Category: MLB

There was a time—not long ago—when baseball believed it understood its place in the modern sports economy. The sport was a regional game masquerading as a national pastime, rich in history, but lagging in marketing muscle.

Without a salary cap, baseball’s biggest stars made their money in contracts, not commercials. The legends of the sport sold jerseys, not entire industries. 

Then Shohei Ohtani arrived like a rocket tearing across the sky. He didn’t just change baseball’s economics; he transformed them.

In 2026, Ohtani is expected to earn more than $127 million in off-the-field earnings alone. A number so staggering that it doesn’t just shatter the record for baseball, but it shatters the record for all of sports. Period. The number eclipses Tiger Woods’ once untouchable mark of $105 million in endorsement deals from 2009. It’s a number that places Ohtani in a category all his own.

And yet, the most absurd part isn’t the number itself. It’s the gap.

According to Sportico, Ohtani earns more from endorsements than the top 15 highest paid MLB players, who collectively earn $47 million in off-field income. It’s more than likely that Ohtani earns more in endorsements than every single player in MLB combined. Think about that for a moment. In a league filled with MVPs, Cy Young winners, and billion-dollar franchises, one player has turned the endorsement economy into a one-man monopoly.

That’s not a gap. That’s a canyon.

Ohtani’s rise to this record-breaking milestone is a triumph, but it’s also an indictment on Major League Baseball. For decades, the sport failed to globalize its stars the way the NBA, PGA, NFL, and soccer did. MLB marketed teams, not individual personalities. It tried to sell the country on tradition instead of transcendence. 

Even Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton ($20M) makes more in off-field endorsements than any other MLB player outside of Ohtani. 

According to Forbes, the list of highest paid athletes in terms of off-field earnings in 2025 reads like a who’s who of global superstars. 

Stephen Curry, thanks to his Under Armour deal that ended in 2026, was the only other athlete close to Ohtani at just under $100 million. Next were LeBron James ($85M), Lionel Messi ($75M), Cristiano Ronaldo ($50M), Kevin Durant ($50M), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($45M), Rory McIlroy ($45M), and Woods ($45M).

Scottie Scheffler ($30M), Neymar ($30M), Patrick Mahomes ($28M), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($25M) round out the top-ten, but Ohtani is on an island all his own. 

Ohtani is baseball’s first true modern global superstar—an athlete who moves seamlessly between cultures, languages, and markets. In Japan, he is omnipresent. Billboards. Television. Subways. Taxis. Entire city blocks feel like extensions of his brand.

His endorsement portfolio reads less like a sponsorship sheet and more like a corporate empire: Seiko, Kosé, Kowa, Hugo Boss, Japan Airlines, New Balance, Fanatics, and more than 20 total partnerships. When Japanese brand Kirin signed him as the face of its “Immune Care” campaign, it wasn’t just a deal—it was a nationwide event.

This is what baseball never had before: an athlete who isn’t just famous, but culturally embedded.

And here’s the twist that makes the entire story even more audacious—Ohtani is doing all of this while technically being one of the lowest-paid players on his own team.

His $2 million salary with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2026 ranks 17th on the roster. A number that would be laughable if it weren’t so strategically brilliant.

Because Ohtani understood something most athletes never do: money isn’t always about what you earn— it’s about when you earn it, and what it allows you to build.

By deferring $680 million of his $700 million contract, Ohtani didn’t sacrifice wealth. He weaponized it. He gave the Dodgers financial flexibility to construct a superteam, stacking talent around him like kindling around a fire. The result? Back-to-Back World Series Championships. Global visibility. Baseball dominance.

And dominance, in turn, feeds the machine.

Winning amplifies relevance. Relevance drives endorsements. Endorsements create empires.

That’s why the Dodgers are the modern day Evil Empire, and Ohtani is at the center of it.

Even the Dodgers’ clubhouse culture reflects his reach. Last season’s home run celebration—a playful gesture mimicking a Japanese skincare ad — wasn’t just a joke. It was a signal. A reminder that Ohtani’s influence stretches beyond the diamond and into the everyday rhythms of global commerce.

He isn’t just in advertisements. He is a walking advertisement.

