s offer of a handshake during an at-bat, a move that angered the outfielder. In a later interview, Arozarena said Raleigh could “fuck off” and “go to hell.” Raleigh downplayed the incident, saying “we’re good friends and we’ll continue to be good friends”.
On Saturday, Arozarena issued a statement through the Mariners saying he had made amends with Raleigh.
“I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction,” Arozarena said. “Cal and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates.”
Raleigh hit 60 home runs last season, a record for a catcher, as the Mariners won the AL West and fell just short of a World Series appearance. Mariners manager Joe Wilson said he wasn’t surprised at Arozarena’s apology.
“It’s just a special group,” Wilson told MLB.com. “They love each other, and yeah, it’s time. I think we’re all ready to get back to Seattle and get this thing started.”
The Mariners play their first game of the season on Thursday, against the Cleveland Guardians.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 13: Travis Bazzana #72 of the Cleveland Guardians walks to home plate while adjusting his batting gloves during the Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tanner Bibee was throwing batting practice again yesterday, but Travis Bazzana homered twice and Jace Laviolette also homered for the Guardians:
What does it mean that Bibee is giving up double-digit hits every outing? I guess we will find out soon enough.
Logan Allen is headed to Columbus and Parker Messick is in the rotation. The Reds and Guardians play at 3:05PM ET. And, THIS THURSDAY BASEBALL IS REAL AGAIN GAAAAAH
MESA, AZ - MARCH 21: Lan-Hong Su #41 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Aryanna Frank/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ty France celebrated the news that he made the Opening Day roster for the San Diego Padres by getting the start at second base when the Padres took on the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Saturday. San Diego lost the contest 6-1, but France finished his outing with a 1-for-3 performance. Randy Vasquez started on the mound for the Padres and worked through the first three innings without allowing a run. Over the final 2.1 innings of his outing the Brewers scored four runs on five hits, three of which were home runs, en route to the win. Mason Miller also surrendered two runs, one of which was earned, on two hits over 2/3 of an inning. The lone run in the game for San Diego came on a solo home run by Francisco Acuna in the top of the ninth inning.
The Padres host the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Peoria Sports Complex on Sunday at 6:10 p.m.
Padres News:
Walker Buehler had the opportunity to sign with other teams on major league deals this offseason, but he chose to sign a minor league deal with the Padres and earn his way onto the team. He did just that with it being announced on Saturday that he made the Opening Day roster. Buehler is now one part of the rotation group that has the Friar Faithful concerned about the upcoming season.
The San Diego Padres prospects lost their Spring Breakout game to the Chicago Cubs prospects, 7-5, but the story of the game for the San Diego organization was catcher Ethan Salas. The No. 2 prospect for the Padres went 2-for-3 and that included a monster home run to right field.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs during the 11th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This current Phillies era of being October regulars began in 2022, when they got in as the final NL Wild Card and then went on a run to the World Series before falling to the Astros. In the three years since, they’ve made the postseason every time and won the NL East in the last two seasons. However, they haven’t been able to match that postseason run in the years since, having lost in the NLDS in both of the last two seasons.
This season, they’ll go in on the shortlist of NL favorites again, although questions still remain. Can this be the year they return to the Fall Classic and even win it, or will the season end in frustration again?
Philadelphia Phillies 2025 Record: 96-66 (1st in NL East) 2026 FanGraphs Projection: 87-75 (3rd in NL East, 2nd NL Wild Card)
On the offensive side of things, the Phillies will run out a fairly similar lineup to last year. There are some differences, and there could’ve been even more, but they ended up re-signing Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, meaning the core of what their lineup has been in recent years in still intact.
The biggest difference on that front is in right field. After a turbulent end to his Phillies’ career, Nick Castellanos was released by the team back before spring training got going. Earlier in the offseason, they signed former Rangers All-Star and 2023 World Series winner Adolis García, and he’ll likely handle most of the duties in right. Offensively, that change may be a bit of a wash, at least based on what he and Castellanos did last year. Defensively, though, it should be a big improvement. While he’s won a Gold Glove in right in the past, García doesn’t grade out as one of the best at that spot anymore, but Castellanos was one of the worst defensive right fielders around in recent years. It shouldn’t be hard to better that.
