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Marcus Stroman solid on the mound as Yankees and Mets play to 6-6 tie

The Yankees and Mets ended Monday afternoon's matchup in a 6-6 tie.

Here are the key takeaways...

-Marcus Stroman made his final start of spring training, and it was a solid outing for the right-hander, who will now play a much bigger role in the rotation, given the injuries to Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil,and Clarke Schmidt.

Though he allowed a pair of solo home runs to Brett Baty and Pete Alonso, that was the extent of the damage. Stroman went 3.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Stroman finishes his spring with a 4.73 ERA.

-Ben Rice’s power has been on full display this spring, as he came into this final game with five home runs. He was kept in the ballpark on Monday, but he did fly out to the warning track in right against Max Kranick in the fifth.

Rice went 0-for-3, but he did drive in a run with a bases-loaded walk.

-Jasson Dominguez was one of the few 2025 regulars in the lineup on Monday. Though he struck out in the third inning, the ball got away from Luis Torrens, allowing Dominguez to reach. He then showed off his wheels, stealing second and scoring from there on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. RBI single.

Dominguez went 0-for-3, but he scored a run and later drove in a run with an RBI groundout.

-Pablo Reyes had a cup of coffee with the Mets in 2024, appearing in one game as a pinch-runner and scoring a run, and he got a small measure of revenge against his former team in the top of the second inning when he lined a solo home run to right off of A.J. Minter.

Reyes went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

-Spencer Jones homered to left field in the eighth inning, lifting a towering solo home run off of Douglas Orellana, who allowed four earned runs over his 2.0 innings of work.

Jones is still probably a good ways away from the major leagues, but he's posted a .986 OPS this spring.

-Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, the Yankees' one-two punch for the end of games, combined to pitch 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two.

Who was the game MVP?

Reyes, who had a three-hit day.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees have one final spring training game on Tuesday when they face the Marlins in an exhibition game at loanDepot Park in Miami. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m.

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Brett Baty, Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo homer as Mets conclude spring training with tie against Yankees

The Mets tied the Yankees, 6-6, on Monday afternoon as their spring training slate concluded.

Here are the takeaways...

- Brett Baty launched a solo homer to right-center field in the second inning after falling into an 0-2 count. It was Baty's fourth home run of spring training.

Baty is expected to not only make the team, but be the regular second baseman while Jeff McNeil is out.

- Pete Alonsoalso went deep, scalding a solo homer to right field in the third.

- With the Mets trailing, 6-3, in the ninth inning, Brandon Nimmo blasted a three-run homer to right field to tie things up.

- A.J. Minter, pitching for the second time in three days, allowed a solo homer in his inning of work. But his stuff was sharp, as he struck out a pair swinging during his 20-pitch outing as he threw 16 strikes and four balls.

As long as Minter feels good following his outing, the expectation is that he'll be in the Opening Day bullpen.

- Max Kranick worked a perfect inning in the fifth, inducing a fly out to right field and a soft grounder back to the mound before striking Jazz Chisholm Jr. out looking with a 96 mph fastball.

Kranick, who is in competition with Huascar Brazoban for the final spot in the bullpen, has more than earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. He finished spring with a 1.46 ERA.

- Pitching the inning after Kranick, Brazoban also twirled a perfect frame with one strikeout. He finished spring with a 1.69 ERA.

- Luisangel Acuña entered in the middle of the game. He smacked a single and drew a pair of walks.

- Hayden Senger, who is expected to be the backup catcher until Francisco Alvarez returns, nailed two runners trying to steal second base in the fourth inning.

At the plate, Senger had a run-scoring infield hit.

- Ryne Stanek worked around a pair of walks in 1.0 scoreless inning. He did not allow a hit or run in five Grapefruit League outings.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets break camp and travel to Houston on Monday night.

Opening Day is Thursday at 4:10 p.m. on SNY.

Clay Holmes will get the start for New York, opposed by Framber Valdez for the Astros.

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Mookie Betts’ domestic opening day status uncertain after he misses exhibition with ongoing illness

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is still dealing with an illness and his return remains uncertain.

Betts, who missed the Dodgers’ first two games of the regular season at the Tokyo Dome and was sent back to Los Angeles to continue recovering, was a late scratch for an exhibition win against the Los Angeles Angels.

Betts told reporters he hasn’t been able to keep down solid food without vomiting for two weeks and has lost about 15 pounds during that time.

“I mean, I feel great,” Betts told reporters in Los Angeles. “Like, my body feels great. I’ve been able to work out. I’ve been able to do pretty much everything but eat, which is strange. So the symptoms have kind of gone away, I just have to figure out how to get my stomach to kind of calm down.”

The perennial All-Star said so far all his blood work and other routine testing have been normal. Betts won’t play in another exhibition at Angel Stadium, and he’s a long shot for the Dodgers’ opening day game on American soil against Detroit.

“It’s just hard to fathom not eating and going to play a game,” Betts said. “So it looks like I’m just going to be light for a little bit. Maybe I play uphill a little bit for the beginning of the season. But no, I just want to play, man. I’m tired of sitting, tired of throwing up, tired of doing all this. I really just want to play.”

Betts is making the full-time transition to shortstop after playing most of his career in right field and second base. The 2018 AL MVP hit .289 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs last season, helping the Dodgers win the World Series.

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Roupp wins Giants' fifth rotation spot; Birdsong makes bullpen

Roupp wins Giants' fifth rotation spot; Birdsong makes bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — A year ago, Landen Roupp pitched his way onto the Opening Day roster. This spring, he pitched his way into the rotation. 

Manager Bob Melvin revealed Monday that Roupp was the surprise winner of a spirited competition for the fifth starter spot. He edged out Hayden Birdsong, who will make his first Opening Day roster but will begin the season as a reliever. 

“We saw it last year, especially at the end, he’s a pretty determined young man,” Melvin said of Roupp. “Both of them had great springs so really we could go either way with it. Both of them are kind of made to be starters, but I think [Roupp] pitched a little bit more towards the end [of the spring]. Yesterday, [Birdsong] had a cracked nail that kind of affected stretching him out. That’s how we’ll proceed.”

