SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 04: Paul Sewald #62 of the Detroit Tigers looks on prior to game one of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on October 04, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rodriguez is entering the third year of a four-year, $80 million deal he signed ahead of 2024. He was not brought on to be an ace, but rather to bring veteran stability to the D-backs’ rotation after posting a career year in Detroit during the 2023 season.
The results have not yet begun to show to that degree. An article from Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly listed Rodriguez as the worst-value contract on Arizona’s roster.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have not named their closer to start the 2026 season, and they simply may not.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday he is close to announcing his rotation behind Opening Day starter Zac Gallen. The closer role, however, will likely be revealed when Arizona faces its first save situation.
“You’ll probably figure it out as I’m doing it,” Lovullo said. “That’s kind of the mindset I’ll have right now. I love where a few guys are at.
Jason Benetti handles play-by-play, joined by analysts and World Series heroes Luis Gonzalez and Orel Hershiser.
Gonzalez, a five-time All-Star, played 19 MLB seasons (1990-2008), highlighted by eight years with the Diamondbacks. In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Gonzalez hit the game-winning single as Arizona won its first championship. The Fall Classic heroics capped his best statistical season as he won the Silver Slugger with a .325 batting average, 57 home runs and 142 RBI. An analyst for select Diamondbacks games, Gonzalez won the 2005 Branch Rickey Award for community service.
An MRI revealed that Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki has a strained PCL after injuring his right knee Saturday while trying to steal second base during Samurai Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell called the update “good news” and noted that the injury is “minor in nature,” according to MLB.com.
This raises an interesting hypothetical insofar as the 2030 WBC is concerned: What might the Team USA lineup and rotation look like four years from now?
This, of course, is a highly speculative exercise given that, you know, it’s four years away, which means we’re going to have to make some (lightly) educated guesses as to which players, young to young-ish in the here and now, are at the top of their guild come 2030. In other words, expect a lot of roster turnover from the current team (speaking of which, only one player in Team USA’s starting lineup on Tuesday night — Kyle Schwarber — was in the lineup for the 2023 title game).
On the heels of another fun World Baseball Classic — this one with an unexpected result, as Venezuela emerged with the gold — it seemed a good time to review how it’s being received by White Sox fans. There has been a fair amount of discussion over the timing of the tournament, what with the potential for injury (Kyle Teel of the White Sox will miss a month with a strained hamstring, for example).
Most of you remain OK with the tournament being held during Spring Training, however:
There were a fair number of you, let’s just call you cranky fans, who think the WBC should not be played at all. One option not presented in the poll (and mentioned in the comments on the original posting) was an All-Star break WBC. It still feels like much too much of a distraction mid-season, and would truly change the nature of a baseball season for the first time in almost 100 years, the dawn of the All-Star Game. But surely an All-Star break WBC would have gotten some votes above.
The national questions you were asked this week all were WBC-centered as well:
“Nothing” being the most enjoyable part of the WBC is an interesting answer. THOSE are readers dedicated to answering every survey question!
Have to say, if you are voting for the U.S. as the most entertaining team in the WBC, you are hate-watching it.
There is healthy debate over when and if the WBC should be held. But the notion that players are more apt to be injured in the WBC vs. Spring Training games still seems to be a stretch.
Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 07: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays is congratulated by George Springer #4 after Guerrero scored against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the seventh inning on June 7, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even after recording the best record in their league, winning a pennant, and getting to within a fateful bounce or two of winning the World Series, the road is not always easy in perhaps the league’s most competitive and balanced division. That is precisely where the 2026 Blue Jays find themselves.
2025 was a resounding success, and with much of the core from last year’s American League champions still in tact, expectations will be high this season. Despite that, their division is tough, and they have nearly a rotation’s worth of good pitchers beginning the year on the injured list. Matching last season’s success will be anything but easy for the Blue Jays, but the potential is there.
While the lineup that propelled the Jays to a pennant last season is largely in tact for 2026, the projected starting group did undergo some changes. Bo Bichette left for the Mets in free agency, signing a three-year $126 million deal. On top of that, Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year deal worth nearly nine figures before his dismal 2025 season, underwent labrum surgery last month that will keep him out for the majority of the regular season.