The main worry around their offense is just that everyone is a year older with another year of wear and tear on their bodies. Bryce Harper is still an excellent hitter, but not at the 170 wRC+ level that he was in his early years in Philly. Trea Turner is coming off the second best season of his career according to fWAR and there’s no guarantees that he can be good to that extent again. J.T. Realmuto still rates very good defensively, but was below average last year and is projected to be again this year. Odds are that not everyone will regress enough to make them miss the playoffs or anything, but if one or two do, they could fall behind in the NL East race.
The Phillies’ actual biggest loss of the offseason came in the rotation. Pitcher Ranger Suarez left in free agency, signing with the Red Sox. Even taking him out of it, the Phillies’ rotation was very good last year, but Suarez has consistently been a solid to very good pitcher since he became a full-time member of Philly’s rotation in 2022.
Some of their hopes in replace him land on prospect Andrew Painter. Since 2022, Painter has been pretty consistently rated in top 100 prospect lists, ranking has high as the top ten at points. The 2025 MiLB season was his first full one after missing most of 2023 and ‘24 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He didn’t post the best numbers in his 22 starts at Triple-A, but they’re hoping another year back from the surgery and his prospect pedigree will improve things. Even besides him, led by Cristopher Sánchez and the recently-extended Jesús Luzardo, the Phillies should have a strong rotation, which will also be bolstered by the return of Zack Wheeler, who missed time due to blood clots last year, at some point.
The bullpen will also be key for the Phillies this year. While several members of their 2025 bullpen put up good numbers, it was occasionally a turbulent year in that area for them. That led to them making a deal for Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline last year, and further adding to the mix by signing Brad Keller, on top of making a couple minor deals for backend guys. There’s certainly hope that the ‘pen will be a strength for them in ‘26.
The projections expect them to fall back to the pack in the division, but a lot of that is because they all seem to expect bounce back seasons from the Mets and especially the Braves. However, it wouldn’t remotely be a surprise to see the Phillies take the NL East again. For their sake though, they probably need another deep October run.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Phillies opening day roster has come into focus, with little surprise.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced Sunday that rookies Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter had both made the club.
Crawford, 22, will start in center field when the Phillies open the season Thursday against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.
Painter, who will turn 23 on April 10, is slated to start the fifth game of the season March 31 against Washington.
Both Crawford and Painter were expected to make the club. They both firmed up their status with strong spring-training performances.
“They’ve had good camps, both of them,” Dombrowski said. “Crawford has done very well for himself. He’s played well in center field. He’s contributed from an offensive perspective. Again, he’ll hit ninth most of the time. You’ll have to suffer the ups and the downs, which happens with young guys, but we like him a lot. He’s meshed well. I think he brings a youthful enthusiasm, which is always great for a team, as does Painter. He can fly. He brings another dimension to our club with a legitimate base stealer. He’s earned his spot.
“Painter has also had a good camp. He just keeps building on what he has. His velocity has been good, very good actually, but more impressive has been his breaking stuff. We’re very happy with him. He’s earned it.”
Most of the roster intrigue coming into camp centered around the bullpen and the bench. There figured to be two openings in the bullpen. That grew to three when it was announced that Orion Kerkering would begin the season on the injured list as he continues to build arm strength after being slowed early in camp by a hamstring strain. Kerkering, who will pitch in a minor-league game Monday, could be ready to go in a couple of weeks. He will not be with the club for opening day.
Right-hander Zach Pop and lefties Kyle Backhus and Tim Mayza claimed the final three bullpen spots. Mayza came to camp on a minor-league deal. The veteran has recorded at least 50 appearances five times in his career, most of which was spent with Toronto. Pop was signed in the offseason as a free agent and the side-arming Backhus came over in a December trade with Arizona.
Reliever Zach McCambley, a Rule 5 pick, did not make the club. He will have a chance to return to the Miami Marlins.
Otto Kemp and Dylan Moore both won spots on the bench. The right-handed hitting Kemp could platoon in left field with Brandon Marsh. Edmundo Sosa remains the Phillies’ top player off the bench. He could platoon at second base with Bryson Stott.