Left-hander Kyle Harrison entered camp as the favorite to fill out the rotation, but the Giants determined pretty early on that it would be a two-horse race. Harrison spent most of the offseason rehabbing an inflamed shoulder and lost significant weight just before camp because of a virus. Roupp and Birdsong were neck and neck all spring, and both threw well enough to lock up a rotation spot. 

Roupp pitched 22 innings across Cactus League games, minor league games and the exhibition in Sacramento on Sunday night. He posted a 2.45 ERA, and five of his six earned runs all spring came during one poor performance in early March. Roupp struck out 35 in those 22 innings, with just five walks. On Sunday, he allowed one hit to the River Cats and struck out eight in five innings. 

Birdsong followed Roupp on Sunday, but a cracked nail on his middle finger limited him to one-third of an inning. Overall, he had a 3.68 ERA in the spring with 21 strikeouts to three walks in 14 2/3 innings. Birdsong said he wasn’t concerned about the nail and that it happens to him often. He’ll be ready to go on Thursday in Cincinnati if needed. 

The Giants are close to setting their entire roster. Roupp joins Logan Webb, Justin Verlander, Robbie Ray and Jordan Hicks in the rotation. Birdsong joins Ryan Walker, Tyler Rogers, Camilo Doval and Erik Miller as bullpen locks, and the Giants seem poised to round that group out with Randy Rodriguez, Lou Trivino and Spencer Bivens. Joel Peguero is also in camp and is trying to crack that initial bullpen after a huge spring. 

On the position player side, Sam Huff will be the backup catcher and Luis Matos likely will be the fourth outfielder and get some DH at-bats. The Giants still are trying to finalize their bench, with Brett Wisely, Casey Schmitt, Grant McCray, David Villar and Christian Koss in the mix. Koss, in particular, has made a strong push lately to be a backup infielder. 

The most interesting competition in camp, though, was with the rotation. Roupp wasn’t supposed to make the initial roster last year, but he was too good in the spring to be left out. He had a 3.58 ERA as a rookie and looked comfortable in four starts at the end of the 2024 MLB season. 

Birdsong is the one who now will have to adjust, but the Giants are confident they can keep him stretched out. The hope is that they can find multi-inning outings for him early in the season, and given the rhythms of 162 games, it’s a lock that Birdsong will be in the rotation at some point. 

Melvin said that at the start of the season, the front office and staff wanted to reward both young pitchers and go “with what we feel is our best” roster. That means a rotation slot for Roupp, a serious worker who nearly kept his emotions in check when Melvin delivered the news. 

“He was pretty stoic. I think I saw a little hint of a smile,” Melvin said. “That’s kind of the way he is.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Roki Sasaki, Dylan Crews, Jasson Dominguez are among baseball’s most intriguing rookies for the 2025 season

CHICAGO — It sure looks as if another impressive group of prospects could have a major impact on the majors this year. Baseball’s next big star could be part of this year’s rookie class.

Here is a closer look at some of the majors’ most intriguing rookies this year:

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki

The rich got a little richer when the World Series champions signed Sasaki to a minor league contract in January that included a $6.5 million signing bonus. The 23-year-old right-hander with a fastball that tops 100 mph had a 29-15 record with a 2.10 ERA over four seasons with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League. The star-studded Dodgers could employ a six-man rotation during parts of the season to help with Sasaki’s transition to the majors.

New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez

Juan Soto’s departure in free agency should clear the way for regular playing time for Dominguez with New York. Nicknamed “The Martian,” Dominguez was signed for a $5.1 million bonus as a 16-year-old in 2019. He made his major league debut in 2023, but his development has been hampered by elbow and oblique injuries. He hit .314 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs in 58 games over three minor league stops last year.

Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews

The sweet-swinging Crews was taken by Washington with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 amateur draft, right after his LSU teammate Paul Skenes went No. 1 overall to Pittsburgh. Crews can do it all, batting .270 with 13 homers, 68 RBIs and 25 steals in 100 games in the minors last year. He was brought up by Washington in August and swiped 12 more bags while hitting .218 with three homers in 31 games in his first stint in the majors.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe

The 22-year-old Jobe steps into Detroit’s rotation after tossing four scoreless innings over two relief appearances in his first big league stint in September. He also worked 1 2/3 innings of three-run ball in the playoffs. The right-hander was selected by the Tigers with the third overall pick in the 2021 draft.

Chicago Cubs infielder Matt Shaw

Shaw takes over at third base for a Cubs team hoping to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The 23-year-old Shaw was selected by the Cubs with the No. 13 pick in the 2023 draft. He hit .284 with 21 homers, 71 RBIs and 31 steals over two minor league stops last year.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony

The Red Sox have a solid outfield with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, but the 20-year-old Anthony — one of baseball’s top prospects — is pushing for a spot. He finished last season with Triple-A Worcester, batting .344 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 35 games, to go along with a .982 OPS. He could make his big league debut this summer.

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jordan Lawlar

Lawlar, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 draft, was hampered by thumb and hamstring injuries last season. But there is still a lot to like about the 22-year-old shortstop. He played in just 23 minor league games last year, but he hit .318 with two homers and 20 RBIs. He is going to begin the season with Triple-A Reno so he can receive regular playing time.

Athletics infielder Jacob Wilson

The son of former big league infielder Jack Wilson is a key building block for the A’s in the runup to their planned move to Las Vegas. Jacob Wilson made his major league debut in July, and the 22-year-old shortstop hit .250 with three RBIs in 28 games. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 draft also batted .433 (90 for 208) with seven homers and 39 RBIs in 53 games in the minors last year.

San Diego Padres outfielder Tirso Ornelas

Ornelas is coming off an impressive season with Triple-A El Paso, hitting .297 with 23 homers and 89 RBIs in 128 games. The Mexico native was signed by San Diego as part of its 2016 international signing class. He was sent down to minor league camp late in spring training, but he could make his big league debut this summer.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano

The 35-year-old Sugano agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with Baltimore in December. He is coming off his third MVP season in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League, going 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA for the Yomiuri Giants. With Corbin Burnes’ departure in free agency, the Orioles are hoping Sugano can provide a lift for their rotation.

