SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27, 2026: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Dodgers’ penultimate spring game in Arizona is their final night game of this portion of their exhibition schedule, hosting the San Diego Padres Friday night at Camelback Ranch.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his final spring start this season, and his first since returning from the World Baseball Classic. This will be the final tuneup for the right-hander before he starts his second consecutive opening day for the Dodgers, on March 26 at Dodger Stadium.
PHOENIX — For several minutes on Monday, Miguel Rojas said his world “rumbled.”
For several minutes that afternoon, the baseball world thought he had tested positive for steroids.
In reality, of course. Rojas hadn’t.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas against Team Mexico during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
But that day, a reporter from The Athletic incorrectly posted on social media that the Dodgers infielder had been suspended 80 games because of a banned substance — before quickly deleting the post and explaining his mistake.
Turned out, it was Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies who had been popped for PEDs, receiving an 80-game ban for testing positive for Boldenone.
“I’ve deleted a post incorrectly identifying who was suspended today,” the reporter later clarified. “It was Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies who was suspended.”
Two days later, Miguel Rojas was still voicing frustration over the situation, telling reporters in the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch clubhouse that he had yet to receive an apology over the incorrect report.
“I’m not frustrated because of the report,” he said. “We’re all humans and we make mistakes.”
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas against the San Diego Padres during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
However, he quickly added, “I was expecting a little bit more of an apology. Not just to me, but the organization. Because it wasn’t just my name. It was pretty clear that he said, ‘Miguel Rojas from the Los Angeles Dodgers.’
“That’s the only thing that I’m kind of bothered by.”
An apology eventually came later on Wednesday, with the reporter, Evan Drellich, tweeting: “To Miguel Rojas and the Dodgers, I sincerely and publicly apologize. I’ve reached out to Miguel, the Dodgers and Miguel’s agent to say the same. Once again, I’m sorry.”
But by then, viral videos were already circulating of Rojas first discussing the situation in an interview with Chris Rose on Tuesday night, when he described the lack of an apology as “bulls–t.”
“For six minutes, (it) kind of rumbled my whole world, and got so many people around me and around us, the team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, worried because of one guy making a mistake,” he said then. “I’m totally OK with making mistakes. But at the end of the day, I was expecting an apology.”
However, Rojas also said he wanted to move on from the story, trying not “to make it a big deal” or “make it about myself.”
“I just feel like whenever the tweet was deleted and the clarification was trying to be made, I think we all deserve a little bit of an apology there,” he said. “Because it wasn’t just my name. It was the organization that I represent too. And that’s really important to me.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Eugenio Suárez #7 of Team Venezuela reacts after hitting an RBI double against Team United States during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Eduardo Rodriguez Leads Venezuela over Team USA Eduardo Rodriguez turned in just the sort of performance Arizona was hoping to see out of him regularly when they signed him after the 2023 season.
Evaluating Rodriguez’s Night In anything other than a championship game like last night, Rodriguez probably goes another inning or two at least. The veteran lefty put together a commanding performance in one of the biggest games of his life.
NL West Outlook: Second Place or Better Likely Necessary for October Baseball The NL West is already stacked against the Diamondbacks, what with the Dodgers being in the same division. But preseason projections make it look like Arizona will need to finish no worse than a strong second in order to punch their ticket to the playoffs in 2026.
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 16: The scoreboard displays a Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge sponsored by T-Mobile during the spring training game between the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 16, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Phillies 13-6. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While it feels like the baseball gods have laid low every Detroit Tigers pitcher under the age of 22, that’s not strictly true. One of the best stories at the A-ball levels last summer was the emergence of right-hander Kelvis Salcedo. While there is certainly relief risk present in his frame and delivery, Salcedo arguably boasts the nastiest set of pitches in the whole farm system already, so we’ll kick off our 45 FV tier with a pitcher who will have a lot of eyes on him in 2026 as he looks to build on a breakout campaign.
The Tigers signed 20-year-old Kelvis Salcedo back in January 2023, as he was turning 17. He hails from Santa Barbara del Zulia, Venezuela in the northwestern corner of the country. Salcedo wasn’t a big bonus prospect in a class where catcher Enrique Jimenez and outfielder Anibal Salas were the big names at the time, but he’s already outpaced them in terms of future major league projections.