It was not all losses, however, as they signed infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year from the NPB over the offseason. He began his career in Japan with six consecutive 30-home run seasons, and is coming off of a shortened year where he posted a 210 wRC+ in 293 plate appearances in one of the world’s best leagues. Projections see him as a legitimate everyday bat, with solid power in a well above league-average profile.
Outside of the changes, the lineup still remains strong at the top. After it appeared he may be just about washed with the bat, George Springer bounced back in 2025 with a shocking career year at 35, and he’ll look to ride that wave into ‘26. Daulton Varsho experienced a renaissance as well, setting career-highs across the board and hitting 20 homers in just 71 games. Guerrero is a star despite the occasional ups and downs, and the supporting cast of Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, Andrés Giménez, and Ernie Clement is more than serviceable.
On the pitching side of things, the situation is not as sturdy in Toronto. Veterans Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease lead the way. Gausman had a good bounce-back in 2025, and the strikeout-heavy Cease will look to have one of his own after signing a seven-year $210 million deal this offseason. Max Scherzer returned to the club on a one-year deal to provide some stability in the back of the rotation, but beyond that, things get shaky.
To begin the season, each of Shane Bieber, José Berríos, and hotly-anticipated sophomore Trey Yesavage will begin the season on the injured list. The confidence their two veterans provide for their teammtes will be missed, and Yesavage appears to have ace potential, which the Jays will surely be eager to get back. At full strength this is a rotation that features top-notch talent, with veteran depth that would be highly valuable in a potential October run. The question, however, is when at least most of them can get healthy at the same time.
As for the bullpen, Toronto retains almost everyone who helped them get to the doorstep of a title in the 2025 postseason, with closer Jeff Hoffman, playoff workhorse Louis Varland, and contributors Mason Fluharty, Brendon Little, and Braydon Fisher back in the fold. The notable exception is a free agent swap of Seranthony Domínguez (now of the White Sox) for the crafty-but-effective Tyler Rogers, who signed a three-year, $37 million contract after leading the majors with 81 games pitched in 2026 between the Giants and Mets, recording a 1.98 ERA and 0.944 WHIP.
Coming off of a pennant-winning campaign, the talent and potential in Toronto is clear, but they do not come without some uncertainties. Health is an issue out of the gates, but they also occupy a notoriously competitive division. In the American League East, FanGraphs projects all five teams to go at least .500, and for the Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles all to finish within three games of each other. Though it won’t likely finish that way, it’s telling of the balanced and talented state of the AL East, which makes the path to good postseason position difficult for any team, including the defending pennant winners.
More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.
Spring Training is winding down, with the final slate of Friday games taking place today.
My MLB picks assess three of these March 20 tune-up affairs, looking for the best value on the board.
See why I'm taking the Braves to pick up yet another exhibition win tonight.
Spring Training predictions for March 20
Pick
Odds
CLE moneyline
+100
ATL moneyline
-140
ARI moneyline
-110
Pick #1: Guardians moneyline
The Seattle Mariners are a putrid 9-17 in Cactus League play, with an MLB-worst -47 run differential in Spring Training, so I'm more than willing top back the Cleveland Guardians at a coin-flip price today.
Gabe Mosser gets the pill for Seattle, and he's sandwiched a rough five-run outing with two scoreless ones of two innings each.
Cleveland has put up some crooked numbers of late, so I don't think Mosser will escape unscathed.
Pick #2: Braves moneyline
Pittsburgh Pirates SP Yohan Ramirez has been just fine in Spring Training, allowing only two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. However, Ramirez has yet to see the third inning through seven exhibition appearances.
This increases the chances of the Pirates deploying some depth arms that will get rocked by the Atlanta Braves' potent lineup.
The Braves have plated a Grapefruit League-best 138 runs. Bryce Elder does not need to bring his best to the mound for Atlanta to prevail today.
Pick #3: Diamondbacks moneyline
I like being able to back Arizona Diamondbacks SP Zac Gallen at coin-flip odds. He's been solid in Spring Training since last year, allowing one earned run or fewer in seven straight outings prior to Saturday's effort vs. San Francisco.
Gallen coughed up three earned runs in the Giants' stadium, but I think he can right the ship at home vs. the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
Countering Gallen is Jacob Misiorowski. He's been solid but unspectacular this spring, allowing three ER over 7 1/3 frames. He had an 8.10 ERA in exhibition play last season.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Manager Terry Francona #77 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on before a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 06, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2025 Cincinnati Reds won more games than they lost, finished 3rd in the National League Central, and still somehow found a way to sneak into the expanded playoff system (for a minute).