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If baseball wants its pitchers focused on durability, the rules of the game might have to change

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Bold decisions to change Major League Baseball’s longstanding rules quickened the pace of games and revived the popularity of stealing bases over the last few years.

A similarly creative move may be needed to help starting pitching regain the relevance it enjoyed as recently as a decade ago.

Only four pitchers (Seattle’s Logan Gilbert, Kansas City’s Seth Lugo, San Francisco’s Logan Webb and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler) threw as many as 200 innings last season, down from 34 in 2014.

During that same 2014 season, all 30 major league teams got over 900 innings from their starting pitchers and five had over 1,000. Last year, only four teams had their starters pitch at least 900 innings, led by Seattle with 942 2/3.

While this shift has been years in the making, the numbers themselves provide a cold slap of reality to longtime fans who remember seeing Bob Gibson throw three complete games in the 1967 World Series or Jack Morris pitching 10 shutout innings in Game 7 of the 1991 Fall Classic.

Going back to the days of Cy Young and Walter Johnson, part of the game’s beauty was watching a pitcher work his way through a lineup three or four times.

With every team having multiple relievers who can come out of the bullpen and throw in the high 90s, what could prompt teams to let their starters work deeper into games?

Managers and players struggle to come up with a solution.

“Outside of just changing rules to incentivize managers to keep guys in games longer,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts’ Dodgers exemplified the bullpen emphasis during their run to the 2024 World Series title. Their starting pitchers worked as many as six innings in just two of their 16 postseason games.

Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi went 5-0 with five postseason quality starts (defined as going at least six innings while allowing no more than three earned runs) a year earlier while helping the Rangers win their first World Series championship. Yet even he understands how much things have changed for starting pitchers since he made his big-league debut in 2011.

“Bullpens are a lot different now than they were back then,” Eovaldi said. “You’ve got a lot more guys who aren’t just eight- and ninth-inning guys. They can come in, in the sixth or seventh, go multiple innings. They all have multiple pitches now as well. I think that’s one of the fascinating things about the bullpen. You don’t have guys who are just a two-pitch mix anymore. They’ve got three or four pitches coming out, and two of them are really, really elite.”

And that’s why there seems only one way to get starters working more innings.

“Putting in rules that you have to,” San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ve created our own monster. It is what it is.”

What rules could MLB create to promote starting pitching?

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says it’s too early to explore rules changes.

“Our focus right now is training methods, particularly offseason training methods,” Manfred said. “It’s going to be somewhere between education and recommendations. It’s very hard to tell people you can’t do X, Y and Z, right? They’re grown men and there’s no way to monitor it during the offseason.”

One problem is the lack of a clear consensus on what rule changes could work best.

For instance, MLB had the Atlantic League experiment in 2021 and 2023 with a rule change that would force a team to lose its designated hitter if its starting pitcher didn’t finish at least five innings.

Instituting that kind of rule could be a tough sell in the majors, where some of the league’s most bankable stars such as Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper have received ample playing time at DH the last few years. Fans paying to see those stars likely wouldn’t be happy to see them get removed as collateral damage from an early pitching change.

MLB hasn’t announced any similar types of rules experimentations in the minors this season.

The maximum number of pitchers allowed on MLB rosters was lowered from 14 to 13 in 2022, though that limit rises to 14 when rosters expand from 26 to 28 on Sept. 1. A more extreme rule change would be to require starters to work at least five or six innings unless they get injured, throw a certain number of pitches or allow a particular number of runs.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said he wouldn’t mind seeing the minor leagues try out more rule changes designed at lengthening starting pitchers. He wants those pitching prospects to get accustomed to working deeper into games.

“That’s the way it used to be with starters,” Bochy said. “Now I think the mentality can be, ‘Hey, I’ve done my job. I’ve thrown four or five innings.’ “

Giants pitcher Robbie Ray says the history of the game shows that starters can adapt to longer outings.

“I think starting pitchers are capable of doing it,” said Ray, who won the 2021 AL Cy Young Award with Toronto. “It’s just a matter of kind of training our bodies to do that again because what’s been expected of us has changed over the years.”

Restoring endurance as a valued skill

A 62-page MLB study released in December showed how the focus on rising velocities and maximum effort on each pitch had resulted in more injuries among pitchers. That study also revealed that starts of five or more innings dropped from 84% to 70% in the majors from 2005-24 and from 68.9% to 36.8% in the minors.

“Because we’re trying to create this engine and this repetitive thought of just pure stuff each and every pitch, yeah, starters are going to fatigue sooner,” Cleveland Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis said. “And at the same time, we’re training them that way. We’re training them to do so.

“Everybody still talks about wanting to go out for the sixth, wanting to go out for the seventh and getting deep into games. I don’t know that we’re training them to do that, and I don’t know how we are kind of teaching nowadays can allow that to happen.”

A change in approach could allow those starters to get that endurance. Right now, it’s the older guys who seem more used to that workload.

The MLB leader in quality starts last season was the 34-year-old Wheeler, who had 26. Lugo, 35, had 22 quality starts to tie for second place.

Even so, the 2024 season did offer some encouraging signs for the future of starting pitching.

MLB pitchers threw 5.22 innings per start last season. That represented the most since 2018, though it was still far off the 2014 average of 5.97.

The 2024 season also featured an MLB average of 85.5 pitches per start, the highest since 2019. Starters haven’t thrown as many as 90 pitches per appearance since 2017.

Perhaps it’s inevitable that the pendulum swing at least a little more toward getting starters to work longer. The recent focus on relievers puts more pressure on them, causing bullpens to break down.

There’s one obvious method to change that.

“I don’t think necessarily the game is going to all of a sudden turn back the other way, but there’s a huge push to understand how you can keep a bullpen healthy,” Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “And one of the biggest ways is those starters getting through that first bulk and getting you into the sixth or seventh.”

Now it’s just a matter of figuring out how those starters can pitch deeper into games more often.

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Giants outfielder Jerar Encarnacion to undergo surgery on his broken left hand

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Giants outfielder Jerar Encarnacion will undergo surgery on his broken left hand.

The team announced that Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles would perform the procedure and a timetable for Encarnacion’s return would be determined after surgery.