New Balance understood this early. Their partnership with Ohtani isn’t structured like a traditional baseball deal—it mirrors the architecture of an NBA signature empire. Shoes, apparel, global campaigns. In 2026, the brand expanded his collection into dozens of products, effectively turning him into a walking, swinging, pitching marketplace.

And still, somehow, this might only be the beginning.

Because what makes Ohtani truly dangerous to the record books isn’t just his popularity—it’s his duality. He is the only athlete in modern sports who can dominate two roles at once: a once-in-a-century talent at the plate and a Cy Young Award-caliber pitcher on the mound. Ohtani has the only two 50-50 seasons in MLB history. 50+ homers and 50+ stolen bases in 2024, and 50+ homers and 50+ strikeouts as a pitcher in 2025. He has four MVP awards. Two World Series titles. A résumé that reads like fiction.

The word “unicorn” gets thrown around too easily in sports. With Ohtani, it still feels insufficient.

Even when you widen the lens beyond active athletes, the only name that truly dwarfs him is Michael Jordan, whose Jordan Brand empire generated an estimated $300 million in 2025. But that’s a different kind of legacy—built over decades, fueled by nostalgia and ownership.

Ohtani is doing this in real time.

And that’s what should both excite and terrify the rest of baseball.

Because this isn’t just about one player making more money than everyone else. It’s about one player changing the economic blueprint of an entire sport. The next generation of stars won’t chase contracts the same way. They’ll chase markets. They’ll chase global reach. They’ll chase what Ohtani has built—a brand that transcends borders and turns performance into currency.

Baseball didn’t create this moment.

Shohei Ohtani did.

And now the sport is racing to keep up with the future he’s already living in.

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Right-handed pitcher Ryan Bergert was among five players assigned to the minors, along with pitchers Mason Black and Helcris Oliváres, and outfielders Kameron Misner and John Rave.

We have made the following roster moves:

RHP Ryan Bergert has been optioned to Omaha (AAA)
RHP Mason Black has been optioned to Omaha (AAA)
OF Kameron Misner has been optioned to Omaha (AAA)
OF John Rave has been optioned to Omaha (AAA)

LHP Helcris Oliváres has been reassigned…

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 18, 2026

Bergert had a 3.66 ERA in 76.1 innings between the Padres and Royals, including a 4.43 ERA in eight starts after his trade to Kansas City. He had a 6.52 ERA in four spring training games with eight strikeouts and three walks in 9.2 innings, but five home runs allowed. The Royals are expected to begin the year with a rotation of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, and Noah Cameron, so Bergert was unlikely to crack the starting five unless there was an injury. The Royals have talked about possibly having a six-man rotation later in the year, and assigning Bergert to the minors can keep him stretched out to be ready to be a starter when needed.

Mason Black had a strong spring, tossing eight shutout innings with eight strikeouts. But the former Giants pitcher has an option year and will likely serve as depth in Omaha. The 26-year-old right-hander has a 6.47 ERA in 40.1 career MLB innings across two seasons. Helcris Oliváres had an impressive showing in camp as a hard-throwing lefty, but gave up five runs with three walks, while recording just one out in his last outing on Friday. Before that point he had allowed just one run in six innings. The 25-year-old is on his fourth organization and has never pitched in the big leagues.

Misner and Rave were both competing for reserve outfield roles, but will likely begin the year in Omaha. Misner was acquired over the winter from the Rays and hit .231/.333/.462 in 26 spring training at-bats. The former Mizzou Tigers outfielder is a lefty bat that can play center with good speed, but he struggles to make contact at times. Rave made his MLB debut last year with the Royals, and hit .196/.283/.307 with four home runs in 175 plate appearances.

The Royals now have 50 players on their spring training roster.

The Royals also announced that Cole Ragans will start on Opening Day.

Cole Ragans will be the sixth pitcher in @Royals history to start on Opening Day in three (or more) consecutive seasons. The others:

RHP Gil Meche (3, 2007-09)
RHP Jeff Suppan (3, 2000-02)
RHP Kevin Appier (5, 1992-97)
LHP Bud Black (3, 1984-86)
RHP Dennis Leonard (3, 1978-80)

— Nick Kappel (@NickKappel) March 18, 2026

Reliever and burgeoning starter Mike Vasil had his 2026 harshly stripped away after suffering arm soreness during a quality spring training start against the Dodgers on March 14. Vasil’s season-ending UCL injury leaves an opening on the 40-man roster, so at least someone will benefit from his ever-so-short-lived sophomore season. 