Clearly, Nick Krall and the rest of the front office think they’re on to something, as the club went out and signed slugger Eugenio Suárez off another 49 homer season and spent diligently to build a proven, competent bullpen. That’s all after an attempted pursuit of Kyle Schwarber – fresh off a 56 dinger season of his own – as evidence that this franchise is convinced they’ve got the chops to win even more games in 2026.
Where does that put them in the grand scheme, though? Did they do enough to leapfrog the Chicago Cubs in the division, the club who let Kyle Tucker walk? Have they built themselves up with another year of experience to tackle the mighty Milwaukee Brewers, who led all of baseball in wins last season?
Just how high will they finish in the division in 2026?
That’s what we asked you earlier this week, and your responses pretty clearly indicate that you’ve got higher expectations for the 2026 Reds than you did for last year’s club, too.
Over two-thirds of you anticipate these Reds finishing in one of the top two spots in the NL Central this season, meaning they’re going to have to not only take down one of the Cubs or Brewers but also fend off a Pittsburgh Pirates club that is much improved themselves.
It isn’t outlandish to expect such things as it currently stands. Elly De La Cruz is healthy again, while Matt McLain finally looks back to his old self with another offseason removed from his shoulder issues. Nate Lowe and JJ Bleday look to be savvy additions brought in on the cheap, and Sal Stewart is ready to roll for a full season. Hunter Greene’s absence is daunting, to be sure, but this team has drafted and acquired the kind of starting pitching depth that the rest of baseball desires – and Greene’s going to be back mid-summer, too.
It’s going to take ~90 wins to jump into the top two in the division, in all likelihood, and this is off an 83 win season from these Reds. So, you’re betting on there being enough improvement across the board for Terry Francona to guide this team to a place they’ve not been since all the way back in 2013.
I cannot tell you how much I hope you are correct.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Also earlier this week, Cubs manager Craig Counsell stated that Matt Shaw would be his choice to be in that position.
And the majority of you agreed with Counsell:
Honestly, I don’t think I agree with this choice. Shaw has looked… well, adequate at best in right field. He’s made a couple of misplays and the eye test says he doesn’t really have the arm for right field. Personally? If it were up to me, I’d put Dylan Carlson out there. He’s at least played the position before and he’s a switch-hitter. Carlson has also had a good spring and is almost certainly going to make the team.
When the update on Suzuki’s injury was made on Tuesday and the Cubs got the good news that it was “minor,” Counsell said he’d wait until Saturday to make a decision about whether Suzuki would open the year on the injured list. So, as always, we await developments.
There were three questions asked of all SB Nation Reacts survey members this week, all having to do with the World Baseball Classic and international baseball in general.
All of the first three answers were good things about the WBC. Certainly, high-intensity baseball, the choice of the plurality, was a good thing. But I liked the player energy and celebrations and that was my choice. That’s the sort of thing we don’t often see in MLB, and I really liked seeing players from countries like Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and others really seem to be having fun. Even the Italian-Americans representing Italy made the WBC a happy place with their espresso machine celebration. Speaking of which…
Can’t disagree with that one.
I voted for “it should happen more often.” I really enjoy these events, as well as MLB teams playing overseas. Having gone to both the London Series and Tokyo Series games in which the Cubs were involved, I can tell you that even in the UK, not a baseball hotbed, people seemed into the event. And Japanese folks were just overjoyed to have the Tokyo Series.
I am not sure when the next WBC will be held — I have read both 2029 and 2030. The date will likely be part of the next CBA negotiation. Again, as always, we await developments.
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) throws a pitch during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Less than a week away from the start of the 2026 regular season, the St. Louis Cardinals will send Matthew Liberatore to the mound for a Spring Training matchup against the New York Mets at Clover Park with a start time of 12:10pm. MLB.com shows that the Mets will start Tobias Myers.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 27, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As usual, this figures to be the strongest division in baseball — one where you could make an argument for four teams and if you squinted really hard, a fifth one as well. Still, this division has sent the American League representative to the World Series for the past two seasons in a row and there’s every opportunity for this collection of clubs to make it three in a row.