Encarnacion broke the bone in his left hand while attempting a diving catch. He batted .302 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in spring training after hitting .248 with five homers and 19 RBIs in 113 at-bats in 2024.

The Dominican Republic native made his major league debut with Miami in 2022. He signed with San Francisco as a free agent last May.

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Mets Minor League Mailbag: Is Ryan Clifford the first baseman of the future?

SNY contributor Joe DeMayo answers fan questions in this edition of the Mets Minor League Mailbag...

From Patrick H on X: Will Ryan Clifford be ready to be the first baseman on the big league club if Pete Alonso opts out after this season? I don’t see Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a viable option given the other big contracts the Mets have

Quickly on the Vlad front: we will see what comes of that situation next winter, but as SNY’s Andy Martino reported at the beginning of March, there are too many variables at play to know whether that could be a pursuit the Mets make.

If Alonso has the type of season that causes him to opt out, I don’t think we should rule out the Mets and Alonso continuing this marriage beyond 2025. The Mets like Alonso and Alonso likes being a Met. It will be important for Alonso to have a bounce back season, both for the 2025 Mets success as well as his next contract.

While I do have a 2026 major league ETA on Clifford, my No. 4 ranked prospect in the system who showed out at the spring breakout game with a 449 foot home run off of a lefty, I am unsure if that necessarily means Opening Day 2026.

Clifford will head back to Double-A Binghamton to start the 2025 season. He had success there last year as a 20/21-year-old, posting an .815 OPS with 18 home runs in 99 games.

Clifford possesses plus power and overall plate discipline. He still needs some approach refinement -- he can stand to be more aggressive early in counts as he will at times let good pitches to hit go by to work the count. He also had a 29 percent strikeout rate at the Double-A level, and you’d like to see that number more in the low-20s.

If Clifford can take that next step in his development as a hitter, I can see him getting to Triple-A Syracuse some time in 2025, which ultimately puts him in the picture for 2026.

The Mets are going to need to infuse their big league roster with homegrown youth within the next year or two due to the way their roster is set up from a payroll perspective. Clifford could certainly be a part of that equation; I just think he would have to make it to Triple-A relatively early this season and have a run of success at that level for the Mets to consider him an Opening Day 2026 option.

What ultimately could be the most interesting thing to follow is how Clifford’s presence could impact their potential pursuit of a 10-plus year deal with Guerrero or a potential lengthier re-commitment with Alonso.

Feb 12, 2025; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets shortstop Jett Williams (90) plays his position during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park.
Feb 12, 2025; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets shortstop Jett Williams (90) plays his position during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park. / Sam Navarro - Imagn Images

From James on X: Does Jett Williams end up at second base or in center field long-term?

One of the strong suits of Williams is that he has the versatility to play all three up-the-middle positions. Mets President of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed in an in-game interview with SNY during Sunday’s game against the Marlins that Williams will start the season with Double-A Binghamton and continue to play shortstop, second base, and center field.

Right now, Williams -- my No. 2 prospect in the system -- is behind quite a few players on the depth chart simply due to proximity to the big leagues, and the Mets need to figure out what they have in some other pieces first.

That can cause a trickle effect, as right now they have Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, and Ronny Mauricio as young factors behind the incumbent Jeff McNeil at second base. Center field will be primarily manned by Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor to start the 2025 season, but a healthy Drew Gilbert could impact that situation as well this summer.

While I think Williams may be more natural in the dirt at either shortstop or second base, I liked what I saw out of him in center field when he got the opportunities (he has played just 33 career professional games in center field).

He is a plus athlete with the range to cover gap to gap, but he simply needs more reps. At times his reads are just a tick late and he’s been making up for it with his speed, but some plays have ended up more difficult than they needed to be. That is something that can be improved with more repetition of tracking the ball off the bat.

Williams has a chance to be a dynamic player who hits at or near the top of a batting order. He is the type of player that you eventually make a spot for, and I think his general versatility could be a weapon.

I am intrigued to see more of him in center field to determine how viable that will be at the next level, as that picture has a much cloudier future than second base does as of this writing. Though, as we say on The Mets Pod, these things always have a way of figuring themselves out.

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Yankees signing reliever Ryan Yarbrough

The Yankees are making a late offseason addition, signing left-handed reliever Ryan Yarbrough to a big league deal, per multiple reports.

The deal is for one year and $2 million, with an additional $500,000 in possible incentives, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN.

Yarbrough had been in spring training with the Blue Jays, but exercised an opt out he had a right to use if he wasn't on the Opening Day 26-man roster, reports Joel Sherman of The New York Post, who adds that Yarbrough will be on the Yankees' Opening Day roster.

The 33-year-old Yarbrough was solid last season for the Dodgers and Blue Jays, posting a 3.19 ERA (4.64 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP in 98.2 innings over 44 appearances.

His strikeout rate was a career-low 5.9 per nine innings, but he offset that with a career-best 6.4 hits allowed per nine.

Yarbrough, who is often deployed in multi-inning stints, also has experience as a starter/opener, but was utilized only in relief last season.

He will join a New York bullpen that includes closer Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Ian Hamilton, Mark Leiter Jr., and Tim Hill.

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5 big Yankees storylines to watch as 2025 MLB season begins

The Yankees' offseason was a roller coaster, to say the least.

Juan Soto signed with the Mets, eliminating an MVP-caliber bat from New York's lineup, and injuries to ace Gerrit Cole among other notable bats and arms in the spring have put a damper on expectations for this season.

After going to the World Series last season for the first time since 2009, the Yanks are looking to get back and finish what they couldn't a year ago. That will be more difficult with the roster the way it is.

Although the Bombers retooled by signing Max Fried, Cody Bellinger,and Paul Goldschmidt with the money they were planning to use to re-sign Soto, there are more questions than answers surrounding this year's team.

It'll be up to manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman to answer them, but while we wait for the year to play out here are five big storylines to watch as the 2025 season begins...

Can Max Fried help Yanks survive without Cole?

A little de ja vu, to start things off.

A year ago, I wondered if the Yankees could survive without Cole. The AL Cy Young winner exited camp last spring with elbow soreness and didn't return until a few months in.