Moore essentially gets the final spot on the bench because he can play all over the diamond. Outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, in camp on a minor-league deal, opened eyes, but the Phillies want him to play regularly and keep his bat sharp at Triple A.
Rafael Marchan will be the backup catcher for the second year in a row. He beat out Garrett Stubbs, who could end up with another big-league club in a trade or go back to Triple A as insurance. Stubbs’ situation could take several days to clear up.
If Stubbs does not remain in the organization, the Phillies’ catching depth will take a hit. Rene Pinto, who has 82 games of big-league experience, and Caleb Ricketts, who has not played above Double A, are next on the depth chart, Dombrowski said.
Ace pitcher Zack Wheeler will open on the injured list. He could be ready to go in a month. Wheeler will pitch in a minor-league game Monday. The Phillies’ Triple A pitching depth will include veteran Bryse Wilson, Jean Cabrera and Alan Rangel.
Barring something unforeseen, here is the 26-man roster the Phillies will file with Major League Baseball on Wednesday.
STARTING PITCHERS – Cristopher Sanchez (L), Aaron Nola, Jesus Luzardo (L), Taijuan Walker, Andrew Painter
BULLPEN – Jhoan Duran, Jose Alvarado (L), Brad Keller, Tanner Banks (L), Jonathan Bowlan, Kyle Backhus (L), Zach Pop, Tim Mayza (L)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 7: Marcelo Mayer #11 of the Boston Red Sox patrols the infield during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 7, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, manager Alex Cora announced that Marcelo Mayer would be the starting second baseman for the 2026 Red Sox. Thus concludes one of the sillier spring training storylines we’ve seen in a long time. There was never really any baseball reason to suggest that either Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Andruw Monasterio would make more sense for the big league team than Mayer, even considering Mayer’s struggles at the plate in his first taste of the majors last year. But Cora says he “wanted to push him.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
As a domino move that corresponded with Mayer making the big league team, Krisitian Campbell was officially sent down to AAA. This isn’t surprising, though Cora did sound surprised by some of the things he saw from Campbell in Fort Myers. “The strikeouts were going up and the walks going down, and that’s not him. He’s a guy who controls the strike zone and doesn’t swing and miss. That didn’t happen during camp.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
I’m all for making Marcelo earn his spot in theory. But the problem with putting that theory into practice is that no serious and intelligent front office would ever base any meaningful decisions on spring training performances, marked as they are by small sample sizes and variable competition. Case in point: Garrett Crochet had another rough start yesterday to close out a pretty rough spring overall. But no one seems concerned, nor should they. To quote Crochet: “Whatever.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Willson Contreras’s spring didn’t go exactly to plan either, as he ended up on the bench for Venezuela’s run to the World Baseball Classic championship. But it doesn’t sound like he minds one bit: “I think it’s the best experience of my life. I played in the World Series in ‘16, and it was big, but playing in the WBC for your country, for 37 million people, means a lot more to me. And I enjoyed every single second, every single part of it. I soaked that in, and it was the best.” (Hayden Bird, Boston.com)
Someone who did have a good spring, even if it won’t result in making a big league team, is D’Angelo Ortiz. Little Papi got his first spring hit. “Hopefully he was watching,” he said of his legendary father. “If he wasn’t watching, we’ve got a problem.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
As Opening Day approaches the vibes are immaculate, if you will, for the local teams after the Mets and Yankees each gave their fans reason for optimism with spring trainings full of promise and good health.
As such, there is plenty of intrigue as each team’s season figures to be a referendum of sorts on near-opposite offseason approaches with Brian Cashman deciding to run it back with much the same Yankees’ team that lost to the Toronto Blue Jays last October while David Stearns overhauled a Mets’ roster that underachieved badly.
Meanwhile, it’s hard to ignore the dark cloud hanging over the sport, as a bitter labor war is expected after the season, one that may feel even more inevitable if the Los Angeles Dodgers’ high-spending ways -- $60 million a year for Kyle Tucker! -- result in a third straight World Series title.
With all of that in mind, here are my 10 bold predictions for the 2026 season, centering mostly around the Mets and Yankees.