Among the currently non-rostered players, which reliever has the best chance of claiming Vasil’s vacant spot?

Hagen Smith

Vasil’s injury presents an unexpected opportunity for Smith: to break camp with the Sox bullpen. Although he hasn’t seen Triple-A hitting yet, and he started all 20 of his Barons games, Smith’s most likely path to the big leagues is through the arm barn. Falling back on Smith’s limited relief experience in college with Arkansas will give the front office a chance to accelerate his timeline while freeing up space in Charlotte for Birmingham talent that will be knocking on the door come May. 

Executing as a relief pitcher requires a completely different attitude and approach, but Smith should be able to adapt. While the Sox recently reassigned him to minor league camp, his latest performance, albeit a start, should be enough to kickstart conversations about shifting his role and big league trajectory. He may start the season in Charlotte, but he should be booking a one-way ticket to Chicago’s homestand against the Nationals.

Hagen Smith’s stuff looked ELECTRIC this afternoon.

The 22-year-old struck out five over two scoreless innings, flashing the kind of arsenal that reminds you why people are so excited about his future. pic.twitter.com/jvqjhDraKO

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) March 15, 2026

Ben Peoples

If the Sox want to keep Smith in the rotation, then Peoples is the next logical choice. Peoples made the jump from the rotation to the pen last year after three years of being a starter, and it paid off. He held a 3.33 ERA and seven holds in just under 50 innings. Although his dramatic split between Durham and Charlotte seems concerning, it would be unfair to hold Truist Field’s extremely hitter-friendly environment against him. 

Peoples would slot into Vasil’s place in the bullpen well. He is a jack of all trades with a high-velocity fastball and high-movement slider combination, which makes him a good substitute for Vasil’s fastball-sinker-dominant arsenal. With a lot of hard-throwing relievers and plenty of lefty options who will specialize in high-leverage situations, Peoples could nicely round out the bullpen.

Shane Murphy

Murphy slid under the radar last season, but that won’t be the case this year. Murphy quietly dominated in all three levels he pitched in. His ERA never rose above 2.45, and he kept his strikeouts per walks ratio relatively high (4.16) while ascending from High-A to Triple-A. Murphy’s ability to stay steady as a starter at varying levels of competition shouldn’t be overlooked.

Although he was primarily a starter and he’s only played three games in Triple-A, it would be a crime to keep Murphy in the minors longer than absolutely necessary. The South Siders have plenty of flexibility with their rotation and should consider keeping Drew Thorpe in the pen while he finishes his Tommy John recovery to make room for Murphy in the rotation.

Shane Murphy had the lowest WHIP (0.88) and the second lowest ERA (1.66) in the entire minor leagues this past season.

But he’s not a White Sox top 30 prospect?!

⁦@2haneMurphy⁩ on being a mystery man in baseball. Maybe not for long. https://t.co/gHXRk5P6n6 🎧🎙 pic.twitter.com/Qg8fqFugfb

— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) October 15, 2025

Injuries create openings, and this one feels too big to waste. Whether it’s Smith, Peoples, or Murphy, expect someone to turn this unfortunate break into a fast track to Chicago.

This afternoon, the Colorado Rockies fell to the Seattle Mariners 10-6. For more detailed highlights, click here.

The focus of the day was on pitchers Ryan Feltner and Chase Dollander as both make adjustments while vying for the final spot in the Rockies starting rotation.

First, here’s manager Warren Schaeffer:

Next up is Ryan Feltner who describes some of his in-game adjustments:

Chase Dollander also discussed his in-game changes:

And, finally, Kyle Freeland described what it’s like to be the Rockies Opening Day starter:

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There was a time when I raged, raged against using all caps in headlines. That time is not now.

The Cincinnati Reds are going to play the Cleveland Guardians tonight – Thursday, March 17th – under the lights at Goodyear Stadium, and THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT ON TELEVISION THAT YOU CAN WATCH WITH YOUR OWN EYES.

Sorry, sorry – I know it’s somewhat hyperbolic. Still, they’ve spent so much time plying their trade in the Land of the Endless Strip Mall so far this March without us being able to see any of it that it’s a tremendous boon to my entertainment repertoire.