Baltimore Orioles
2025 season: 75-87
When do they play the Braves: Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 at 7:05 p.m. ET. Sunday, July 26 at 1:35 p.m. ET. All games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
I feel like the Braves and Orioles are kindred spirits. Both teams had big expectations for 2025. Both teams fell flat on their faces for various reasons. Both teams went into the offseason needing at least one more starting pitcher in order to really seem set for the upcoming season. The Orioles were the ones who went into the free agent market in order to pick up a starter, as they’ll now be heading into the season with Chris Bassitt joining their pitching staff.
Bassitt will be joining the likes of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin. While none of these guys are particularly dominant in their own right, that’s a rotation that could certainly give any lineup fits on any given day and honestly, you can do a lot better than having five decent arms instead of one great arm and four arms who have plenty of flaws. That’s not to say that this crew doesn’t have their flaws — their ceiling is low and their floor is pretty low as well, so while the O’s could have a perfectly fine rotation, it’s also possible that this crew ends up being a liability like they were last season.
It also doesn’t help that the bullpen doesn’t have a lot to write home about. Ryan Helsley is here now but he’ll have a lot to prove after he somehow finished with a 4.50 ERA and 4.14 FIP in 2025. Even with all of the concerns that Helsley has going into this season, he still appears to be the best hurler in this bullpen — which may or may not be concerning. Andrew Kittredge won’t be here for Opening Day, either, so this relief corps will already be a bit shorthanded heading into the upcoming season.
Speaking of shorthanded, that’s how this lineup will be as well. Jordan Westburg’s elbow injury is going to keep him out through at least April and then they’ll also be missing Jackson Holliday to start the season. They do have Pete Alonso at first base now and Baltimore is hoping that his power-hitting will become contagious with a lineup that has spent a long time scuffling now. If everybody lives up to what’s on the back of their baseball cards then they may be able to slug their way out of any holes that the pitching staff may leave them in if they aren’t clicking as well. If not then this could be a long Summer in Baltimore. Sounds familiar, right?
Boston Red Sox
2025 season: 89-73
When do they play the Braves: Three-game series May 15-17 at Truist Park, Three-game series May 26-28 at Fenway Park
Atlanta’s traditional interleague rivals appear primed to make another push for the Postseason. If that happens then Roman Anthony is going to have a lot to say about it. As his presence on Team USA during the WBC would seem to indicate, he appears to be on a star trajectory and he’ll also have to be the straw that stirs the drink for this lineup. He’ll also have to pride most of the power, since this team’s Achilles heel may be their lack of power-hitting. Maybe we’ll see Willson Contreras smack baseballs all around Fenway but outside of that, this team is definitely lacking a bit when it comes to real slugging and it could come back to bite them when it comes to making noise in October.
Boston’s rotation certainly appears ready to pick up the slack. Garrett Crochet is a superstar, Ranger Suárez is a great addition to this rotation and his presence should help take some pressure off of fellow addition Sonny Gray. Gray should settle into the middle of this rotation alongside Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo has the potential to return to what he was before he went down due to Tommy John surgery a while back. Meanwhile with the relievers, Aroldis Chapman continues to be Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock is also an impactful arm coming out of the pen. Those two will help shorten games at the end of this bullpen but the Red Sox are likely going to be hoping that their starters can get straight to these two without any issues because there isn’t a lot of quality behind them.
Overall, the Red Sox seem like a Postseason contender — it’s just a matter of how they’ll fare in the always-tough AL East. If all goes well for them (mainly if they can start hitting the ball hard and if the rotation can carry them to glory) then a divisional title is certainly possible. If the power outage continues then they’ll be on the outside looking in or having to scratch and claw for another Wild Card spot.
New York Yankees
2025 season: 94-68
When do they play the Braves: August 7 at 7:05 p.m. ET, August 8 at 3:05 p.m. ET and August 9 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees have essentially decided to run it back, as they certainly didn’t have a flashy offseason by any means. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for a team that basically sauntered into the Postseason last year — even though they came up short in the divisional race. Perhaps that’s why the grumbling amongst Yankees fans that they’re choosing to simply go again with what they’ve got could be understandable.