Carlos Lagrange won the spring as a somewhat unknown pitching prospect who astonished the Yankees with his eye-popping velocity, his fastball reaching 103 mph. And while he was sent to the minors to open the season, there seems little doubt he’ll bring that high heat to the Bronx at some point in 2026.
Maybe it will be as a starter, but it would take multiple injuries in the rotation for that to happen. It seems more likely the Yankees eventually will groom the 22-year old right-hander for a bullpen role, even if it’s just for this season, as Lagrange could be a huge late-inning weapon down the stretch of a division race and into the post-season as well.
9. JUAN SOTO HITS 50 HRS, OUTDUELS SHOHEI OHTANI FOR NL MVP AWARD
Juan Soto talked openly with MLB.com this spring about how much he wants to win an MVP award, and to have any hope of dethroning Shohei Ohtani on that front, he’s going to need something beyond his typically outstanding offensive numbers.
Something like 50 or more home runs. Soto surely knows that and he’s capable of it, considering he’s only 27 and his power numbers are still ascending, as reflected by his totals of 35, 41, and 43 home runs over the past three seasons. It may require him to be a little more aggressive, perhaps not taking as many walks, and the Mets would be fine with that.
Ohtani, of course, could make it all moot if he returns to full-time pitching in a big-splash way, but it’s also asking a lot of him to hit and pitch over a full season at age 32.
Sep 19, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) follows through on a three run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
8. PIRATES RIDE PAUL SKENES, KONNOR GRIFFIN TO WILD CARD BERTH
It’s kind of a trendy prediction, I know, but it would be fun to see it happen, as bad as the Pittsburgh Pirates have been for a decade. And it seems possible, considering they finally should have a capable offense to go with their strong starting pitching, led by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.
Toward that end they acquired veterans bats in Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O’Hearn, and Brandon Lowe, and even more significantly, in Konnor Griffin they have perhaps the top offensive prospect in the game, and another in Jhostynxon Garcia. As such, FanGraphs and other analytical models are projecting a massive improvement in runs scored, which, paired with their pitching, could give them a shot at the third wild card.
7. JOE RYAN WILL BE BEST AVAILABLE STARTER AT TRADE DEADLINE
It might not matter to the Yankees or Mets if their pitching stays healthy and lives up to expectations, but for any team looking for a starter at the trade deadline, Joe Ryan is likely to be the best available.
The Minnesota Twins should have traded the right-hander in the offseason, after essentially committing to a rebuild at last season’s trade deadline, and it would be a surprise if they’re anywhere near contention come July. At age 30 in June, Ryan has high-strikeout stuff that has many scouts believing he still hasn’t reached his full potential as a No. 2-type starter, and with another year of team control before free agency, he’ll draw plenty of interest.
6. NOLAN MCLEAN MEETS HYPE, METS’ ROTATION LEADS LEAGUE
I’m all-in on Nolan McLean living up to the hype. He wasn’t perfect in the WBC but neither was the moment too big for him, as he showed plenty of dominance in his two starts. So I think he’ll have an All-Star type season, and when you combine that with Freddy Peralta’s track record, the Mets should have a playoff-worthy 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
Even more significantly, in terms of the overall rotation, Kodai Senga had a strong spring, looking like the guy who had a 1.39 ERA before the hamstring injury last June that wrecked his season, while Clay Holmes wowed observers with his work at the WBC.
Questions hang over Sean Manaea about his low velocity this spring, but David Peterson figures to be at least solid again, Christian Scott and Jonah Tong offer promise if needed along the way, so this rotation should be the strength of the 2026 Mets, perhaps leading the NL in ERA.
5. TARIK SKUBAL, FRAMBER VALDEZ PITCH TIGERS TO WORLD SERIES
The Detroit Tigers made the go-for-it decision not to trade Tarik Skubal, knowing they’re likely to lose him to free agency after the 2026 season, and I think it could pay off in a big way. By signing Framber Valdez they now have a 1-2 punch capable of not only winning the AL Central but making a deep run in October.
So who knows, maybe Justin Verlander will get a storybook ending, returning to Detroit at age 43. The Tigers aren’t great offensively but they should get some impact from two top prospects, shortstop Kevin McGonigle and center fielder Max Clark, and if they win the relatively weak AL Central, the pitching could carry them in the postseason.