The young right-hander stands 6’0” but while his official weight is 180 pounds, he’s clearly bulked up since that weigh-in and has filled out in his chest and legs significantly. He looks like he’s probably touching 215 pounds or more. That additional muscle now powers a fastball that can clip 99 mph at max effort. It’s a fairly high effort delivery, but as he continues to develop things may come more easily for him. There really isn’t any physical projection left, and the program for him is more about building more functional strength rather than filling out any further.
Salcedo will sometimes utilize a rock step with the bases empty, but either way it’s a simple motion and he’s basically pitching out of the stretch most of the time already. Like most with a higher arm slot, he has to pull his head hard to the first base side to create space for his arm path to get to that high three-quarters position, and as a result he will spin off to the first base side at times. Still, while he’ll occasionally sail a fastball or have his cutter and slider back up on him somewhat, he’s already an effective strike thrower who pounded the zone very well for his age and didn’t walk too many batters. He hides the ball well and that delivery makes it hard to pick up his release point until a hitter has seen him a few times.
A delivery with a good deal of visible upper body effort to throw hard is something scouts tend to key on as a poor sign for a future starting pitching role, and Salcedo isn’t the long-limbed, lanky 6’3”-6’5” with big extension that teams favor these days in a starting role. As a result, Salcedo gets high relief risk marks. Of course, you can tell that to Max Scherzer and many other high effort starters around the league. It’s just up to the player to put the work in to get in the best shape possible by the time they reach the major leagues. Salcedo may well be able to keep repeating his delivery with better efficiency as he builds up reps into his early 20’s. So, right now it’s just a note of caution as to his future role, and we’ll see how well he holds up to full seasons of pro ball the next two years.
The right-hander worked with fourseam fastball, cutter, and splitter last season, though he will mix in a slider and sinker as well, per Statcast. He can really spin the baseball to go with the raw velocity, and has a pretty intriguing fourseam fastball shape. In Lakeland last summer, Salcedo’s average fastball was already 95.4 mph and he topped out at 98.5 mph. The deception in his delivery helps balance out his below average extension, but it’s still not a huge, whiff generating fourseamer. The movement is more deceptive than explosive. It looks like a fourseamer in terms of spin alignment on the ball, but instead it has some late cut and drop that routinely had hitters breaking bats and beating it into the ground last summer. Hitters don’t swing and miss at it much, but they really struggled to barrel it up.
Salcedo backs the heater with a nasty 88-89 mph cutter that averaged 2711 rpms of spin last year. It plays off the fastball well with sharp late break to his gloveside and average depth. He drew a whopping 50 percent whiff rate on the cutter last year. His slider moves like the cutter but with a little more depth in the mid-80’s, and Salcedo tended to turn to it once he already had a hitter down and was trying to get them to chase down. It too produced a huge whiff rate, but it’s inconclusive whether these are even two distinct pitches as they blur together often. He might do better adding a spike curveball from that arm slot for a change of pace and something with more downward action.
His best pitch is a pretty spectacular changeup that looks like a splitter although the grip hasn’t been confirmed. It’s a mid-80’s offspeed pitch and Salcedo really kills the spin on it to go with the velocity separation, getting serious late drop and armside run on it. This is already a consistent plus pitch and drew a 60 percent whiff rate in Lakeland. When he’s really commanding it well it’s better than plus and you won’t see a nastier changeup anywhere in the minor leagues.
Salcedo had a really good Dominican Summer League season in 2024, and arrived stateside last year to pitch in the Complex League. He dominated there, and then moved over to the Single-A side to pitch for the Lakeland Flying Tigers in August and early September. He was already boasting an ERA under 2.00 in Complex League action, with really good strikeout to walk ratios, but things clicked into another gear in full season ball as he finished the year with a flourish. Salcedo only spent about a third of his season there, but he put up a 1.54 ERA with a downright crazy 39 percent strikeout rate against a walk rate of just 7.3 percent. He threw strikes, he didn’t give up hard contact, and the cutter and changeup generated tons of whiffs. If he was a young college draft pick this would be outstanding, but when you also consider that Salcedo only turned 20 in January of 2026, that’s particularly eye-popping.