As such, any preview that you’ve seen about the Yankees from 2025 could largely be applied to 2026. We know what Aaron Judge is going to provide. We know what Max Fried is going to provide. Will Trent Grisham slot into center field as a perfect fit for this team? Will Ryan Weathers serve as a reliable rotation arm for this group of starters? Will the rotation be able to stay afloat before both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón make their return from injury?
Outside of those questions, there’s a lot to like here(as much as you can like about the New York Yankees) with this squad. There’s a reason why they won 94 games last season and could’ve been primed for a rematch with the Dodgers in the World Series. However, they’ll have to be just as good this season if they want to reclaim their spot on the top of the American League mountain.
Tampa Bay Rays
2025 season: 77-85
When do they play the Braves: September 8 and 9 at 7:15 p.m. ET. September 10 at 12:15 p.m. at Truist Park.
Well, the good news is that the Rays will be back in their home of Tropicana Field as it appears to be ready for big league baseball once again following the disastrous effects of Hurricane Milton. They’re going to need a lot to go their way in order to contend in this division, as they appear to be the fifth-best team in a five-horse race of thoroughbreds.
That’s not to say that all hope is lost here, as the Rays have managed to defy expectations in the past in order to upset the apple cart in this division. The issue is that the Rays are clearly short on talent compared to the rest of the division. Sure, Junior Caminero is looking like a star and he’s got guys like Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz around him but outside of that, you have to look really hard to find some talent that’s ready to make impact production right now. This is a young team that’s going through a retooling and unelss there are some more surprise breakouts, this team seems destined to be fighting just to avoid the AL East cellar.
The pitching staff should be very good, though, which is why you shouldn’t write them off as being an also-ran. If Shane McClanahan can return to form now that he’s finally healthy then he should perfectly compliment a rotation that also has the likes of Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot as well. The bottom portion of this rotation overperforming would be crucial to seeing this team pull off a magical run. Steven Matz and Nick Martinez would have to be rock solid — or they could just wait for their hot prospects (like Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour) to emerge and maybe they could hit the ground running. The bullpen would also have to be way more effective outside of Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta (once he’s healthy) in order for Tampa Bay to make it happen.
On paper, this is a last place team in the AL East. In reality? The Rays have shocked us all before and it’ll have to be a major shock again if they can become a contender in 2026.
Toronto Blue Jays
2025 season: 94-68
When do they play the Braves: June 2-4, all at 7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park
The fact that the Dodgers had to completely empty the tank in order to beat this team should tell you the quality that this team had last season. The good news is that they’re bringing back most of the players from that run. The bad news is that they’ve lost Bo Bichette and also outfield slugger Anthony Santander is going to be out long-term. Toronto did manage to add Jesús Sánchez in order to help cover for that huge loss of production and they also added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to their rotation as well. The Kazuma Okamoto signing seems like a perfect fit for them as well.
The big question for the Jays is whether or not they’ll have the same level of production from both their stars and some unexpected sources as well. George Springer producing a 5.2 fWAR season at Age-35 out of nowhere was massive for them and it’s tough to envision them reaching those same heights without him at least coming close to that level of production. Still, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is here, Alejandro Kirk is here and the rest of the lineup is rock solid as well. Toronto’s rotation is also filled to. the brim with talent and they’ve got a perfectly reliable closer in Jeff Hoffman as well. Everything came together for the Blue Jays last season and yet they came up painfully short. Will they have the fortitude to make sure it all comes together again so they can return? We’ll see what happens.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 18: Kevin McGonigle (85) of the Detroit Tigers fields at shortstop during a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 18, 2026 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
LAKELAND, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Shane McClanahan #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers during the Grapefruit League spring training game at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 09, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First pitch against the Boston Red Sox is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park and the Rays will be providing tv and radio coverage.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: A view of the stadium prior to a spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Spring Training is winding down.
The Jays sent some regulars to Fort Myers to play the Twins and Max Scherzer gets the start. Straw, Lukes, and Sanchez are playing in the outfield. Schneider is there to DH. And Tyler Heineman and Leo Jimenez are playing too.
I’ve enjoyed watching Arjun Nimmala and Josh Kasevich too and they are playing. You get the feeling that, at some point, both will be part of the team.