Oct 7, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a three-run home run in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game three of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
4. AARON JUDGE HITS 50 AGAIN TO SET RECORD AND INCREASE SCRUTINY
Don’t let his failures at the World Baseball Classic overshadow what Aaron Judge did last season. It’s remarkable that he out-hit every other player in baseball by at least 20 batting average points, leading the majors at .331, and oh by the way hit 53 home runs as well. Even as he enters his age-34 season, Judge still seems to be getting better.
If he hits 50 or more home runs again, and I think he will, he’ll become the first player in major league history to do it as many as five times, and that likely would earn him a fourth AL MVP Award. Of course, that would also further the ever-increasing need for him to win a World Series title and cement his status with Yankee fans as being equal to the likes of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle.
Unfortunately for him…
3. YANKS LOSE TO JAYS IN OCTOBER. AGAIN.
Until proven otherwise, the Toronto Blue Jays have the formula to beat the Yankees, putting pressure on them last season with good contact hitting and aggressive baserunning that forced defensive mistakes and had them on their heels.
As such, I think the Jays will prevail in a tight AL East race and from there the various team records will determine the matchups. Maybe the Yankees will figure it out against the Jays. But if they couldn’t beat them last October with Judge hitting .600 in the ALDS, the odds are against them with essentially the same team back for 2026.
2. METS WIN NL EAST, LOSE TO DODGERS IN NLCS
Have to admit, I like what I saw in spring training from the Mets, and that’s always a risky basis for making predictions, but I’m picking the Mets over the Phillies in what should be a tight NL East race. It could develop into a spicy rivalry this season as well, with seemingly all of Philadelphia outraged by the Mets swooping in to land Bo Bichette when the former Blue Jay was on the verge of signing a long-term deal with the Phillies.
I think the Mets should be more consistent offensively, with proven clutch hitters Bichette and Jorge Polanco hitting behind Soto, than they’ve been in recent years. That and their potentially dominant pitching gives them the edge over Philly, at least for me, especially with Zack Wheeler coming back from thoracic outlet surgery. But beyond that, well, the Dodgers are the Dodgers, built to win in October with their power and pitching. And in the end, the bullpens could be the difference in a seven-game series, specifically closers Edwin Diaz and Devin Williams.
1. DODGERS WIN IT ALL AGAIN, ENSURING A FIGHT OVER SALARY CAP
It’s kind of nuts for the Dodgers to pay Tucker $60 million a year, but he does fit perfectly into their star-studded lineup and likely will play a pivotal role in helping them win another championship.
Last year, LA won a second straight title even without much of a bullpen, so signing Diaz away from the Mets figures to make the Dodgers even tougher to beat come October. As a result, I think they get their three-peat, beating the Tigers handily in the World Series and in the process further angering other owners in baseball, all but ensuring a lockout next winter and a bitter fight with the MLB Players Association over a salary cap.
TOLEDO, OH - JUNE 29: Hao-Yu Lee #44 of the Toledo Mud Hens celebrates hitting a home run while running the bases during the game between the Charlotte Knights and the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers’ infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee didn’t have the type of camp he was looking for this spring, but he remains one of the club’s best hopes for hitting help from the farm system in 2026. He was far enough ahead of the curve as a prospect that even now, after a full season of Triple-A ball, Lee only just turned 23 years old last month. So while his momentum has stalled out somewhat, there remains plenty of time for him to take the next step and contribute to a club that could use a right-handed hitting infielder, both this season and for the foreseeable future. Here, Lee rounds out our 45 future value tier in the system.
The Tigers acquired the Taiwanese infielder in the Michael Lorenzen trade with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2023. At the time, he was a 20-year-old with good power potential and advanced hitting ability who was already tearing up the High-A level. The Tigers pushed him straight to Double-A as a 21 year old in 2024, and he more than held his own despite some minor injury trouble, posting a 143 wRC+ with 12 home runs and very good strikeout to walk numbers in 87 games with the Erie SeaWolves.
