MLB News
The Texas Rangers welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to Surprise for a lower-stakes rematch of the 2023 World Series.
LHP Jacob Latz begins his quest to earn a spot in the rotation with a start today for Texas opposite RHP Michael Soroka for Arizona.
There doesn’t appear to be a radio feed for this one so you’ll have to follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 2:05 pm CT.
Go Rangers!
Gavin Stone is back on the mound for the first time in a year and a half, Freddie Freeman makes his 2026 Cactus League debut, and Miguel Rojas is leading off on his 37th birthday.
Lefthander Anthony Kay will be making his Spring Training debut with the Chicago White Sox as Tuesday’s starting pitcher as the South Siders face the 2025 AL West division champion Seattle Mariners. Kay was signed as a free agent by Chicago in early December, hoping to make a comeback in the majors after two years in the Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball League and an underwhelming career in MLB from 2019 to 2023.
Kay spent time with the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays prior to finding himself with the Chicago Cubs, where he fluctuated between the minors and the big league club and appeared in only six games. His small sample size with the North Siders wasn’t bad — a 1.50 ERA in six innings with nine strikeouts — but he wasn’t able to find his footing in MLB. Kay spent the last two years working hard in Japan to refine his mechanics, adding a sinker to his pitch mix to adapt to Japanese batters and expand his arsenal, as reported by CBS Sports.
In 2024, Kay was solid in 24 games, posting a 3.28 ERA across 26 games (148 1/3 IP), and brought that down to a 1.74 ERA in 155 innings last season (24 games). Not only did he improve his ERA, but he remained consistent in strikeouts year over year, putting up 129 and 130, respectively, and also brought his WHIP down from 1.294 to a much more efficient 0.981. Walks were an issue for Kay in his previous MLB stint, but he brought that down from a 10-13% walk rate to 6.8% in 2025 with the Yokohama Bay Stars.
Kay joins fellow NPB star Munetaka Murakami as teammates this season, and the shared NPB experience could be helpful for the two to transition into MLB together.
Mune isn’t in the lineup today to get a breather, but so far, he has been solid in his first 10 at-bats (4-for-10) with two doubles, and it’s only Spring Training, and it’s the first week, but fans are so far liking what they are seeing.
Curtis Mead will be leading off and taking over first base for Murakami, while Edgar Quero will hold down the two-spot and complete the battery with Kay. Lenyn Sosa will flex into the three-hole to see how his strong performance at the plate last year will transfer into this season, especially with fewer defensive holes for him to fill. Sam Antonacci will make his third appearance of the spring and has been excellent thus far in his small sample size, batting .500 while competing for a spot on the team before he heads to compete for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
Here’s how the South Siders will round out the lineup:
George Kirby is supposed to make the start for the Mariners, his first in Spring Training this season. Kirby has a career MLB 3.58 ERA, all with Seattle since being drafted in 2019.
Here’s how The M’s will line ‘em up today:
Today’s game is actually watchable! If you have MLB.TV, that is. You can tune into the Mariners TV or radio broadcast, or follow along on MLB Gameday at 2:10 p.m. CT.
Mentally and physically embiggened by an off-day on Monday, the Cincinnati Reds return to the field on Tuesday still seeking their first victory in Cactus League play. So far, they’re 0-2 after dropping games to both the Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners, and now their tour of American League squads sees them face off against the Kansas City Royals.
Andrew Abbott will toe the rubber for the first time this spring as the starter on the day, and there’s a chance we could see Brandon Williamson at some point today for the first time in over a year, too. Hat tip to Doug Gray of Redleg Nation for linking to the travel roster on the day, where Williamson is joined by both Pierce Johnson and Sam Moll as relievers eyeing Opening Day roster spots who will be available today.
Of note is that Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suarez are both back in the lineup today after playing in the Reds most recent game on Sunday. They’re joined by Matt McLain, too, who is hitting 2nd for the 2nd consecutive game in what’s pretty clearly a top of the order that manager Terry Francona desperately wants to make work despite it not being too conducive in 2025.
First pitch is set for 3:05 PM ET, though you’re sadly not going to be able to watch it anywhere lest you be sitting in the stands at Goodyear Ballpark.
Go Reds!