This time, the ace underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2025 season, so the stakes are arguably more dire -- especially considering the team's other injuries to Luis Gil (lat) and Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) that will leave just Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman as the holdovers from a year ago in the rotation.

Mar 3, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) throws a pitch before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Mar 3, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried (54) throws a pitch before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images / © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Last season, Nestor Cortes, Stroman, Rodon, and Gil stepped up to help the Yanks get out to the best record in baseball through April, and it gave the team enough leeway until Cole's eventual return.

The difference this year is the addition of Fried. He was signed to be the team's co-ace and now he'll be the team's No. 1 starter. The southpaw has been as advertised this spring and will be looked upon to anchor a rotation that will include veteran Carlos Carrasco and prospect Will Warren to start the season.

Can Fried stay healthy and help keep the team afloat until reinforcements arrive?

How will the lineup perform without Juan Soto?

Judge had another MVP season in 2024 and was the best hitter in baseball. However, it can't be overstated how much punch the Yankees are missing this year without Soto.

Although Soto benefited from batting in front of Judge, the Yankees captain had more ducks on the pond when he was at the plate and didn't have to be burdened with elevating the offense alone. With Soto gone, Judge will be looked upon to do more. Can he come close to his MVP season? It'll go a long way to helping a short-handed rotation.

Also, what production will we see from newcomers Bellinger and Goldschmidt? Their MVP days are likely behind them but the Yanks need production from their two sluggers -- especially Goldschmidt.

First base has been a black hole of production the last two seasons with Anthony Rizzo's diminishing numbers -- and inability to stay healthy -- so if the former NL MVP can give New York a consistent bat from that position, it'll benefit the rest of the lineup.

The Yankees also need youngsters Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells to take the next step in their development. Meanwhile, New York needs production from another young bat...

New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez (24) scores a run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park.
New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez (24) scores a run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Can Jasson Dominguez deliver?

There may not be another player on the roster who can impact the Yankees more than Dominguez.

That may seem like hyperbole, but consider the expectations surrounding the young outfielder. Dominguez burst onto the scene in 2023, showing off his power and speed. But Tommy John surgery -- and the addition of Soto -- put a halt to the switch-hitter's ascent to the big leagues.

Now that he's healthy and there's a spot open in the outfield, 2025 is Dominguez's time to sink or swim. And for the Yankees' sake, they need him to swim.

Adding a switch-hitting power bat lengthens the lineup and, again, takes some of the pressure off of Judge and the others.

This season is also an indicator of the Yankees' future. At just 22 years old, New York sees Dominguez as their future outfielder for years to come and if he doesn't pan out, the questions will only get bigger and louder.

How will Brian Cashman improve the roster?

Signings and trades are a part of each team's season, but with the expectations surrounding the 2025 Yankees and the mounting injuries, Cashman will need to be creative to improve this roster.

It's understandable that the longtime Yankees GM will wait and see how the rotation will play without Cole before making a move, but he can't be too patient -- especially with the Orioles and the upstart Red Sox in their division.

And that's not even bringing up the Yanks not having an everyday third baseman.

Right now, New York is going to go with a committee at the hot corner, but Cashman refused to get a legit bat in that position and it could hurt them in the long run. As the season moves along, a trade opportunity could present itself (Nolan Arenado) but again, Cashman can't wait too long to make improvements -- especially if the American League East is more competitive than a season ago.

Mar 9, 2025; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza (91) and New York Yankees first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera (95) greet each other during warm-ups before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Mar 9, 2025; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza (91) and New York Yankees first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera (95) greet each other during warm-ups before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Solving the third base puzzle

We alluded to it above, but third base has been a question the Yankees have been trying to answer since the offseason began.

Camp started with four potential options, but now it's really down to two. Oswaldo Cabrera is likely the Opening Day third baseman as New York employs a revolving door of infielders.

DJ LeMahieu was going to be in that rotation, but the injury he suffered this spring will likely force him to the IL to start the season. That leaves Pablo Reyes or former top prospect Oswald Peraza as Cabrera's potential backup.

Peraza hasn't shown much in his brief stints in the majors, but without any minor league options remaining this is likely the infielder's last shot to show what he has.

But this is all a short-term solution. What's the answer for the long-term this season?

It's hard to imagine the Yankees sticking with LeMahieu/Cabrera/Peraza the whole year. Will Cashman make a deal? Will a midseason call-up, like youngster Jorbit Vivas, do the trick?

We'll have to take the Yankees' third base situation a week at a time, but it'll be among the most scrutinized aspects of this team if production at the plate/field is not there.

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Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell to make Opening Day roster: Reports

Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell to make Opening Day roster: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are putting one of their top prospects, Kristian Campbell, on the Opening Day roster, per multiple reports.

The most logical position/role for Campbell would be the starting second baseman. The Red Sox begin their 2025 season Thursday against the Texas Rangers on the road.

Campbell is the No. 7 ranked prospect in all of baseball, per MLB.com’s latest rankings. He won Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award in 2024 after hitting .330 with 20 home runs, 77 RBI and a .439 on-base percentage across three levels of the minor leagues.

After a slow start to Spring Training, Campbell has played really well of late. He can hit for average and power.

His defense is pretty good, too.

One of Campbell’s best attributes is versatility. He can play multiple positions, including second base, shortstop and center field.

The Red Sox made some good upgrades in the trade market (Garrett Crochet) and free agency (Alex Bregman) during the offseason. But to build a long-term winner, they need these elite-level prospects, including Campbell, to become stars. His journey will begin soon.

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5 big Mets storylines to watch as 2025 MLB season begins

With the Mets about to break camp and travel to Houston for Opening Day on March 27 to face the Astros, they're entering one of their most anticipated seasons ever.

There have been some recent campaigns where the legitimate hope was that it would end with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, like 2023 (which wound up being cursed from the start) and 2016 (when the Mets bowed out in the Wild Card Game a year after reaching the World Series), but something seems different about this one.

For the first time since the mid-2000s, it feels like the Mets are building something sustainable -- which is of course the stated goal of owner Steve Cohenand still-newish head of baseball operationsDavid Stearns.

The idea is to churn out impact prospects year after year while supplementing the team via trade and free agency, playing at the top of the market when it's deemed necessary.