Salcedo made 10 starts and had 18 appearances in 2025, throwing a combined 68 2/3 innings between Complex League ball and the Florida State League. He finished with a 1.83 ERA and a 2.88 FIP and a combined 33.5 percent K-rate. So, we have a very young pitcher here doing all the things we were hoping to see from recent top picks like Owen Hall, Paul Wilson, Zach Swanson, Ethan Schiefelbein, among others.
Like any young starter, Salcedo has to refine his game and prove he can hold up to a starter’s workload over the next few seasons. His frame and delivery raise some red flags for relief risk, but even as a reliever he’s got a good chance at a long career in high leverage work. On the other hand, the stuff is already overpowering from an A-ball standpoint and he had no real issues throwing a lot of strikes. As long as he’s handling the workload, the Tigers will rightfully continue to develop him as a starter. There’s a chance that Salcedo turns out to be a really good one. If they decide to convert him to relief at some point, Salcedo already has closer caliber stuff when he airs out the fastball. He could prove a really great weapon for the Tigers’ bullpen.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 06: Harry Ford #1 of Team Great Britain celebrates in the dugout with props after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during a World Baseball Classic game against Team Mexico at Daikin Park on March 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It felt like it was trending this way for a little while, but Harry Ford was officially optioned to Triple-A this afternoon. Paul Toboni acquired Ford in a trade that sent Jose A. Ferrer this offseason. At first, I thought Ford would have a good chance of cracking the Opening Day roster. However, as camp progressed, it was clear the new regime wanted to give Keibert Ruiz another chance.
The Nationals have made the following roster moves:
Optioned to Triple-A Rochester: -C Harry Ford -1B/DH Abimelec Ortiz
Reassigned to Minor League camp: -C Riley Adams
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) March 18, 2026
That is an understandable decision, especially considering the service time ramifications for Ford. However, I cannot say I am fired up about a Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas catching tandem. The Nats had the worst catching situation in baseball last season, yet they still did not give Ford a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Yes, we will see plenty of Harry Ford this season, but I am still bummed out that he did not make the Opening Day roster. I really hope Ruiz’s contract doesn’t give him a longer leash than he deserves. While Ruiz showed promise in 2022 and 2023, the last two seasons have been disastrous for the Venezuelan catcher. As a bat first catcher, he has posted a .619 and .595 OPS the last two seasons.
Harry Ford should be given the benefit of the doubt in the Nats catching competition, not Keibert Ruiz https://t.co/kFAEVi6a3S
His contract which runs through the 2030 season and a solid spring have given Ruiz another shot behind the plate. However, his leash is going to be shorter this time. With Ford in the fold, he has real competition for the first time in DC. Hopefully, he can rise to the challenge, but I have my doubts. Ruiz has serious flaws on both sides of the ball which have persisted for years.
Ford is far from a perfect player himself, but he would provide new blood. He also represents a big investment from Paul Toboni. Ford had solid WBC and an up and down spring, but he showed why the Nats got him. He walked a lot this spring, which is a big part of his game. Ford also showed off some power for Great Britain at the WBC.
I do not think sending Ford down is an irrational decision by any means, it is just a bit of a bummer. Fans were excited to see him, and now they are going to have to wait a little longer. Ford already has a strong track record in AAA with a .283 average and .868 OPS at the level last year.
However, the new regime clearly thinks he needs more seasoning. I would not be surprised if a big reason for the demotion is to work on his defense. While Ford has steadily improved on that side of the ball, there is still more work to be done.
Another reason for this demotion could be service time related. If teams keep a player in the minors long enough, they can gain an extra year of team control. That deadline usually comes sometime in mid to late April, so it would not be a surprise to see Ford called up around then.
I cannot say I am excited about this decision, but it is understandable. Keibert Ruiz has looked better this spring, but he still has a lot to prove before he can regain faith from the fanbase. Hopefully we see Harry Ford sooner rather than later.