So very quickly, Lee showed off precocious hitting ability. The question entering 2025 was whether he could continue his torrid pace through the minors and push his way through to the major leagues. It didn’t quite work out that way, but it wasn’t a bad season either. He played all 126 games, hit 14 home runs, and his 20.2 K-rate and 11.9 percent BB-rate were good for the level, as was his .342 OBP. He just didn’t hit for quite as much power as he needs to in order to really breakout into an everyday player at second or third base. Still, he’s close, and even as he is there’s a good chance he can handle a part-time role as one of Tigers few right-handed hitting infield options this season.
Lee left the club pretty early into the Grapefruit League season and only got 14 plate appearances before joining Team Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) for the World Baseball Classic. Unfortunately, he suffered a left oblique strain and missed the tournament. He’s been back in games on the minor league side of camp over the past week, ramping back up to begin his season, and doesn’t seem likely to miss much, if any, time with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens season kicking off on the 27th of March in Lehigh Valley against the venerable IronPigs.
Beyond his bat, the things that make Lee compelling as a prospect are his aggressive, intense mindset on the bases, and his ability to play a very solid second base, and even handle third base in a pinch. He only started playing some third base last season, and while he was shaky there initially, his hands, reactions, and arm are all good enough to approach average there if he continues to improve his footwork and the finer points of the hot corner to help him make all the throws despite just average arm strength. Lee is only an average runner, but he stole 22 bases last year, mainly by being quick off the mark and learning to read pitchers first moves. His aggression will sometimes lead him into a mistake, but more maturity should smooth off the rough edges from his game, and he plays a very heads up, intelligent brand of baseball generally, endearing himself to Hens’ manager Gabe Alvarez.
Hao-Yu Lee is already a pretty good fastball hitter. He handles velocity well, and gets the barrel to heaters in all parts of the zone. His tendency to get caught out in front has at times left him struggling to pull the baseball and do as much damage as his plus raw power is capable of. He made this jump at Double-A, but he showed a similar issue against top shelf heat at the Triple-A level last year against right-handed pitching.
Where Lee has really struggled is with good breaking balls. He has the plate discipline not to chase too much, but right-handers with good sliders down and away are still a problem. Even in the zone his relatively flat swing sees him getting under the ball a lot against breaking stuff, with predictably weak contact in the air even though his two-strike approach is good enough to battle through long at-bats and still put something in play.
So, there’s still an issue or two keeping Lee from breaking out as an everyday infielder for the Tigers. He’s got to shore up his game more against better right-handed pitching to start profiling as a 2-3 WAR everyday player who needs to be in the lineup full-time. His defense and baserunning are pretty solid, but he’s not providing much surplus value there. It has to come from the that.
Fortunately, Lee already has a clear pathway to major league playing time against left-handed pitchers. With Javier Báez, Gleyber Torres, Spencer Torkelson, and Jahmai Jones presumably all on the Opening Day roster, there isn’t a lefty masher spot open right now, but if not this season, then next season that profile will become more valuable as Torres at least likely moves on.
Lee posted a .437 wOBA and a monstrous .271 ISO against left-handers’ fastball last year. He’s also a lot better at handling breaking stuff when it’s moving towards him rather than away. Lefties can get him reaching for changeups and splitters away at times, but they’re hard-pressed to do so. Even then, he can still do enough damage to fill Jahmai Jones’ role with the club, while bringing a lot better defense and versatility to the table.
There’s no rush this season as Lee is still pretty young, but the Tigers did have to add him to the 40-man roster back in the fall, so the clock is beginnging to tick already. There are probably going to be opportunities for either he or Max Anderson to play some infield and hit mostly against southpaws for the Tigers this year. Lee would do well to get off to a good start and show some signs of handling right-handers with good sliders more effectively this year. Even if he just continues to crush lefties, he’s got a good chance at his first tour of the major leagues, but it would really boost his stock above Anderson if he starts to sort out his issues with the top right-handers at the Triple-A level.
In the years ahead, the Tigers are almost certainly going to have to commit a lot more of their payroll each year toward rebuilding a post-Skubal rotation. To do that, they need a steady flow of young positional talent to keep things affordable without slipping offensively. Hao-Yu Lee still looks like a solid part of that plan, and it would be a huge gift to the organization if he can take the next step and round out his offensive game in 2026.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 02: Didier Fuentes #75 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Truist Park on July 2, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Didier Fuentes’s stuff has been electric this Spring. A 17/0 K/BB ratio in 9 innings attests to that. Yeah, it’s Spring Training, but he clearly has something. Do you know what he doesn’t have? His curveball.