Today, the Guardians put their perfect record on the line against the World Champs. Here’s the lineup:
LF Nolan Jones
3B Juan Brito
1B Kyle Manzardo
C Austin Hedges
RF George Valera
CF Stuart Fairchild
2B Travis Bazzana
DH Johnathan Rodriguez
SS Angel Genao
P Gavin Williams
Houston Astros fans have spent the first stretch of spring training circling the obvious needs. A left-handed bat in the outfield. Another dependable arm for the rotation. Speculation around Isaac Paredes and potential roster reshuffling.
Those conversations are fair.
They’re also missing something.
The backup catcher position may not be the Astros’ most important hole, but it is an extremely necessary one to fill before this season begins.
And pretending otherwise is risky.
What Victor Caratini did last season can’t be overstated.
He wasn’t supposed to be indispensable. He was signed to back up Yainer Diaz. That was the assignment.
Instead, he became a stabilizer.
When Diaz struggled behind the plate, Caratini steadied the pitching staff. When Diaz’s bat cooled or fatigue set in, Caratini stepped in. When first base became unsettled, he logged 15 games there. When a professional at-bat was needed late, he delivered.
By season’s end, he had appeared in 114 games, including 49 behind the plate. That’s not a luxury piece, that’s structural support that mattered.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth: he raised the expectations for what a backup catcher means in Houston.
Caratini earned a bigger role as a starting catcher in Minnesota. You couldn’t afford what he was offered. You tip your cap and move on.
But moving on doesn’t mean ignoring the void, it means replacing him somehow, some way.
Right now, that void appears to be filled by Cesar Salazar. No disrespect, but there’s a difference between organizational depth and a proven, multi-role contributor capable of handling significant innings both offensively and defensively as needed.
And with the way this roster is constructed, that role matters.
Under manager Joe Espada, the backup catcher isn’t just a once-a-week starter. He’s:
That role may not headline talk radio or dominate social media threads, but over 162 games it absolutely impacts the win column.
Let’s be clear: if you gave the front office one move to make tomorrow, it probably wouldn’t be a backup catcher.
The rotation depth might be more urgent. The lineup balance might be more visible. A left handed bat might be more necessary. General manager Dana Brown has a lot on his “to do” list and several holes to fill.
But baseball seasons are rarely undone by the obvious weaknesses. They’re often derailed by the “we’ll figure it out later” spots on the roster.
Backup catcher falls squarely into that category.
If Diaz misses time, or even just needs consistent rest to stay productive, the Astros cannot afford a dramatic drop-off defensively, offensively or in pitcher trust. This pitching staff, like most in baseball, thrives on familiarity and communication. That’s not something you casually replace.
Caratini wasn’t flashy. He was functional. Dependable. Adaptable. Available.
And that’s exactly why replacing him is extremely necessary.
The Astros are still operating within a competitive window. That means margin matters.
This isn’t about panic. It’s about preparation.
There are veteran catchers available. There are options who may not replicate Caratini’s exact versatility but can at least approximate his reliability. The move doesn’t need to dominate headlines.
It just needs to happen.
Because while backup catcher may not be the most important hole on this roster, it is absolutely one that must be addressed before Opening Day.
Ignore it, and you’re gambling on health, stamina, and internal growth all breaking perfectly.
Address it, and you quietly reinforce the foundation of a team that still expects to contend.
The loud moves draw attention.
The necessary ones win divisions and factor into extended playoff runs.
Following three straight disappointing performances to open spring training, the Athletics will host the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon, each team looking for their first Cactus League victory.
Right-handed pitcher Mason Barnett will start today for the A’s. The A’s acquired Barnett from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for reliever Lucas Erceg at the 2024 MLB trade deadline. He spent most of last season pitching for the A’s Triple-A affiliate before getting promoted and starting five games for the A’s in September. Barnett struggled in his first MLB opportunity, going 1-1 with a 6.85 ERA over those five outings. With multiple pitchers seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart, it seems likely that Barnett starts 2026 in Triple-A as the next man up should one of the A’s pitchers get hurt. However, if Barnett pitches well this spring and others falter or suffer injuries, he could earn a spot on the A’s Opening Day roster.
After Barnett, relievers Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner, Eduarniel Nuñez and Scott Barlow are lined up to pitch for the first time this spring. Barlow, one of the A’s free agents signed this offseason, has the ability and experience to provide a major boost to the team’s bullpen, if he can limit the number of walks allowed.
Here’s how the A’s starting lineup looks today:
With the A’s back at Hohokam Stadium, all of the regulars are in the team’s starting lineup. The top has a bit of a wrinkle as Shea Langeliers will bat first today instead of Nick Kurtz who moves down to the second spot in the order. Additionally, Darell Hernaiz gets the start at third base today after impressing yesterday with multiple hits.