That they chose to do so (finally) at the same time that the First Four is being played and when the World Baseball Classic is being played between the USA and Venezuela is a complete bummer, and a very, very Reds thing to do. But perhaps you can track down a split screen or a laptop to allow you to watch all the action and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the most glorious of sports fashions.

Nick Lodolo will be on the mound looking to fine tune his work, while the Reds are rolling out a stacked lineup featuring Matt McLain, Sal Stewart, Elly De La Cruz, Tyler Stephenson, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Rece Hinds, and Will Banfield.

First pitch is set for 9:05 PM ET, and you’ll be able to follow/watch it through both the Reds.tv feed and the Guardians.tv feed depending upon your location.

(It’s also the MLB.com free game of the day!)

Chicago’s (14-11) bats exploded for five runs in the third behind starting pitcher Anthony Kay. The Athletics (12-14) mounted a comeback but ultimately fell short, as the Good Guys carried home the 6-4 victory. The bullpen was a little rocky at times, but lefthander Chris Murphy was able to shut the door on the A’s and snag the save and secure the win for Kay, now 3-0 on the spring.

Kay was excellent through the first four innings and allowed just three hits: a single in the first from Nick Kurtz that turned into a double play on the next batter, a base hit in the second, and a two-out double in the fourth that turned into nothing. He started the fifth out alright with a ground out, but Andy Ibañez took him deep on a hanging slider inside, which was Kay’s only run surrendered. He struck out one more before being replaced with Jedixson Paez, and outside of the homer, he was efficient and punched out five batters while not walking any.

A five-run cushion while on the mound definitely takes the pressure off, and the South Side offense did just that in the bottom of the third. Chase Meidroth led off the rally with a solo shot to right — his first of the spring — and both Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas walked to put a couple more runners on for the Good Guys. Munetaka Murakami came up to the plate in an ideal situation, but he wasn’t the hero here … yet. Mune got Colson to third by tagging on a fly out, but Austin Hays came in clutch, driving an RBI double to right, giving the Sox a two-run lead.

Hays’ double was enough for the Athletics to head to the bullpen, but Andrew Benintendi poured some salt in the wound by mashing a 416-foot, three-run shot to right to make it 5-0.

Just a couple of innings later, the South Siders tacked on one more thanks to a Murakami moonshot — his first home run in a White Sox jersey and the first of (hopefully) many more to come.

ムーンに飛ばした！村上選手のスプリングトレーニング初ホームラン！ pic.twitter.com/hPJ9JcIukJ

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 17, 2026

Outside of the homers, shortstop Luisangel Acuña and catcher Drew Romo both blasted doubles in the game to account for the remaining South Side extra-base hits. As a team, the Sox went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left five on base, but they did enough to hold on to the win.

The Athletics were attempting to claw back, adding two runs in the fifth and then two more in the eighth. Paez took over for 2 1/3 innings after Kay, giving up one run on one hit and a walk, though he fanned three and has been much more efficient after a rough outing early in the month.

It was a lefty-heavy day as Sean Newcomb entered the game in the eighth, and things got dicey for a minute, but he was eventually able to work his way out of it to maintain a two-run lead. Newcomb was able to get two outs fairly quickly after walking the leadoff batter, but naturally, before he was able to get the third out, a pinch-hit home run from Shane McGuire cut the South Side lead down to two, 6-4.

In better news, the bullpen struggles ended there, as Murphy shut it down in the ninth and the Sox obtained their 14th win of the season. The Good Guys have the day off tomorrow but will have a split-squad matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

The World Baseball Classic finals will feature an epic clash between the United States and Venezuela. According to ESPN, the US will have Nolan McLean start the game while Venezuela will send Eduardo Rodriguez to the mound.

Tuesday evening is for multi-tasking, with the World Baseball Classic championship game starting at 5 p.m. PT, followed by the Dodgers playing the Royals in Surprise one hour later.

Will Smith gets the start at catcher for Team USA on Tuesday night, his second straight game behind the plate.

Tonight's starting lineup in the World Baseball Classic Championship Game against Venezuela pic.twitter.com/JApvM7KDL4

— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) March 17, 2026

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In spring training, Tuesday is the Dodgers’ final road game in Arizona.