Per our 2026 Preseason Top 30 Prospect list coverage, Didier “is working to develop a curveball.” It’s not bad at all in this brief video. It looks pretty good in the minor league numbers and the video. But we haven’t seen it this Spring.
He’s been basically fastball-slider this year with the splitter thrown it. All of his strikeouts were with the fastball-slider mix. It’s nearly a carbon copy of Spencer Strider’s 2022 season.
With respect to pitch types, Spencer Strider’s 2022 season and Didier Fuentes’ 2026 Spring are nearly identical. Fuentes only adds the splitter and Strider with the changeup. So where’s Didier Fuentes’ curveball? It’s probably left in Gwinnett for now. Let’s hope he can get enough results at the Major League level to worry about Triple-A this year.
JUPITER, FL - MARCH 06: Sean Manaea #59 of the New York Mets pitches during the game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets have set their Opening Day rotation. We already knew that Freddy Peralta is slated to start on Opening Day, but he will be followed by David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga in that order.
Meanwhile, Sean Manaea, whose velocity has been down this spring, will be used in a piggyback role initially to start the season with the Mets expanding to a six-man rotation in mid-April if Manaea is pitching well. “I consider myself a starter,” Manaea said after manager Carlos Mendoza announced the decision on Saturday morning. “To not be that is frustrating. But at the end of the day, I’m just going to let my pitching do the work in whatever capacity that is, and go from there.”
Will Sammon of The Athletic contributed three thoughts about the decision to have Manaea in the bullpen to start the season.
Mike Tauchman, who left yesterday’s game with a knee injury, will get an MRI to determine the severity of the issue, which will influence the Mets’ decision regarding the final bench spot on the roster.
One positive that came from yesterday’s spring training games was a home run by the slumping Mark Vientos.
The Mets optioned catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse yesterday.
Around the National League East
Dylan Moore, who triggered his opt-out clause with the Phillies on March 19, has been signed to a major league deal by Philadelphia. He will be on their Opening Day roster.
The Braves released non-roster invitee Kyle Nelson, who was an unlikely candidate to make the Braves bullpen.
Battery Power made their final 2026 Braves Opening Day roster projection.
The Nationals released former Met Drew Smith, who they had signed to a minor league deal this winter.
Spencer Nusbaum did a deep dive into the metrics the Nationals are using to track how their pitchers are performing this spring, as well as all the data their hitters can now access.
Both Kyle Stowers and Esteury Ruiz are undergoing testing after leaving Friday night’s split squad games due to injuries.
Around Major League Baseball
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com ranked the ten best pitching staffs in baseball and the Mets rounded out his list at number 10.
The Pirates reassigned top prospect Konnor Griffin to minor league camp yesterday.
“I understand that with Opening Day a few days away, I don’t want it to be a distraction,” Randy Arozarena said in a statement, via the Mariners. “Cal [Raleigh] and I have talked and I apologized for what I said after the game. Nothing in the WBC takes away from the fact that we are brothers and teammates. He’s family, and we are both focused on helping the Mariners win the World Series.”
Michael Conforto had made the Cubs’ Opening Day roster.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Brian Salvatore discussed the uncertainty surrounding Jorge Polanco at first base in Polanco’s season preview.
Linus Lawrence continued his Mets Madness Out of the Park Baseball tournament with the Round of 32.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1962, the Mets and Yankees faced off for the very first time.
Rea threw 77 pitches (50 strikes) and generally looked like the solid pitcher he was for the Cubs most of last year. He’ll be in a long relief/spot starter role to begin the season and he seems to thrive in that role. The Cubs are lucky to have a guy like that.
The Cubs scored first, in the top of the first. With one out, Moisés Ballesteros doubled. Really, that guy is amazing. He might not look like the traditional ballplayer, but man, that guy can hit.
Miguel Amaya singled in Ballesteros. (Had hoped to have video of this, but it doesn’t appear to be available.) I think Amaya is primed to have a huge year, if he stays healthy.