The Mets aren't the East Coast Dodgers just yet, but they're making strides.

And as the regular season begins, there's a belief the Mets have what it takes to go one or two steps beyond where they went in 2024, when their magical season ended in Game 6 of the NLCS in Los Angeles.

Here are five big storylines to watch as things get underway...

The starting rotation

Sean Manaea is expected to be out until the end of April, while Frankie Montas' return should come by some point in June. That means 40 percent of the expected rotation will be missing to start the season.

Gone along with Manaea and Montas for now is the plan to use a six-man rotation, which would've kept Kodai Senga on a more elongated schedule and allowed Clay Holmes' innings to be managed a bit as he transitions from a reliever to a starter.

New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park.
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches during a Spring Training workout at Clover Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

As they deal with the injuries, the Mets have turned to depth options Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning, who will be in the five-man rotation along with Senga, Holmes, and David Peterson to start the year.

The rotation has serious upside (Senga pitched like an ace in 2023, Holmes' stuff is legit, Peterson had a 2.90 ERA last season), but there's also the possibility that Senga needs time to shake off the rust, Holmes hits some speed bumps, and Peterson is inconsistent.

So the rotation bears watching early, as does the performance of Brandon Sproat in Triple-A Syracuse. If Sproat masters the level quickly, his MLB debut could come sooner rather than later -- injecting a high-upside arm into the rotation.

The second base situation

With Jeff McNeil missing the start of the season due to a mild oblique injury, the expectation is that Brett Baty will get a chance to grab the regular second base job for the time being.

Baty, who got some burn at second base last year in the minors, looked the part there during spring games. He also had a terrific spring offensively.

Since this will be Baty's fourth year getting major league time, it's easy to forget that he's had only 602 plate appearances in the bigs and is entering just his age-25 season.

The talent is there for Baty, and there's still time for him to become a real part of the Mets' future -- whether that comes in an everyday role or on the bench.

While Baty could get the bulk of the starts at second base early on, the speedy Luisangel Acuña could factor in as well -- perhaps as the starter at second against tough left-handers.

Juan Soto

Soto spent spring training doing what he always does -- hitting homers, staring pitchers down, walking a bunch, and looking like the most confident hitter on the planet.

Now it starts for real.

Soto really is a Met, and that will be fully hammered home when he steps in the box against the Astros on Thursday and again when he digs in for his first at-bat as a Met at Citi Field on April 4.

Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in his first at-bat for the Mets against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Clover Park.
Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in his first at-bat for the Mets against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol - Imagn Images

The Mets' offense, even without McNeil and Francisco Alvarez for a bit, should be loaded. And it will orbit around Soto and Francisco Lindor, who could form one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball. If Lindor and Soto play as expected, it should create tons of opportunities for Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo to do serious damage.

How dominant will Edwin Diaz be?

Even though he has a 2.60 ERA (2.10 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP while striking out 15.0 batters per nine in 204 games over his last four seasons, Diaz remains a polarizing figure.

He has been one of the best and most dominant closers in baseball each of the last four seasons he's pitched (he missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a knee injury), but that doesn't stop people from pushing the panic button at the first sign of a wobble.

In fairness, Diaz did have some hiccups last season -- including a sticky stuff suspension and a really bad stretch in May that skewed his final numbers a bit. He also went through a rough patch with his command in the postseason.

But Diaz-- as he's always been since 2020 -- was mostly dominant in 2024, which included how he pitched from June 13 to the end of the regular season on Sept. 30. In 35 games during that span, Diaz posted a 2.41 ERA (2.07 FIP) while holding batters to a .155/.252/.241 triple slash. In 33.2 innings over those 35 games, Diaz allowed just 18 hits while walking 13 and striking out 54.

Some expect perfection from Diaz, though, or at the very least a repeat of his 2022 season -- when he had one of the best relief seasons ever and garnered Cy Young votes. Diaz is unlikely to ever repeat 2022, but there's no reason to believe he won't be mostly dominant once again.

Will the bullpen reach its potential?

The aforementioned Diaz is obviously a huge part of the equation here, but the Mets' relief corps beyond him has a chance to be really good.

Behind Diaz, there are three other legitimate late-inning options -- A.J. Minter, Reed Garrett, and Ryne Stanek -- who all have the stuff to dominate. Minter had a 2.62 ERA and 1.01 WHIP last season for Atlanta, Garrett emerged with the Mets to be one of their key relievers, and Stanek (despite a tough stretch right after he was acquired last year) was one of New York's most reliable relievers in the playoffs.

Then there's Dedniel Núñez, who was one of the Mets' best relievers last season in what was his rookie campaign. Núñez needs a bit more time to stretch out after last season ended due to injury, but the expectation is that he'll arrive quickly.

But the true X-factors here could be Jose Butto and Max Kranick, who are both viewed as potentially high-impact, multi-inning options.

Butto was a serious weapon last season, allowing just 41 hits in 74.0 innings while pitching to a 2.55 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.

Then there's Kranick, whose stuff has played up in a big way as he completes his transition from starter to reliever.

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Clemens makes the team, Phillies appear to have their Opening Day roster

Clemens makes the team, Phillies appear to have their Opening Day roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kody Clemens has won the final spot on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters in Clearwater on Monday morning.

The left-handed-hitting Clemens and right-handed-hitting Buddy Kennedy had made it down to the final day of spring training in their competition for the last spot on the bench. Both are out of minor-league options and would have to be passed through waivers before accepting a minor-league assignment, so the Phillies knew all along they could lose whichever one doesn’t make the team unless a trade is worked out before Thursday’s opener.

Clemens has demonstrated his value as an extra man with the Phils over the last two seasons, playing seven different positions and coming up with several big hits late in games. Clemens hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning of a game against the Nationals last May that the Phillies won in extras. In early September, he doubled in the ninth inning in Toronto to set up Kyle Schwarber’s game-winning homer. The next week, Clemens hit a walk-off single to beat the Rays.

