Dodgers blue “Los Angeles” jerseys, which will be used as in regular rotation on the road beginning in the 2026 season.
The Dodgers added a new wrinkle to their uniforms on Thursday, announcing that they will wear blue jerseys as a road alternate jersey.
Unlike the “Los Dodgers” city connect uniforms the team used in 2021-23 which were also blue but from head to toe for the first two years, these new blue road jerseys will be worn with gray pants.
Dodger Blue.
For the first time in history, the Dodgers will be wearing a blue jersey as part of their regular uniform rotation on the road. pic.twitter.com/ce3EVFVJTd
The Dodgers have worn blue jerseys all spring training for several years, but these new road alternate uniforms have a few notable differences. For one, the “Los Angeles” script on the front will be used, which has been used occasionally on gray road jerseys since 1999 (they wore “Los Angeles” in 31 of 81 road games last season, for instance). There’s also gray piping on these blue jerseys to match the pants, both on the sleeves as well as outlining the red jersey number on the front of the jersey.
In my opinion, this is the best possible deployment of blue Dodgers jerseys, as they look better with gray pants than with white pants at home.
At the very least, there’s a chance to create new memories in these new blue jerseys, because the moment most associated with the Dodgers wearing blue tops came in 1999, during the brief time when they occasionally wore blue jerseys at home, when Chan Ho Park delivered a spinning kick to Tim Belcher, then of the periwinkle-clad Angels.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Luis Garcia Jr. #2, James Wood #29, and Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals smile as the head in from the outfield after the final out of the ninth inning defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a mixed bag of results during their 6-game stretch on the road to open the 2026 season, the Nationals finally head home for their opening series at Nationals Park. Playing host to the 2025 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, they are faced with an exciting matchup for their first time playing in front of the Washington faithful.
The Dodgers, per usual, continued to insert high-priced additions onto their already-vaunted roster during the offseason, bringing in a pair of All-Stars in closer Edwin Diaz and outfielder Kyle Tucker. They find themselves once again firmly at the top of just about every MLB power ranking, and opened up the season to a 4-2 record after 3-game sets against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians.
Washington will continue working their 2nd time through the rotation, with a trio of veterans tasked with keeping the Dodgers’ lineup of All-Stars at bay. Offensively, the Nationals will continue to search for viable offensive reinforcements behind the scorching-hot Joey Wiemer as they take on a fascinating group of Los Angeles starters.
Game One – Friday 1:05 PM EST
WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas
LAD: RHP Emmet Sheehan
Mikolas’ 2026 campaign got off to a less-than-ideal start against Chicago, getting tagged for 4 runs across 5 innings of work. The 37-year-old veteran will look to settle into his arsenal and miss more bats in his second start of the season, after generating just 9 whiffs and 4 strikeouts in his last outing. He’ll attempt to improve upon a poor career track record against Los Angeles, with a 1-5 record and 6.20 ERA in 10 career appearances against them.
Sheehan, another youthful asset to a deep Dodgers rotation, had his fair share of ups and downs in his 2026 debut. His 4-pitch mix flashed at times against Arizona, but he lasted just 3.1 innings, ending with 4 earned runs to his name. The Nats could jump on him early and get the home opener crowd behind them, with Sheehan being the least likely Los Angeles starter in the three-game set to work deep into the game.
Game Two – Saturday 4:05 PM EST
WSH: RHP Jake Irvin
LAD: RHP Tyler Glasnow
2025 was a season to forget for Irvin, and his first start of the new year was certainly a step toward making that a reality. He was sharp across 5 innings of 2-run ball against the Cubs, racking up 7 strikeouts to just 4 total baserunners. With 2 of the 3 hits being home runs, the southpaw will have to bear down against the star-studded Dodgers lineup and keep the ball in the yard to keep Washington in the game.
Performance on the field has never been an issue for the oft-injured Glasnow, and that trend continued on March 28th, mowing down the Diamondbacks with a final line of 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, and 6 strikeouts. There’s always a question about how his health will hold up, but he’s a formidable opponent regardless. The Nats had his number the last time they faced off, rocking him for 6 runs across 5 innings in his lone appearance against them in a Dodgers’ uniform.
Game Three – Sunday 1:35 PM EST
WSH: LHP Foster Griffin
LAD: RHP Roki Sasaki
Griffin made his triumphant return to Major League Baseball for the first time since 2022, and he had a decent amount of success in his first start back in the bigs. The box score wasn’t anything crazy, but he showcased 5 above-average offerings and held the Cubs to 2 runs over 5 innings. He still holds a sizeable advantage over MLB hitters, simply because of the lack of him available for teams to study, and could parlay his strong 2026 debut into another impressive start.
The former Japanese phenom is still a work in progress for the Dodgers, and has developed a sort of “effectively wild” attack plan. His splitter will be a tough puzzle for the Nats to solve, but working the count could sway the game in their favor. It seems to always be a toss-up as to how Sasaki will look on any given day, and Washington will have to adapt on the fly to one of the game’s most polarizing young arms.
Can Nats Bounce Back From Game 3 Collapse Against Philadelphia?
Momentum was at an early high after the Nationals took the first game of the series against the Phillies, with their record improving to a quick 3-1. However, a melancholic offensive performance in Game 2 and a blown 5-1 lead in Game 3 have them right back at .500. Their next test comes against one of the best top-to-bottom rosters in MLB, and they have the chance to spark major excitement among the fanbase if they can grind out a series win.
SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 04: Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers warms up in the bullpen prior to the game between the Team Brazil and the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 3, 2026 against the Cincinnati Reds: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Brady Singer for the Reds.
Its the home opener, y’all!!! Let’s rage!!!