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
TWINS
Myles Straw – CF
Byron Buxton – CF
Nathan Lukes – RF
Trevor Larnach – LF
Jesus Sanchez – LF
Brooks Lee – SS
Davis Schneider – DH
Ryan Jeffers – C
Tyler Heineman – C
Eric Wagaman – 1B
Leo Jimenez – 2B
Orlando Arcia – 2B
Sean Keys – 1B
Ryan Kreidler – RF
Arjun Nimmala – SS
Gio Urshela – 3B
Josh Kasevich – 3B
Alex Jackson – DH
Max Scherzer – RHP
S. Woods Richardson – RHP
We’ve hit the time of the spring that I’m looking for better at bats from the players, more like how they want to look in the regular season.
Simeon Woods Richardson starts for the Twins, so we can get a sense of what could have been.
The Twins have a little news, Liam Hendriks has been ‘given his release’. He had an opt out one week before opening day if the team didn’t add him to the 40-man and the Twin choose not to. He threw 6 spring innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 earned, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Mar 3, 2026; Dunedin, FL, USA; Canada starting pitcher Logan Allen (22) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Allen pitched in parts of five seasons in the majors, the last coming in 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 45 career games, including 15 starts, Allen has a 5.79 ERA in 124 1/3 innings, with 89 strikeouts and 52 walks for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles, and Diamondbacks.
Last season, Allen had a 4.53 ERA in 32 games, including 31 starts for the NC Dinos in the Korea Baseball Organization, with 149 strikeouts and 67 walks in 173 innings.
The left-hander, who allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings in two relief appearances for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, turns 29 in May.
There’s another left-handed pitcher named Logan Allen in the majors, a starter for Cleveland, who pitched for Panama during the WBC. Ahead of the March 8 game in Pool A between Canada and Panama, both Logans Allen had a face-off after the national anthem to see which one would remain on the field the longest, akin to Scott Van Slyke and Joe Kelly during the 2013 National League Championship Series in St. Louis.
Should Allen end up in the majors with the Dodgers, he is out of minor league options, having used them from 2019-21 while with San Diego and Cleveland.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 16: Bryan Abreu #52 of the Houston Astros reacts after the final out of a game against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park on September 16, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the Houston Astros inch closer to Opening Day, it’s time to confront an increasingly uncomfortable reality: this roster already has some notable “have-nots,” particularly in the bullpen.
The team entered camp knowing it would be without closer Josh Hader to begin the season as he continues to recover from a bicep issue. That alone was a significant hurdle. But now, the situation has become more complicated with the announcement that Bennett Sousa will also start the season on the injured list due to an oblique injury.
For manager Joe Espada, this creates an immediate challenge. The late-inning blueprint has been disrupted before the first pitch of the regular season is even thrown.
A Bullpen Suddenly in Flux
Souza was expected to play a key role in the seventh or eighth inning, helping bridge the gap to Bryan Abreu. Had he been healthy, alongside left-handers Brian King and Steven Okert, the Astros would have boasted a rare strength: a surplus of reliable left-handed options in the bullpen.
Instead, what once looked like a strength now feels uncertain.
The question becomes clear: how do the Astros construct a bullpen capable of holding leads and keeping games within reach while they wait for key arms to return?
Internal Options Begin to Emerge
One name that stands out is Enyel De Los Santos. The Astros saw enough from him last season to trust him in higher-leverage situations. Armed with an above-average fastball, he has proven capable of getting outs when it matters most.
Although slowed this spring by a knee injury, De Los Santos remains a strong candidate to make the roster, especially given his contract situation and lack of minor league options.
Another intriguing piece is A.J. Blubaugh. If the Astros stick with a six-man rotation, he is likely headed to Triple-A Sugar Land to stay stretched out as a starter. Still, his versatility makes him a potential long-relief option. Wherever he’s used, he has shown the ability to get outs at the major league level, I just don’t think it will be on Opening Day.
Then there’s Roddery Munoz, who may have an inside track to make the team. As a Rule 5 selection, the Astros risk losing him if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster. After a slow start this spring where he had me wondering if he would even make it through camp, he has settled in nicely. He has consistantly been showing improved command and the ability to limit walks, which could be another factor in what ultimately tips the scales in his favor. The theme that you will notice throughout this column is simple, experience matters.