Clemens went 16-for-52 (.308) this spring with two homers and seven RBI. Kennedy hit for power and drew walks throughout Grapefruit League play as well, and there was some thought that he might make it because of his right-handed bat. The Phillies are lefty-heavy with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh in the starting lineup, and they use a right-handed pinch-hitter for Stott or Marsh far more often than they use a lefty pinch-hitter for Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos or J.T. Realmuto. But still, Clemens has shown enough to earn a place on the roster.

A part of the decision was likely the Phillies’ comfort in using Sosa occasionally in the outfield. He played 23 innings in left field this spring and five in center. Weston Wilson, a right-handed hitter, strained his oblique just before spring training games began and the injury was believed to carry a six-week timetable. The Phillies will ease him back but he could potentially be in play for a bench job by late-April if he finds his timing quickly in the minors. Wilson does have an option year remaining.

This is how the Phillies’ 26-man roster, which needs to be submitted to the league by Thursday afternoon, looks:

Catchers (2)

J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchan

Infielders (4)

Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm

Outfielders (5)

Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas

Utility (2)

Edmundo Sosa, Kody Clemens

Starting pitchers (5)

Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Taijuan Walker

Relievers (8)

Matt Strahm, Jordan Romano, Jose Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, Jose Ruiz, Joe Ross, Carlos Hernandez

Injured list (2)

Ranger Suarez (back), Weston Wilson (oblique)

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2025 MLB Opening Week Team Power Rankings: Can anyone topple the Dodgers?

Welcome to the Opening Week edition of our MLB Team Power Rankings. I’ll be here every Monday throughout the 2025 MLB season to take stock of the latest developments around the league and hopefully have some fun along the way. Come September, I hope to look back at this first edition and laugh at the teams we underestimated in the preseason. After all, who doesn’t like surprises?

Let’s get started!

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**Odds from DraftKings**

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +290
Odds to win NL West: -500

Already 2-0 after the recent Tokyo Series, the Dodgers are effectively baseball’s big bad bully. We’ve learned many times that nothing’s a sure thing in baseball, but this is the most complete roster we’ve seen in recent memory. It helps that 2025 NL MVP Shohei Ohtani gets to be all human cheat code and return to the mound this season.

2) Atlanta Braves

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +750
Odds to win NL East: +110

The Braves mostly sat out the offseason, only adding Jurickson Profar and more recently Alex Verdugo, but that’s okay when you have Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider returning from injury. Getting back to 100 wins is a real possibility.

3) Philadelphia Phillies

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1200
Odds to win NL East: +215

On the heels of the Eagles winning the Super Bowl, can the Phillies have a parade of their own this year? It’s still a stacked and experienced roster (with Jesús Luzardo, Jordan Romano, and Max Kepler joining the club this year), but is the clock ticking on this current core’s contention window?

4) Boston Red Sox

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +2000
Odds to win AL East: +350
Odds to make playoffs: -105

The Red Sox stormed back into relevancy this offseason with a handful of impact moves, including Garrett Crochet, Alex Bregman, and Walker Buehler. The club also has some of the more interesting MLB-ready prospects in the sport with Kristian Campbell, Roman Anthony, and Marcelo Mayer. Look out.

5) New York Mets

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1200
Odds to win NL East: +240
Odds to make playoffs: -250

The warm and fuzzy feelings from the offseason quickly gave way to the realities of spring training. Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Francisco Alvarez, and Jeff McNeil are all slated to begin the season on the injured list. It helps to remember that Juan Soto is a New York Met.

6) Arizona Diamondbacks

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +2500
Odds to win NL West: +600
Odds to make playoffs: -125

The D-Backs just missed the playoffs last year, but they are doing their best to make sure there’s no repeat. Corbin Burnes was a massive addition to the rotation and the club was able to offset the loss of Christian Walker with the trade for Josh Naylor. They might be playing for second place behind the Dodgers, but this is a dangerous team.

7) New York Yankees

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +850
Odds to win AL East: +135

The Yankees lost Juan Soto to the Mets, but they pivoted quite well in their offseason plan. They were on track to be higher on this list before injuries hit them hard this spring. Losing Luis Gíl with a lat strain is one thing, but Gerrit Cole needing Tommy John surgery is a crushing blow.

8) Texas Rangers

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +2600
Odds to win AL West: +225
Odds to make playoffs: -125

There’s a lot to like about this team with a full season from Jacob deGrom (hopefully) and Corey Seager, Evan Carter, and Josh Jung all expected to be back to full health. Of course, it’s easy to see how this could go wrong too.

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  • DJShortBW.jpg D.J. Short
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9) Houston Astros

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1500
Odds to win AL West: +125
Odds to make playoffs: -185

It’s a new era for the Astros. In addition to saying goodbye to Alex Bregman, the club traded Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and they’ve also moved longtime second baseman Jose Altuve out to left field. Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes are the new arrivals, and spring training sensation Cam Smith (part of the Tucker trade along with Paredes) is quickly looking like a key piece for the future.

10) Baltimore Orioles

Odds to win 2025 World Series: +1600
Odds to win AL East: +270
Odds to make playoffs: -175

This offseason was a missed opportunity for the Orioles. Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, and the recently-signed Kyle Gibson were the adds to the rotation after Corbin Burnes departed for a big contract with the Diamondbacks, The failure to meet the moment feels more relevant with Grayson Rodriguez set to begin the year on the IL with elbow inflammation.

11) Chicago Cubs

Odds to win NL Central: +125
Odds to make playoffs: -140

The Cubs might only get one year of Kyle Tucker, but they are going to try to make it count. With the Brewers parting ways with more key pieces, Chicago should be looked at as the favorites in the NL Central.

12) San Diego Padres

Odds to make playoffs: +110

Despite constant trade rumors this offseason, the Padres are poised to move into the season with Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Luis Arráez on their roster. It’s a good team as currently constituted, but those names (and more?) figure to be on the block again if the team stumbles during the first half.

13) Seattle Mariners

Odds to win AL West: +250
Odds to make playoffs: -110

The Mariners arguably have the best rotation in the league, but their lineup was an obvious weak spot going into the offseason. What did they do to address it? **crickets** If that wasn’t underwhelming enough, the Mariners will begin the season without George Kirby due to shoulder inflammation.