This lineup could very well be how the A’s roll out Opening Day in Toronto, with the exception of Junior Perez who is the lone prospect in the starting nine. Perez is playing because Lawrence Butler is still rehabbing from offseason knee surgery and not ready for game action yet. Hopefully this lineup will score more than two runs and give the A’s a stronger chance to win.
Here’s how the Brewers will line up for their game today against the Athletics:
Not a lot of starters in the Brewers lineup today aside from Sal Frelick and Brice Turang at the top two spots. The rest of their lineup is a mix of backups and prospects. What do you expect to see from Barnett today? Do you think he will positively contribute to the A’s this season?
Who is ready for more spring baseball? Time to secure that first win. Let’s go A’s!
The Mariners are hosting the South Side Sox in Peoria Sports Complex this afternoon, and giving George Kirby his first innings of work of 2026. Following yesterday’s 0-3 loss, the Mariners are sending out a suspiciously Major League-shaped lineup, with Michael Arroyo and Colt Emerson serving as the obligatory “guys who are just happy to be here.”
On the other side of things, the White Sox are sending Anthony Kay to the mound. Kay is a journeyman pitcher who spent two years across the Pacific in NPB. It’s his first start of the Spring as the former first round pick hopes to break his way back into stateside baseball.
Backing George up for the Mariners are Michael Morales, Michael Rucker, Troy Taylor, Blas Castaño, Alex Hoppe, and Nick Davila. For those keeping score at home that means three (3) Michaels are likely to appear for the Mariners. I wonder what the record is.
Today’s game is one of the blessedly televised games over on the new Mariners TV service with good ol’ Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the call. I’m still not over the fact that baseball is back. It’s been a long winter without hearing those two’s dulcet tones.
First Pitch: 12:10 pm PT
Watch: Mariners.TV or on Mariners.com
Listen: Seattle Sports 710AM (sadly delayed until 7 pm PT, with live listen available via Gameday. Though I suppose you could watch the game now at work — I won’t tell — and then go home and listen with your family, impressing them with your incredible predictions. A kind of low-stakes Back to the Future Part Two.)
As a reminder, we’re hoping to build our community before Opening Day for what promises to be an exciting 2026 season and we’d love to have you with us. If you haven’t yet, sign up (it makes the site function much better for you, as a bonus) and jump on in to the conversation! This is especially helpful on radio-only games to keep the conversation flowing. And don’t worry about making a mistake – it’s spring training for all of us.
San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs, February 24, 2026, 12:05 p.m. PST
Watch: None
Location: Sloan Park – Mesa, AZ
Listen: 97.3 The Fan
Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.
GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!
The Colorado Rockies are now 2-2 in spring training games after winning yesterday against the Chicago White Sox on a Zac Veen monster walk-off home run.
This afternoon, they will look to see how they fare against the visiting Los Angeles Angels (1-2)
Starting for the Angels is Jack Kochanowicz.
The righty finished 2025 with a 6.81 ERA ERA in 111.0 IP.
Taking the mound for the Rockies will be RHP Chase Dollander, who is, as Sam Bradfield wrote last week, in “learning mode.”
Dollander earned a 6.52 ERA in 2025 over 98.0 innings.
And now to the details.
First Pitch: 1:10 pm MDT
TV: Rockies TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
Lineups
For the visiting Angels:
And the home Rockies:
★ ★ ★
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There is an artistry in sports. The physics-defying Michael Jordan hanging in the air in the NBA. The dizzying jukes of Barry Sanders weaving through defenders in the NFL. The graceful moves of Wayne Gretzky on a breakaway.
There are a lot of beautiful things about baseball, but one of the most aesthetically pleasing things to watch is a beautiful swing. I love a swing that looks effortless, yet generates tremendous power. And why is it always a left-handed hitter that looks so graceful?
Some of the best swings I ever saw include Will Clark, Don Mattingly, Tony Gwynn, and Rafael Palmeiro. From the right-side, I’ll give a lot of credit to the devastating power of Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez. I always loved watching Ichiro hit. And while I saw him when he was in his later years, you can’t talk about sweet swings without talking about Royals Hall of Famer George Brett.
But the best swing I ever saw was The Kid, Ken Griffey Jr. We all mimicked him in our cul-de-sac – even though we were right-handers. One quick swoop, an effortless cut, and the ball was gone.