Shane Smith comes off a strong rookie campaign to head the rotation, eyeing a second All-Star nomination and looking to improve upon a strong 7-8 record, 3.81 ERA, and 1.20 WHIP. If Smith can keep his performance at a similar level and tack on a few more starts, he’ll take significant pressure off a bullpen that now needs more help than expected.
Last year’s Opening Day starter Sean Burke gets the No. 2 spot, which is a strong testament to Venable’s confidence in him. His six quality starts and ability to pitch deep into games make him a logical choice to back up Smith, helping build in a lighter workload for relievers.
Anthony Kay, slotting in third, is not at all shocking upon closer inspection. His lefty arm breaks up the two straight righty starters. Additionally, his reformed sinker ball and emergence as a strikeout pitcher from playing in Japan offer a dynamic and natural deviation from Smith and Burke’s styles. His 1.72 ERA, 130 punchouts in 24 games, and veteran presence almost serve as a palate cleanser before getting to the back half of the bullpen.
Davis Martin at fourth is a bit interesting, considering he was Venable’s second rotation arm in 2025, but with the first half set, it’s difficult to put him anywhere else. Martin’s pitching wasn’t mind-blowing last season, but he showed glimpses of brilliance. He lasted at least five innings in 23 of his 26 games, and he recorded two runs or fewer in 11 of his games. His range, from a durable innings eater to an effective strikeout-seeker, offers plenty of upside with a tolerable amount of risk. Sensible for a fourth pitcher.
Finally, the prodigal son, Erick Fedde, brings up the rear. Venable is justified in prioritizing young guys and newcomer Kay in the rotation over a veteran traded away in 2024. Zach Bove and Co. should be carefully dissecting Fedde’s command issues and dramatic decline from a 3.30 ERA in 2024 to a 5.49 ERA last year. Perhaps he missed pitching for Chicago so much, or maybe it’s because he didn’t have Ethan Katz whispering in his ear during mound visits. The southpaw is looking to squeeze a couple more years of baseball out of that arm, and the Sox are hoping they don’t have to go to the pen before the fourth inning when he starts.
All told, it’s a rotation built on balance more than flash — a clear blend of upside, durability, and just enough experience to stabilize things early. If the top half delivers as expected and the back end holds its own, this group should give Chicago a fighting chance to stay competitive while the rest of the roster finds its footing.
TAMPA — It was only a Grapefruit League exhibition, and only 10 pitches in one inning.
But 53 weeks after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Gerrit Cole returned to the mound for his first game action on Wednesday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field, checking off another significant box in his comeback toward potentially rejoining the Yankees by May.
Cole looked as sharp as one can while only throwing 10 pitches — he was set to head down to the bullpen afterward to throw about 20 more — flashing some life on his fastball, which topped out at 98.7 mph, in the scoreless frame.
Gerrit Cole threw 10 pitches across one scoreless frame in his return to the mound pic.twitter.com/EaXsEShsnG
The 35-year-old threw six fastballs (averaging 97.1 mph), two sliders and two knuckle curveballs.
He allowed two singles — one on a bunt up the first base line on the first pitch he threw — but also got some fielding work in when he covered first base on a groundout to end the inning.
Cole still has more hurdles to clear over the next two months before he could return to a big league mound, building up his workload and stamina after not throwing a single inning last season.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws a pitch against the Red Sox during the first inning of a spring training game on March 18, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But the Yankees are eagerly awaiting his return, and Wednesday’s tease only re-emphasized that feeling, allowing them to dream on what their rotation could look like with him in it.
Editor’s note: Leading up to Opening Day, our staff will share several predictions for the 2026 Red Sox season. In Part 2 of the season preview series,our three-person panel named the biggest key to Boston making a deeper postseason run.
The Boston Red Sox ended their four-year postseason drought last season, winning 89 games en route to the Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.
After falling to their archrival in the opening round, the Red Sox are poised to make a deeper playoff run in 2026. They loaded up on starting pitching during the offseason, trading for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo before signing Ranger Suarez as their No. 2 starter. They lost veteran Alex Bregman in free agency, but the addition of first baseman Willson Contreras should help replace his offensive production.
Boston should also get a significant boost from its collection of young talent, with Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer looking to take the next step at the big-league level. Top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early — who started in Game 3 vs. New York — figure to play key roles in 2026 as well.