Tonight's #DodgersST lineup at Royals: pic.twitter.com/use4PE2JVF

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 17, 2026

World Baseball Classic game info

• Teams: United States vs. Venezuela
• Round: Championship game
• Ballpark: loanDepot Park, Miami
• Time: 5 p.m. PT
• TV: Fox
• Radio: MLB Audio, Sirius XM

Spring training game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Royals
• Ballpark: Surprise Stadium
• Time: 6:05 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: KFNZ 96.5 (Royals broadcast)

The Mets don’t have many roster decisions left as we draw closer and closer to Opening Day, but the big one remaining is the final bullpen spot.  

Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Monday that Huascar Brazoban will make the team as long as he is healthy at the end of camp, leaving just one more opening over the final few spring games. 

Among those still in the mix is veteran righty Craig Kimbrel.

Kimbrel’s faced a bit of an uphill battle since joining the club on a minor league deal, and he’s been shaky at times over his first five Grapefruit League appearances. 

Tuesday’s outing was just the latest example. 

Kimbrel came on in the bottom of the fifth and was immediately hurt by a leadoff walk, as Miami’s Owen Cassie stole second before eventually scoring on an RBI single. 

That marked just the second run he’s given up on the spring, but it was also his fifth free pass issued to go along with a pair of hit-by-pitches. 

The long-time shutdown closer has also seen his fastball velocity drop off a bit, as he averaged just 92.1 mph on the pitch this afternoon, a drop-off from his peak form. 

Still, he’s relatively encouraged with how things have gone.

“We’re getting close to the end here,” Kimbrel said. “My body feels good -- I wish I could show a bit more velocity-wise, but I’m throwing most of my pitches like I want to at this point.”

With one spring outing left under the bright lights on Thursday night, the 37-year-old does feel there’s still time remaining to get his arsenal where he wants it to be. 

Even if he doesn’t, though, he believes he still has what it takes to help this team. 

“It depends on what they want the roster to look like and who they think is going to help the team most,” Kimbrel said. “Do I feel like I can do that? Absolutely, but it’s not my choice.”

A National League West showdown is upon us on Wednesday afternoon, with the Dodgers back at Camelback Ranch to battle the San Francisco Giants. Shohei Ohtani will pitch in his first game this spring in this one, manager Dave Roberts told reporters at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday.

Ohtani last pitched four simulated innings last Thursday with Team Japan on an off day during the World Baseball Classic in Miami. Starting on Wednesday would also line up Ohtani to pitch in the final Freeway Series game next Tuesday against the Angels.

"Not sure how many innings he's gonna give us, but he's gonna go tomorrow."

Dave Roberts talks with the media regarding Shohei Ohtani's pitching plan for the rest of Spring Training. #DodgersST⚾🌵 pic.twitter.com/z5qaCDW7P1

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 18, 2026

Left-hander Landen Roupp starts for San Francisco.

Wednesday game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Giants
• Ballpark: Camelback Ranch
• Time: 1:05 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
• Radio: AM 570

There is a lot of baseball for fans to watch tonight, exactly one week ahead of Opening Day – which will inexplicably be exclusively carried by Netflix, UGH – as the World Baseball Classic comes to a thrilling conclusion when Bobby Witt Jr. and Team USA take on Maikel (Pronounced like Michael, not the way we’ve all been saying it for years) Garcia and Salvador Perez in the Championship Game. An hour after that game starts, the Royals will go live with what I believe is their final televised Cactus League game of the year.

Here are the WBC Lineups:

Lineups for today’s #WorldBaseballClassic Final between Team Venezuela and Team USA! pic.twitter.com/X9Xa7R2Jvh

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 17, 2026

Team USA’s behavior will certainly make Bobby Witt Jr.‘s first plate appearance must-see TV with Salvador Perez behind the plate.

And here’s the Royals’ starting lineup for their Cactus League game:

I had thought that Bailey Falter was supposed to start tonight, but it looks like Aaron Sanchez will get the nod with Falter coming in as a reliever later in the match. At first I thought perhaps the Royals had finally traded the lefty, but no announcement has been forthcoming so I suppose only time will tell on that front. Here’s a list of every pitcher scheduled to throw tonight:

• Bailey Falter
• Lucas Erceg
• John Schreiber
• Aaron Sanchez
• Hector Neris 

You can tell we’re getting close to the regular season by how the scheduled pitcher list keeps shrinking. Almost there!