So who gets your vote? Was it a smooth lefty like Griffey? A picture-perfect technician like George Brett? Or someone more recent whose swing just looks right every time they step in the box? What’s the sweetest swing you ever saw?
Richmond @ NC State, Tuesday @ 3:00pm (ACCNX | Stats)
Akron @ NC State, Wednesday @ 3:00pm (ACCNX | Stats)
It’s a busy week over at Doak Field as NC State (5-1) continues on as part of an 18-game homestand, welcoming the Richmond Spiders (5-3, RPI #242) on Tuesday at 3:00pm and the Akron Zips (3-4, RPI #304) on Wednesday at 3:00pm.
Six games into the year and the Wolfpack’s pitching has been impressive. JR RHP Heath Andrews was scheduled to start the year as State’s Sunday starter, but a weather cancelled season debut pushed him to start last week’s midweek win over Winthrop. His struggles in that outing coupled with JR LHP Cooper Consiglio’s excellent start in the series finale this past weekend against Princeton will keep Andrews (0-0, 8.10 ERA, 3.1 IP, 10.5 BB%, 10.5 K%) in that midweek role for the time being as he’ll get the start against the Spiders.
There is no announced starting pitcher for NC State’s game against Akron.
Half of Richmond’s games this year have been decided by two or fewer runs. After a season-opening home series win against Monmouth, the Spiders were stomped by UNC 10-0 last Tuesday, captured a 9-5 home win against James Madison on Wednesday, and then took two-of-three at home against Penn State this past weekend. Time will tell if that series win over the Nittany Lions is impressive or not; Penn State was projected to finish 5th in the 17-team Big Ten, but they also were destroyed by Air Force (3-15 loss) and Kansas State (5-24 loss) in Arizona to start the year.
The Spiders are hitting .256/.371/.397, 13 2B, 6 HR, 10.8 BB%, 22.0 K%, 11-19 SB on the year. Those stolen bases numbers tell you exactly how Mik Aoki wants his team to play: aggressively. That’s a bit of a new mentality, as the 2025 Richmond team only had 79 stolen bases combined (on 100 attempts), with 36 of those coming from a single player (Aaron Whitley) who has since graduated. That makes sense as this is a rebuilt lineup that lost 7 of their 8 regulars from last year. D3 transfer SR C Dylan Winebrenner (.433/.485/.933, 1 2B, 4 HR, 0.0 BB%, 6.1 K%, 1-4 SB) from Salisbury University is off to a fantastic start. He’s a big 6’4, 230 right-handed hitter with the requisites to be a power hitter, although he only had 16 career home runs heading into this year. SR C/2B Michael Elko (.259/.364/.333, 2 2B, 0 HR, 6.1 BB%, 18.2 K%, 0-2 SB), son of Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko, is the top returning hitter from last year’s 33-19, RPI #140 squad.
On the mound, Saturday starter SO LHP Joey Giordano (2-0, 3.48 ERA, 10.1 IP, 9..5 BB%, 26.2 K%) has been a nice surprise. He had Tommy John Surgery as a senior in high school and wasn’t available until late last year, but showed promise in that brief showing (2-0, 3.78 ERA, 16.2 IP, 12.0 BB%, 17.3 K%), so him taking another step forward would be a very welcomed development for a Spiders staff that has a decent amount of returning experience, but is light on sure things. JR RHP Jackson Hinchliffe (1-0, 3.86 ERA, 7.0 IP, 3.1 BB%, 12.5 K%) will get the start on the mound against NC State. He started 12 games last year and did throw well against JMU last week in earning the win on a pitch count. He’s a contact oriented pitcher featuring a low-90’s four-seam fastball and high-80’s sinker, with a change-up, cutter, and a slurve to mix in.
The bullpen is going to be a work in progress throughout the year as four of their five top relievers are gone. Six-foot-seven grad transfer rSR RHP Justin Gay (0-1, 2 SV, 1.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 0.0 BB%, 31.8 K%), a former JUCO player who spent the last two years at Florida Atlantic (although he didn’t pitch in 2025) is off to a strong start. Rice transfer rSR RHP Mauricio Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 26.7 BB%, 20.2 K%) is coming off an injury that cost him all of 2025; he could be a big piece to this bullpen if he can pound the zone and continue to miss bats like he did his last year at Rice (1-1, 8.07 ERA, 35.2 IP, 7.1 BB%, 29.5 K%).