So, what are the biggest keys to the Red Sox making a deeper postseason run? Our panel tackled that question in Part 2 of our season preview series:
Justin Leger: Starting pitching lives up to expectations
After acquiring Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo in the offseason, the Red Sox are expected to boast one of the best rotations in baseball. They also still have admirable depth if one or two starters go down. Top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early are in the mix, plus veterans Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval are set to return from injuries.
If the starting pitching staff disappoints, it could be a long season. Boston’s lineup leaves plenty to be desired heading into the campaign, with FanGraphs’ ZiPS projecting zero players projected to hit 20-plus home runs.
Nick Goss: Young players take the next step
Roman Anthony has superstar potential, and if healthy, 2026 could be the year he makes that jump.
What will the Red Sox get from Marcelo Mayer? Can he earn a regular role at the MLB level and be a key contributor? Can he stay healthy for a full season? Injuries are inevitable, so the Red Sox will need prospects and/or utility guys to step up.
Brayan Bello has All-Star potential. It was encouraging to see him lower his ERA by more than a full run in 2025 and pitch a career high in innings. Can he make another jump in 2026? The Red Sox need it to be a true contender.
Darren Hartwell: The rotation staying intact
The Red Sox had 13 pitchers make multiple starts last season, including September call-up Connelly Early, who got the ball for a winner-take-all playoff game against the Yankees. Craig Breslow’s offseason investment in the rotation should decrease that number in 2026, and they now have the depth to roll out seasoned starters in every game of a playoff series… assuming their “horses” are healthy in October.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Adolis García #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during the third inning of a spring training game against the New York Yankees at BayCare Ballpark on March 10, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Good Phight will be previewing the 2026 season by going over each position on the field. We’ll talk about the players that will occupy them, the players behind them, their strengths and weaknesses and give a few takes about how we think the season will shake out.
The bar is low for Adolis García. Nick Castellanos played in 143 games last year as the Phillies primary right fielder for most of the season. He was one of the worst players in Major League Baseball. He brought a beer into the clubhouse and didn’t like Rob Thomson.
Once the Phillies made the trade for Harrison Bader to play center field, Nick Castellanos began to lose playing time, eventually leading to Max Kepler becoming Thomson’s primary option against right handed pitchers. Over the final month of the season, Kepler played right field in 13 of the 17 games he played. He was the game one starter out there in the NLDS but moved back to left when Bader got hurt.
Overall, the Phillies right field output was 21st in fWAR and 15th in wRC+, mostly because of what Max Kepler did over the final two months of the season.
After a 39 home run campaign that helped the Texas Rangers win a title in 2023, García’s production has plummeted in his early 30s. His slugging from 2023 to 2024 dropped 108 points and dropped an additional six in 2025. He rebounded defensively last season but he was still a below-average player at the plate.
The inspiring takeaway from García is that he still has the raw physical talent for a potential rebound. While his bat speed has declined, his average exit velocity was still north of 92 mph last season with a plus hard hit rate. In spring training, García’s hard hit metrics still show a player who can hit the ball very hard.
The approach at the plate is a different question, however. He may be a vastly different defensive outfielder than Nick Castellanos but they’re quite similar at the plate. The general profile of both hitters looks very similar.
The similarities don’t stop there, García hit just .247 on four-seam fastballs last season. Castellanos? .246.
Against breaking pitches, Castellanos hit .220 with a .392 slugging. García? .212 with a .390 slugging.
If Adolis García ends up being a slightly better version of Castellanos at the plate by demonstrating more raw power while giving the Phillies at least slightly above-average defense, that’s a better player than the right field situation the club had last season. That’s what the Phillies are asking him to do.
But even in that world, is it enough of an upgrade? It’s a hard question to answer. That still might be the first place the team looks for help at the trade deadline in August.
There is also the path for a collapse in production. García is now 33 years old and has a game predicated on raw athleticism to make up for approach issues. It’s very easy to imagine a major decrease in bat speed, which leads to issues against fastballs. If he loses a bit of speed, he might go from an above-average outfielder defensively to someone below. Sapped raw power would lead to less extra base hits.