Starters Transitioning to Relief Roles
What’s particularly interesting is that many of the Astros’ current bullpen options are starters by trade. The organization appears to be leaning on flexibility, asking several arms to adapt to relief roles while remaining stretched out for potential spot starts. Houston has been known for starting pitching depth in the last few years and this year is no exception. The names may not be as recognizable, but the ability still seems to be there.
Two names that fit this mold are Kai-Wei Teng and Peter Lambert. Both bring major league experience and offer the kind of plug-and-play reliability teams value over a long season. Both guys would prefer to start if given the choice, but the chance to secure a spot on the roster has put them in the pen to earn a role with their flexibility.
Lambert, in particular, has turned heads this spring. Initially overlooked, he has pitched his way into serious consideration for a bullpen spot. Adding urgency to the decision is his ability to opt out of his contract if not added to the roster, making him a compelling case to secure a spot on the 40-man and putting additional pressure on the organization.
The Bigger Picture
General manager Dana Brown has no shortage of starting pitching depth, but that may not solve the immediate issue. The real challenge lies in determining which of those arms can successfully transition into relief roles and do so quickly enough to stabilize the bullpen.
At this point, filling out the bullpen isn’t just another roster decision, it’s arguably the most pressing issue facing the Astros heading into the season.
And there’s another possibility looming.
As other teams begin to finalize their rosters and make cuts, the Astros could look outside the organization for help. Adding a veteran arm not currently in camp may ultimately be the move that solidifies this group, at least until reinforcements return.
Final Thought
The Astros still have options, but they also have questions and lots of them. How they answer those questions over the next several days could go a long way in determining how steady (or shaky) this team looks out of the gate.
One thing is certain: the margin for error is already thinner than expected.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Bryce Harper #24 of Team USA celebrates with third-base coach Dino Ebel #91 after hitting a two-run home run to tie the game in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today’s game features two of the best starting pitchers in the game: Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal versus 2025 NL Cy Young runner up Cristopher Sanchez, who is making his return to the Grapefruit League after a wonderful overall performance in the World Baseball Classic. The Phillies also have Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber back from the WBC.
From driver’s licenses to Tinder, there’s something about men lying about their height baked into the fabric our society — but only in MLB can it result in a competitive advantage, until now. Baseball is implementing its Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system this season, after undergoing a trial in 2025, and that means every player in baseball is getting accurately measured for the system, with some hilarious results.
We’re seeing a lot of players who claimed they were over 6’0 suddenly fall below the mark. Alex Bregman, who recently signed with the Chicago Cubs, has magically shrunk from six-foot, which he was listed as with the Houston Astros, to 5’11 with the Red Sox, now 5’10 in Chicago. Similarly Gavin Lux, previously a strapping 6’1 27-year-old, has now lost some inches as well.
This is happening because the league has to get accurate strike zone data for every single player, which means getting their full and accurate measurements. In order to do this they’ve needed to codify what the strike zone is across all of baseball, moving away from looser the interpretation of “top of the pants to the batter’s shoulders.”
Specifically, the strike zone is now defined as 17 inches across the plate for all players, but in terms of height the zone now starts at 27% of the player’s height, falling roughly around the waist of most players, and extends to 53.5% of the player’s height. MLB says this is a general reduction from umpire rulings, which they found averaged out to be 24.2% to 55.6% — which in turn means a smaller strike zone, and fewer strikes as a result.
Theoretically lying about your height in the past should have been a disadvantage, but umpires were paying attention to what they saw — not the figure on paper. If a ball went above your shoulders or below your belt it was a ball, regardless of the height ratios of players. Now that balls and strikes can be challenges thee has to be accurate measuring for the ABS software to work off.
Interesting MLB attempted to try and use a 3D model that turned the strike zone into a cube, but claimed it caused issues. Adding depth to the equation allowed pitchers to paint unnatural corners of the strike zone that ABS would have claimed was a strike — but didn’t make sense under the former understanding of the zone. So MLB scrapped the experiment and will instead use ABS on a 2D plane, much as we’ve come to understand the zone in the past.
Now you know why some of your favorite players might rock up at the plate seeming more like short kings that the strapping six-footers they’ve been claiming for years. Personally, as a sub-six foot man myself, just own it boys. Nothing wrong with being a little shorter — except when it comes to buying dress pants. Screw the inseam measurements of dress pants when you’re shorter.
CLE moneyline
ATL moneyline
ARI moneyline