Akron has a game at Western Carolina in Cullowhee on Tuesday afternoon, but enters today with a 3-4 record. Oddly, their losses have come via a pair of 6-8 defeats and a pair of 8-16 defeats. Weird. The Zips gave up multi-run late leads in both of those 6-8 losses (both to Presbyterian) and almost allowed another late lead to vanish in their third game against the Blue Hose, so it’s worth noting that the bullpen may be an issue.
That’s not a huge shock as five of the top six pitchers by innings pitched from 2025 are gone. Control has been a big issue for the pitching staff with a collective line entering Tuesday of 3-4, 1 SV, 6.87 ERA, 15.1 BB%, 18.7 K% and has given up 10 home runs. That 1.24 K/BB ratio isn’t a recipe for success.
The lineup is what Akron will have to ride to any success this season, and collectively they’re batting .266/.381/.437, 16 2B, 7 HR, 13.9 BB%, 22.9 K%, 25-26 SB. That strikeout rate is alarming given their level of competition, but those stolen base number is scary, especially when you realize that seven players have multiple stolen bags on the year. It’s also an experienced group, which will help. The lineup is incredibly top heavy with rJR 3B Brennan Morgan (.500/.625/.667, 4 2B, 0 HR, 18.8 BB%, 3.1 K%, 0-0 SB), rSO RF Brody Chrisman (.357/.387/.786, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6.5 BB%, 16.1 K%, 4-4 SB), SR CF Kelton Phillips (.345/.412/.379, 1 2B, 0 HR, 8.8 BB%, 20.6 K%, 7-8 SB), rSO DH Blake Bowen (.273/.515/.455, 1 2B, 1 HR, 33.3 BB%, 27.3 K%, 2-2 SB), SR 2B Henry Hayman (.316/.364/.632, 3 2B, 1 HR, 9.1 BB%, 18.2 K%, 0-0 SB), and rSR 1B Easton Amundson (.227/.419/.636, 1 2B, 2 HR, 19.4 BB%, 25.8 K%, 2-2 SB) basically being the entire offense. Getting production from the remaining one-third of the lineup will be crucial to creating big innings, which will be necessary to success given the pitching staff.
As Major League Baseball scrambles to accommodate the local distribution needs of more than a half-dozen clubs formerly affiliated with the Main Street Sports RSNs, the Atlanta Braves have elected to take matters into their own hands.
The NL East franchise on Tuesday announced the launch of BravesVision, a wholly-owned multimedia platform that will begin producing and distributing its games in time for the March 27 season opener against the Kansas City Royals.
Under the new BravesVision paradigm, the franchise will televise and stream more than 140 regular-season games to fans across its six-state footprint, a swath of the Southeast that includes Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
“This endeavor will bring the most vital link to our fanbase—our television broadcast—back under the control of our organization,” Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller said in a statement. In a nod to the team’s long run on the TBS Superstation, Schiller noted that BravesVision marks a return to form for “generations of Braves fans who were raised watching games on a network that shared ownership with the baseball team.”
Sales and marketing staffers are already being onboarded, and the Braves are working quickly to secure carriage deals with the likes of Charter, Comcast and DirecTV. The club is also said to be interested in pursuing alliances with virtual MVPDs such as Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.
The Braves’ announcement comes about a year after the Texas Rangers’ split from their RSN, which served as the precursor for the launch the in-house Rangers Sports Network. The AL West franchise cut ties with its legacy RSN/Main Street precursor Diamond Sports Group in late 2024.
BravesVision also will be made available to in-market fans on a streaming basis via Braves.TV, a new direct-to-consumer platform hosted by MLB.TV—which was recently acquired by ESPN as part of its three-year, $1.65 billion renewal with the league.
In addition to the pay-TV offering, Gray Media will televise 15 free over-the-air games in 2026, reprising a similar deal struck between the stations group and the Braves a year ago. Atlanta will continue to be well-represented on the national TV dial; in April alone, the Braves are set to appear on Fox, NBC and TBS.
The Braves’ bid to strike out on their own was necessitated by the imminent collapse of the Main Street RSNs, which appear to be on a collision course with bankruptcy. Earlier this month, the nine MLB teams that remained under contract with Main Street formally dissolved their ties with the company; seven of those defectors—the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Royals, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays—have already come in under MLB’s media umbrella, while the Los Angeles Angels are officially expected to join the rest of the pack before the new season gets underway.