Tonight we have the World Baseball Classic final, with the United States squaring off against Venezuela. One game, winner take all.

The lineups are as follows:

USA

Witt — SS

Harper — 1B

Judge — RF

Schwarber — DH

Bregman — 3B

Anthony — LF

Smith — C

Turang — 2B

Buxton — CF

Nolan McLean is the starting pitcher for the USA.

Venezuela

Acuna — RF

Garcia — 3B

Arraez — 1B

Suarez — DH

Torres — 2B

Tovar — SS

Abreu — LF

Perez — C

Chourio — CF

Eduardo Rodriguez starts on the mound for Venezuela.

7:00 p.m. Central start time.

At long last, we’ve come to the end. The World Baseball Classic concludes tonight at loanDepot park in Miami, and two teams who have forded adversity in the tournament will compete for the coveted championship. Team USA, the 2017 champions and 2023 runners-up, will host Team Venezuela, who defeated Italy last night to reach their first ever Classic final.

Venezuela’s victory over the plucky Italian squad marked their second consecutive come-from-behind win in an elimination game against an undefeated opponent. They had previously clawed back from a 5-2 deficit against defending champion Japan to prevail 8-5, thanks to outstanding relief pitching and a three-run homer from Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu.

Manager Omar López’s squad relied upon a similar formula against Italy. After starter Keider Montero lost control, López was able to count on clutch performances from relievers Ricardo Sánchez and Luinder Avila to keep Italy’s white-hot offense at bay. When a three-run, seventh-inning rally off Michael Lorenzen gave Venezuela their first lead, the back-end relievers erased all possibility of a counter-rally. Andrés Machado and Daniel Palencia collected a pair of strikeouts apiece in the final two innings to seal the deal.

Of course, Team USA has that defeated Italian team to thank for being in their current position. After shockingly losing 8-6 to Francisco Cervelli’s group in pool play, the Americans only advanced because Italy trounced Mexico the following day. Not content to waste that second opportunity, they beat first-time quarterfinalist Canada 5-3, then found a way to outlast the high-powered Dominican Republic in a 2-1 nailbiter. Now they’re in position to take home their second WBC crown.

Let’s meet the starting pitchers! USA manager Mark DeRosa will be sending Mets rookie Nolan McLean to the hill for this title game. McLean made his Classic debut in that loss to Italy, allowing three runs on a pair of homers while striking out four across three innings. Fans unfamiliar with McLean got to see both his wipeout stuff and his penchant for surrendering the long ball, an issue which has dogged him throughout his time as a professional. He’ll attempt to keep a potent and confident Venezuelan offense in the yard tonight.

On the other end is veteran lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. The 2018 World Series champion has plenty of big game experience, though the most enduring image of him on the big stage is spiking his glove after surrendering a homer to Yasiel Puig. Rodriguez has ridden the struggle bus the past few seasons in Arizona, and had trouble in his first Classic start against the DR—surrendering three runs on three hits despite picking up five strikeouts. He’ll get a chance for redemption against an American lineup that feels like it still hasn’t truly fired on all this cylinders this tournament.

Will the United States send bombs bursting in air? Or will Venezuela dance tambor all night long? Tune in and share your thoughts as the game progresses in this open thread!

How to watch

Location: loanDepot park — Miami, FL

First pitch: 8:00 pm ET

TV broadcast: Fox

Radio broadcast: MLB.com

Online stream: Fox Sports App

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Lineups for today’s #WorldBaseballClassic Final between Team Venezuela and Team USA! pic.twitter.com/X9Xa7R2Jvh

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 17, 2026

The Jays made a bit of news today:

Jonatan Clase has been optioned to Buffalo. This is his last option year.

And Javen Coleman, Michael Plassmeyer, Geovanny Planchart, Sean Keys, Charles McAdoo and Arjun Nimmala have been assigned to the Jays minor league camp. Some of those guys got a fair bit of playing time, especially after some of the Jays players went to the WBC.

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Tonight Ed Rodriguez starts for Venezuela, he was hit pretty hard earlier in the WBC. And, apparently, MLB teams have been asking them not to use any of the pitchers they used yesterday, which seems hardly fair.

Nolan McLean, who was also hit hard earlier, in the WBC. He made one start for the Mets last season. You would think the USA would have someone better.