Michael Conforto, who was told Saturday that he’s made the team, had two hits on the night. Personally, I’d rather see him start in right field in place of Seiya Suzuki than have Matt Shaw out there.
Jonathon Long, trying to make up for lost time this spring, also had two hits.
Collin Snider and Corbin Martin threw scoreless innings in relief. Minor leaguer Evan Taylor threw two scoreless frames. After all the regulars departed, some Cubs minor leaguers put three more on the board in the eighth. Cowles had another RBI in that inning, his third of the game.
The Cubs return to Sloan Park Sunday afternoon to take on the Brewers. Cade Horton will start for the Cubs and Chad Patrick will go for Milwaukee. Game time is 12:05 p.m. CT and this one’s being televised all over the place: Marquee Sports Network, Brewers TV and ESPN Unlimited. There’s also a radio broadcast on WSCR The Score.
Mar 21, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin (75) at bat during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, has been reassigned to minor league camp and will start his season in Triple-A Indianapolis.
This news comes after Griffin had a fairly strong outing in Bradenton in Spring Training and was trending towards being the Pirates’ big league shortstop come Opening Day. While he flashed great power at times in camp he did only hit .171 in Grapefruit League play. It appears that the Pirates’ organization are being cautious with his development and are giving him every opportunity to earn what could likely be a massive contract extension before he even turns 21-years-old.
Pirates manager Don Kelly announced the move on Saturday at LECOM Park and what led to the decision.
“You see a young kid who was maybe pressing just a little bit and trying really hard. Konnor Griffin the person is elite. Allowing him to go and get back to basics and being Konnor Griffin out there,” Kelly said. “We know there’s an elite talent level that comes with him. Just looking forward to him being in Pittsburgh whenever that time comes.”
Griffin of course impressed in his first year as a professional baseball player after being drafted ninth overall in 2024. Despite him starting in Low-A Bradenton he would finish 2025 in Double-A Altoona and received numerous end of season awards, to include a minor league All-Star nod and an invitation to participate in the Futures Game. Griffin slashed 333/.415/.527 in 122 minor league games last season.
Pittsburgh was similarly patient with Paul Skenes’ development, despite him seeming to be major league ready after less than a season spent in the majors. The club was certainly look out for their best interests in the respect that they have more control over a player’s future with the amount of service time they have spent in their minor league ranks. The club also has more control over what a long term extension could look like, and there have been reports that the Pirates and Griffin have already discussed what that contract could look like.
Griffin looks to be every bit of the promising prospect that the Pirates are hoping he will be, but it still might be in both parties best interest that he start his season in the minors. Some fans will be understandably disappointed with this move, especially considering that Griffin might already be the best option at shortstop for the Buccos. With that being said giving Griffin the opportunity to go out and be another prospect in Indianapolis will alleviate some of the pressure that he has undoubtedly been feeling. At just 19-years-old Griffin already has a huge magnifying glass on him as the best prospect in baseball and as possible savior for the Pirates. Having the opportunity to go to Indy will let Griffin slow things down and decompress and get back to playing more within himself with less outside pressure.
Make no mistake, Griffin should see big league action this season. With the way the team is currently constructed there really isn’t a solidified every day option at shortstop. Nick Gonzales has performed great in Spring Training, but of course has limited experience playing short at the major league level. Jared Triolo fits best there defensively but he figures to be the team’s third baseman. Nick Yorke is also in the mix but is much like the other candidates as he is largely unproven. If the Pirates can perform well as a team and Griffin can continue to excel he should find his way to Pittsburgh before season’s end.
Konnor Griffin casually fielding grounders while he’s mic’d up. 🔥
Kelly described the decision to send Griffin down as difficult but maintained that he was impressed with his play and his character while he was in Bradenton.
“When you’re talking about a kid who came into big league camp playing shortstop for the first time … the talent that you see, I think he handled himself really well, professionally,” Kelly said. “We’ve talked about the maturity level as a 19-year-old in big league camp. Really excited about him being a Pirate and what that means for the future of Konnor Griffin and the Pirates.”
Griffin finishes his spring in Bradenton with a slash line of .171/.261/.749 with seven hits and four homers in 41 at bats.