Main Street still holds in-market rights to 13 NBA and seven NHL teams, but those legacy deals are all but certain to be voided by the time both leagues close out their respective 2025-26 campaigns. Among the pro sports franchises in the Braves’ footprint that may soon be looking for a new local media base are the Atlanta Hawks and Nashville Predators.
Barring a zero-hour infusion of cash, Main Street could begin winding down its operations in the spring. The company began issuing WARN [Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification] notices to its employees last week. A legal requirement designed to provide employees 60 days’ notice in advance of a mass layoff, WARN filings may also include information pertaining to the imminent closure of offices.
The WARN notice Main Street issued to its Atlanta offices indicates that 74 employees will be let go, with the facilities set to be shuttered on April 14. Similar alerts have been issued to staffers in Minneapolis, Detroit, Los Angeles and Milwaukee.
In November, the Braves disclosed that they’d generated $600.3 million in baseball revenue for the first three quarters of 2025, up 7% versus the year-ago period. Per the team’s 10-Q filing, games at Truist Park accounted for 60% of that total ($357.6 million), with broadcasting revenues coming in at $164.6 million, which marked a 14% improvement compared to the analogous nine-month period in 2024.
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Time/Place: 1:05 p.m., CoolToday Park – North Port, FL
SB Nation Site: Battery Power
Media: MLB.TV (free)
For a few moments on Saturday, Phillies fans forgot about the drama.
Justin Crawford, the left-handed-hitting rookie who everyone expects to be the everyday center fielder this year, walloped a ringing line drive double off the left-center field wall in his first plate appearance of spring training.
It was a beautiful sight.
Crawford’s penchant for hitting tons of ground balls has been well-documented, and despite finishing with an .863 OPS in 112 AAA starts a season ago, fans entered the spring tamping down expectations. To be honest, no one is expecting much from Crawford in his first season. He’ll likely hit out of the nine-hole in the order. The fear is Crawford’s ground ball swing will severely limit his productivity at the Major League level, dampening expectations for the 22-year-old before he’s played his first official big league game.
So seeing him rocket a deep fly ball to the opposite field off a left-handed pitcher with seven years of MLB experience had everyone feeling really good. That he followed that up with a single in a subsequent at-bat, and made a terrific sliding catch in center, only helped improve the vibes.
This off-season has been brutal. After re-signing Kyle Schwarber to an expensive free agent contract and grabbing Mitch Keller as a right-handed set-up man in the ‘pen, Dave Dombrowski’s winter of our discontent has permeated into the spring.
Sure, the Phillies won 96 games a year ago. Sure, they boat-raced the NL East by 13 games. It all feels hollow because they lost in four games to the Dodgers in the NLDS, another playoff series in which the same bats fell silent and the same relief pitchers gave up untimely hits in another early-round exit.
When you add in the failed pursuit of Bo Bichette in free agency, the Nick Castellanos drama and Bryce Harper’s anger at Dombrowski, it’s clear this team needs some things to go right down in Clearwater before the team breaks camp next month.
Crawford’s debut was a good start. Schwarber went deep in his first plate appearance of the spring. That was nice, too. As Phils fans, we need more.
We need Andrew Painter to look more like the young phenom who appeared to have a spot in the Phillies’ rotation earmarked ahead of the 2023 season before Tommy John surgery knocked him out for all of 2024 and caused him to be largely ineffective in 2025. A dominant Painter would do wonders for concerns about the sudden fragility of the starting rotation.
Speaking of that rotation, seeing Zack Wheeler up on the bump and throwing hard would be amazing. An effective Aaron Nola, looking to bounce back from a brutal 6.01 ERA in half a season, would be great, too. Castellanos’ replacement in right field, Adolis Garcia, could ease a lot of concerns by hitting a few meaningless bombs down in Florida. And hey, maybe someone pops up from out of the blue to make an impact, like right-handed outfielder Bryan de la Cruz or a minor league guy like Nick DeMartini. Maybe Aidan Miller, once his back heals, pushes for a big league spot sooner rather than later.
And wouldn’t it be nice to see the Phillies participating in the World Baseball Classic have some big moments? It could be quite the showcase for Harper, who one would believe is taking Dombrowski’s “elite” comments to heart by having a more impactful season that he did last year.
So, who will it be? Who will be the pleasant surprise the Phillies desperately need to change the narrative?