14) Minnesota Twins

Odds to win AL Central: +210
Odds to make playoffs: +100

The Twins might rank the highest here, but they are in a bit of a holding pattern as a franchise amid ownership uncertainty. Harrison Bader and Ty France were the notable offseason pickups, so the help needs to come from within. That Royce Lewis is already hurt again isn’t a great start.

15) Detroit Tigers

Odds to win AL Central: +270
Odds to make playoffs: +110

Led by AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, the Tigers had a magical run to the postseason last year. While there weren’t any blockbuster moves over the winter, they reunited with Jack Flaherty and signed Gleyber Torres to play second base. Any step forward will likely be on the backs of their young players, and they have plenty of them.

16) Kansas City Royals

Odds to win AL Central: +270
Odds to make playoffs: +110

Are the Royals in for a letdown after their astounding 30-win improvement last year? It would be unfair to expect repeat campaigns from Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, so a lot is riding on improvements from the offense, which includes offseason addition Jonathan India.

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17) Toronto Blue Jays

Odds to make playoffs: +285

The vibes aren’t good. The Blue Jays failed to reach an extension with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. going into his spring training deadline, so we could very well be looking at his final season in Toronto. The same goes for Bo Bichette as he goes into his walk year. Can the Blue Jays make the most out of their last hurrah?

18) Milwaukee Brewers

Odds to win NL Central: +260
Odds to make playoffs: +125

The Brewers exceeded expectations last season by winning the NL Central after trading Corbin Burnes. This time, they’ll try to make things work without Willy Adames and Devin Williams. It’s going to be a challenge, even with Jackson Chourio ready to emerge as one of the best young players in the game.

19) San Francisco Giants

Odds to make playoffs: +205

The NL West is a tough sandbox to play in, but new president of baseball operations Buster Posey will be tasked with getting the Giants back to the postseason. Landing shortstop Willy Adames was step one. They should be in the mix, especially if Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander can help the rotation.

20) Cincinnati Reds

Odds to win NL Central: +650
Odds to make playoffs: +300

Can Terry Francona take this team to the next level? You can see it if you squint hard enough. The Reds have star power with Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene, but other questions remain. Can Nick Lodolo stay healthy? Will Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand rebound from lost seasons?

21) Cleveland Guardians

Odds to win AL Central: +300
Odds to make playoffs: +120

What have you done for me lately? After surprising under first-year manager Stephen Vogt with an AL Central title in 2024, the Guardians will once again have to prove the doubters wrong. The question, as it often has been in recent years, is whether this offense can provide enough firepower.

22) Tampa Bay Rays

Odds to make playoffs: +180

The Rays are a team without a home, not just because they are playing in a minor league stadium this season, but also because ownership no longer plans to go ahead with stadium plans in St. Petersburg. The Rays have thrived through uncertainty for years, so this year’s squad can’t be ruled out, but it's hard to imagine them hanging in there if Shane McClanahan misses significant time.

23) Pittsburgh Pirates

Odds to make playoffs: +360

What do you do when you have the best young pitcher in the game? Sit on your hands, apparently. The Pirates did shockingly little this offseason (Spencer Horwitz, Adam Frazier, Tommy Pham) to take advantage of their Paul Skenes window. It would be great to put them higher on this list, but they just don’t deserve it.

24) Athletics

Odds to make playoffs: +850

For a team without an official city affiliation who will be playing in a minor league ballpark until who knows when, there’s actually some optimism here. Spending money goes a long way, which the A’s have done with free agent Luis Severino and extensions for Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler. Probably not a playoff team, but more interesting than they have been in a minute.

nbcs_edgefantasy_JassonDominguezCTB_210604.jpg
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25) St. Louis Cardinals

Odds to make playoffs: +360

This is a transition year for the Cardinals, with president of baseball operations John Mozeliak on his way out and Chaim Bloom set to take the reins. That translates to the roster, where Nolan Arenado is still on the team despite a very public trade process playing out over the winter. It’s reasonable to expect the club to trade anything that isn’t nailed down a few months from now.

26) Washington Nationals

Odds to make playoffs: +850

You can begin to see the wheels turning here, as James Wood and Dylan Crews look like future centerpieces for the franchise. The club added some complimentary pieces (Nathaniel Lowe, Josh Bell, Paul DeJong, Michael Soroka) this offseason, but not enough to push them to contention just yet.

27) Los Angeles Angels

Odds to make playoffs: +900

The Angels did a lot of things this winter, but will it matter? The odds are against it. Perhaps the most important move is Mike Trout sliding over to right field. Anything close to a full season from Trout would be a gift to the Angels and baseball fans in general. Pretty please?

28) Colorado Rockies

Six straight sub-.500 seasons and little reason to think that’s changing anytime soon. One glimmer of hope, though? 2023 first-round pick Chase Dollander is getting closer to the majors.

29) Miami Marlins

The Marlins continue to be stripped down the studs. Following a rash of moves last season, the club traded Jake Burger and Jesús Luzardo this offseason. Even with Sandy Alcantara coming back (and Eury Perez later this year), things look extremely bleak. This could be one of the weakest offenses in recent memory.

30) Chicago White Sox

Could things actually be worse than last year? After setting the single-season record with 121 losses in 2024, the White Sox are slated to move into the season with veteran Martin Perez and a cast of relative unknowns in their rotation. Luis Robert Jr. will likely be traded if he can actually stay healthy, so this figures to be another ugly year for the White Sox even with some interesting prospects on the way.

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Mets vs. Yankees: How to watch on SNY on March 24, 2025

The Mets face the Yankees on Monday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • This is the Mets' final spring training game before they break camp
  • After Monday's game, the Mets travel to Houston to prepare for Opening Day on Thursday against the Astros at 4:10 p.m. on SNY
YANKEES
METS

Ben Rice, 1B

Francisco Lindor, SS

Jasson Dominguez, LF

Juan Soto, RF

Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B

Pete Alonso, 1B

J.C. Escarra, C

Brandon Nimmo, LF

Everson Pereira, DH

Mark Vientos, 3B

Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B

Jesse Winker, DH

Pablo Reyes, RF

Luis Torrens, C

Ismael Munguia, CF

Brett Baty, 2B

Oswald Peraza, SS

Jose Siri, CF

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.