How easy is it to imagine that happening for a 33-year-old right fielder? It happened to the Phillies last year with Nick Castellanos.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 09: Nelson Velázquez (88) of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during a spring training game against the Houston Astros on March 09, 2026 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals are barely a week away from Opening Day, but there are still more Spring Training games to complete. Today, they face off against the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium. According to MLB.com, the Astros will send J.P. France to the mound while the Cardinals starter will be Kyle Leahy.
Mar 11, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Albert Suarez (49) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Time is winding down for Orioles spring training. The O’s have just four days left in Florida before heading north for a pair of home-and-home exhibition games against the Nationals and then Opening Day. This afternoon the O’s play their second and final spring game against the defending AL champion Blue Jays. They won’t see them again until the end of May, two months into the regular season.
Albert Suárez is in desperate need of an effective start. Spring training stats don’t mean everything, but his have been particularly rough — a 10.80 ERA in 6.2 innings — and when you’re a roster bubble guy, that could make the difference between cracking the Opening Day roster or being left out in the cold. Suárez is on a minor league contract, so it would be easy enough for the O’s to simply stash him at Triple-A Norfolk if he doesn’t make the team out of camp. Chances are we’ll be seeing him at some point this season, so it’d be nice if he can show he’s still got something in the tank.
A lot of Orioles regulars are making the trip to Dunedin for this one, including a number of guys who will be starting on Opening Day, though not necessarily at the same positions. Pete Alonso gets a partial breather as the DH while Ryan Mountcastle plays first, and Blaze Alexander is making the start in center field. If Alexander proves himself capable as an outfielder, that’ll be a huge boon to the Orioles’ bench.
Orioles lineup:
RF Dylan Beavers C Adley Rutschman DH Pete Alonso 1B Ryan Mountcastle LF Colton Cowser CF Blaze Alexander 2B Jeremiah Jackson 3B Weston Wilson SS José Barrero
As Major League Baseball teams prepare for their final days of spring training in Arizona and Florida, Opening Day is lurking.
All three of them.
With a made-for-streaming standalone game and a handful of three-game series spread over four days, all 30 teams will open over a three-day period, as a handful of new national television windows debut.
The openers will also have a decidedly interleague look to them, as seven of the 15 series will match up American and National league teams. And while many teams build an off day into the second day of the season to allow for inclement weather, eight of the openers will be held in climate-controlled or warmer-weather venues.
When does the 2026 MLB season begin?
The San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees will begin the season Wednesday, March 25, with an 8:05 p.m. ET matchup broadcast exclusively on Netflix. Left-hander Max Fried will start for the Yankees, opposed by Logan Webb for the Giants, whose manager, Tony Vitello, will be making his professional debut. Vitello is the first manager to leap directly from collegiate coaching - at Tennessee - to the top spot in a big league dugout.
The Yankees and Giants are off Thursday, March 26 before concluding their series the following two days, including the debut Fox Sports national broadcast on Saturday, March 28.
When is MLB Opening Day?
Oh, you mean real, widespread Opening Day? That would be Thursday, March 26, when 22 teams will be in action, with all the trappings of the season opener: Plenty of bunting (hung from stadium facades, anyways) and a parade in Cincinnati and probably some Clydesdales in St. Louis.
The season openers on Thursday, March 26 (all times p.m. ET):
Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets, 1:15
Chicago White Sox at Milwaukee Brewers, 2:10
Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs, 2:20
Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles, 3:05
Boston Red Sox at Cincinnati Reds, 4:10
Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros, 4:10
Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres, 4:10
Tampa Bay Rays at St. Louis Cardinals, 4:15
Texas Rangers at Philadelphia Phillies, 4:15
Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:30, NBC
Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners, 10:10
Which teams open Friday, March 27?
The Atlanta Braves (vs. Kansas City Royals), Toronto Blue Jays (vs. the Athletics) and Miami Marlins (vs. the Colorado Rockies) open Friday, March 27. All three series are of the three-game variety and these clubs opted to play three days in a row rather than use Friday as a potential weather make-up day (Miami and Toronto play in domed stadiums, anyway).
The World Baseball Classic is complete, and rosters will start to fill back out after Venezuela's stunning win over Team USA.