Venezuela’s lineup:

1. Acuna, RF
2. Garcia, 3B
3. Arraez, 1B
4. Suarez, DH
5. Torrez, 2B
6. Tovar, SS
7. Abreu, LF
8. Perez, C
9. Chourio, CF

USA:

1. Witt, SS
2. Harper, 1B
3. Judge, RF
4. Schwarber, DH
5. Bregman, 3B
6. Anthony, LF
7. Smith, C
8. Turang, 2B
9. Buxton, CF

After a few days away, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts returned to Camelback Ranch over the weekend, now a father of three after his wife, Brianna, gave birth.

The 33-year-old Betts said earlier in camp he was looking to ease into spring training ahead of his 13th major league season in an effort to turn the page from a career-worst statistical year in 2025. There have been encouraging signs as he's hitting .316 in Cactus League play, which includes a home run in Sunday's split-squad win over the Chicago Cubs.

“I just want to get better,” Betts said. “I’m not content with being where I’m at. I want to continue to get better in life and everything, and you know, be able to kind of teach my son how to be great. You know, I’ve got to go through it first. When you’re open-minded, there’s endless possibilities.”

Read more:Shaikin: U.S. showing class at WBC no matter how the White House might react to a title

Betts kept an open mind when he first learned of teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s unique workout routine, which includes javelin throwing, yoga, and working with personal trainer Osamu Yada. Betts credits his improved defense at shortstop to the new training methods that he’s adopted.

“I’m not fully in his whole routine,” Betts said of Yada, who is often referred to as Yada Sensei. “But I wake up every morning and do my stretch routine that Sensei showed me, throwing the javelins every day. I think throwing javelins is the reason why I can make a play in the hole like that and throw it in the air on a line. I’m really grateful for Yoshi and Sensei, because they have definitely changed my perspective, changed my life, changed my game.”

Betts graded as a below-average defender in his first season at the shortstop position in 2024, posting a minus-6 in Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-3 in Outs Above Average. Last season, he saw a sizable improvement, leading MLB shortstops in DRS (plus-17) and placing in the top-third in OAA (plus-6).

It wasn’t hard for Betts to look at Yamamoto and think that the Japanese superstar may have been onto something.

“So I mean, Yoshi came over and [got] $300 million, and he hadn’t even thrown a pitch over here,” Betts said. “So, I’m pretty sure he does something right.”

Betts has yet to see the workouts translate offensively, but expects that to come in due time.

“He said eventually I’ll feel where it helps me hitting, but I haven’t gotten to that point yet,” Betts said. “I think he should be back, so you’ll see us back working, and eventually I’ll get it, but he said it will take a little time.”

In the meantime, Betts believes he’s found an easy fix that should return him to the MVP-caliber player he had been for close to a decade. Betts says he lost 10 mph in bat speed last season.

“I think the most important part is now that I think I’m 178 [pounds] now, almost 180, so I’m able to just have speed,” Betts said. “When I lost all the weight, I was down 10 mph in speed. You’ve got guys throwing 100 mph with a slow bat, it’s going to be hard to do. It’s not an excuse, but it’s a fact. So, now I’ve got my speed back, I don’t have to hurry up and make decisions so fast.”

Said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: "I like where he's at physically. He looks stronger."

Read more:Yoshinobu Yamamoto named Dodgers' opening-day starter for second straight season

A stomach illness prompted Betts to lose 15 to 20 pounds last spring, putting him behind the eight-ball, and he never quite caught up after that.

“[I was] down 10 mph in bat speed,” Betts said. “Do you know how hard it is for somebody that weighs 160 [pounds] to gain bat speed, to gain strength and play a game all at the same time during the season? It’s tough to do. I tried it. I failed at it. But we’re in a new spot now, and we’ll try to stay here.”

Shohei Ohtani to pitch in Cactus League game

Shohei Ohtani, who was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, will pitch in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch, his first Cactus League action this year.

Roberts said he was uncertain how many innings he would pitch against the Giants and that he'll likely pitch one of the Freeway Series games against the Angels next week as he continues to ramp up to be part of the Dodgers' starting rotation.

"Even with the buildup, he was very clear on what he was going to do to prepare for the season," Roberts said.

Roberts also said Yamamoto is scheduled to start Friday's Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.