My spring training predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, March 18, are bullish on the Kansas City Royals, despite still being a touch shorthanded from the WBC.
Spring Training predictions for March 18
Pick
Odds
LAD moneyline
-140
CHC moneyline
+100
Royals moneyline
+115
Pick #1: Dodgers moneyline
Even if Shohei Ohtani is a little rusty on the mound in his spring pitching debut (he didn't pitch in the WBC), the Los Angeles Dodgers are trotting out a lineup including Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Teoscar Hernandez in the heart of the order.
San Francisco Giants starter Landen Roupp has a difficult assignment ahead of him, which is why I can't help but pounce on the Dodgers to win at -140.
We're getting a longer number than anticipated, likely because Ohtani's and Kyle Tucker's absences from the lineup are being factored into the price. I'll take that discount, even in spring, on a Dodgers victory.
Pick #2: Cubs moneyline
This might not be a wild prediction, but Edward Cabrera will finish the season as the Chicago Cubs' best starting pitcher and will earn some down-ballot Cy Young attention. This is assuming health, of course, but he's looked strong in limited action this spring, authoring a 1.08 while only issuing one walk in 8 1/3 innings.
He gives Chicago enough of an early edge over Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly, who's historically been at the mercy of pitching to soft contact instead of missing bats. The Cubs rarely struck out in 2025, and even without Kyle Tucker, we can expect more of the same in 2026.
Grab the even money on Chicago winning here. It's a better number than we ought to be getting before lineups are announced.
Pick #3: Royals moneyline
Neither Bobby Witt Jr. nor World Baseball Classic MVP Maikel Garcia will be in the lineup, but that has the Kansas City Royals as +115 underdogs vs. the Texas Rangers.
I'll take that number based on the pitching matchup. Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker may have better pure stuff than Kris Bubic, but he hasn't been overpowering opponents as much as people may have expected. Rocker has allowed 10 hits and five earned runs in just 8 1/3 innings this spring after posting a 5.74 ERA over 64 1/3 innings last summer.
The Royals were even less strikeout-prone than the Cubs last season, and even without a couple of big names, that likely won't change tonight.
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers jogs on the field prior to a Spring Training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch on March 16, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers are back at Camelback Ranch on Wednesday afternoon to face the San Francisco Giants. Shohei Ohtani pitches in a game for the first time this spring.
Lineup
Miguel Rojas 2B Freddie Freeman 1B Mookie Betts SS Max Muncy 3B Teoscar Hernández LF Andy Pages CF Dalton Rushing C Santiago Espinal RF Alex Freeland DH
Ohtani on the mound.
Other pitchers
Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia are on the schedule to pitch, which would make them the first Dodgers this spring to pitch on back-to-back days.
Blake Treinen, Will Klein, Edgardo Henriquez, and non-roster left-hander Antoine Kelly are also listed on the game roster.
Up from minor league camp are Joseilyn Gonzalez (wearing number 00), Antonio Knowles (90), Dilan Figueredo (91), and Keynan Middleton (97).
Other position players
Hyeseong Kim started the last three games, and played all nine innings Tuesday night. He’s listed on Wednesday’s game roster in reserve.
Also active are non-roster invitees Ryan Fitzgerald, Nick Senzel, Seby Zavala, and Eliézer Alfonzo.
Up from the minor league side are Keston Hiura (9), Charles Davalan (87), Jaron Elkins (88), Austin Gauthier (89), Nico Perez (92), and Samuel Muñoz (93).
dpatop - 03 January 2026, Brandenburg, Sieversdorf: A jay (Garrulus glandarius) throws a walnut through the air on an Aust covered in snow. The jay is a songbird from the corvid family (Corvidae). Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa (Photo by Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images)
After a day off, we get a Jays’ game again.
I’m mostly curious to watch Eloy Jimenez playing first. I’m thinking it is unlikely he’ll make the Jays out of spring training, but if he were to make the Jays, it would be useful if he can play more than just the corner outfield spots.
Josh Fleming (one m) gets the start. He has pitched in 80 games, 20 starts, over 5 season in the MLB, with a 4.77 ERA. A depth pitcher. He is a lefty and we likely could use some lefty reliever depth.
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