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Smith — 2B
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Jansen — C
3:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -175 favorites.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone hit on several topics as he spoke to the media ahead of Opening Day in The Bronx against the Miami Marlins...
Giancarlo Stanton's hot start
Everybody knows this isn’t sustainable. But the Yankee slugger starting the season with 10 hits in his first 20 at-bats with two doubles, a home run, and a 270 wRC+ is still something to take notice of, especially as Stanton has represented a key cog in the lineup the past two years when he’s healthy.
“He’s just kinda been on everything,” Boone said of Stanton’s .500 start through his first five games. “Recognizing pitches well. He’s really good at devising a game plan that he wants to use against a particular pitcher and staying disciplined to that.
“But I just feel like he’s been getting himself into a really good position to hit at-bat after at-bat. Really, since his first day of being in a game during spring training. I felt like the consistency of at-bats have been there.”
The production has been there for Stanton ever since he returned to the lineup last season after dealing with elbow issues, as he hit 24 home runs with 66 RBI and posted a 158 wRC+ over 77 games last season.
The skipper said a lot of that comes with the off-the-field work of a true professional.
“I have so much respect for him,” Boone said. “He’s just such a stud in our room. I just have a lot of respect for the person and the way he goes about things. The thing he’s been through that get him to different places.
“You go back to the end of ‘24 and the playoff run… and then really last year, he mighta been as good as ever when he came back from June on, he was just such a massive presence in the middle of our order.”
Boone added that despite Stanton getting on in age, he turned 36 last November, “he’s still so good and in a lot of ways better.” What’s behind the slugger staying good?
“He’s very cerebral and very analytical about how he goes about processing and doing things and preparing,” the skipper added. “And I think he’s got really great at the preparation game. For him personally, what does he need to mentally, physically to be ready to go up and produce in a game.
“And he is just so mentally tough and disciplined to what he has to do you really sense that and feel that being around him the last several years.”
Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole updates
Rodon, who suffered a setback with a hamstring issue as he rehabs from offseason elbow surgery, said he hopes to throw off the mound again on Saturday, per SNY’s MLB Insider Chelsea Janes.
The lefty would be doing so less than a week after feeling that hamstring discomfort, and he added that if that session of around 50 pitches goes well, he might be headed for a rehab assignment soon after.
Boone said that it wasn’t really much of a setback for Rodon, but it all depends on how he responds to the throwing session.
“It is just a matter of when he can run and cover and field his position and things like that,” the manager said about the next steps. “He’s able to keep his arm going through this, so [the hamstring issue] is minor enough that that’s the case, so it’s a good thing.”
Mar 18, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
On Cole, Boone said he did not know when his minor league rehab start would begin, and seemed to indicate it would not be imminent for the former Cy Young Award winner.
“He just did a one-up, live the other day, so I don’t have anything on the horizon for that,” the manager said.
When asked about his conversations with the right-hander, Boone said the reports have been positive.
“It’s going well, he looks great, every bullpen, every live, every game that I’ve seen from him has been really, really encouraging,” he said. “Now it’s just continuing to stack those days and be disciplined to the timeline, and then eventually we will start that clock of building him up.
“But I don’t have that plan in front of me right now.”
Evaluation on 5-1 start
“The execution on the mound has been phenomenal, that’s one takeaway,” Boone said when asked to assess the season’s early, early goings. “I feel like the guys are playing clean behind that, too. And I feel like if we do those couple of things, with what I think our offense will be over the long haul, then we have the chance to be really good.
“But it’s a week of games, and I’d say that if we were off to a rough start, it’s a week of games. You wanna rack up wins when you game. But it’s been really good to see the level of execution by really our entire staff.”
Anthony Volpe progressing
Volpe made it through a live batting practice ok as he continues to rehab in Florida from offseason shoulder surgery.
Boone said that the shortstop is on track to return to New York in the middle of April and begin a minor-league rehab assignment around then, but he did not have a date for a potential return.
SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford, who began the season on the 10-day injured list with an injured right shoulder, was reinstated ahead of the team’s road series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Crawford, 31, played in one game on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Tacoma, going 0 for 4 with one walk and one strikeout. He was slated to play in two rehab games, but Wednesday’s game for Tacoma was rained out.
To make room for Crawford, infielder Ryan Bliss was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma and right-hander Ryan Loutos was placed on unconditional release waivers
Crawford was Seattle’s starting shortstop for every opening day since 2019. He was limited to seven spring training games due to his shoulder injury and batted .143 with no extra-base hits.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Crawford was progressing well.
“He’s been really on track,” Wilson said, “and in some ways ahead of where you would think because of spring training and getting opportunities to get as many at-bats as possible and that kind of thing. So, excited that he’s getting close.”
Top shortstop prospect Colt Emerson also could be close to joining the Mariners. Emerson agreed to an eight-year, $95 million deal with the team, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The contract, which starts this season and includes a team option for 2034, would be the largest ever for a player who has not made his major league debut. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced.
Emerson batted .278 with one home run and a double and a .816 on-base percentage plus slugging in four games for Triple-A Tacoma. He appeared in 18 spring training games for the Mariners and batted .268 with two homers and eight RBIs and an .828 OPS.
Emerson is believed to be Seattle’s shortstop of the future, and will one day replace Crawford, who’s the longest-tenured player on the Mariners’ roster.
Once Emerson makes it to the big leagues, though, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto suggested Crawford will stay at shortstop and Emerson mostly will play at third base.
“That was always our plan,” Dipoto said. “It’s why you saw Colt so frequently at third base in the spring is we were preparing for that, and third base came pretty easy for him.”
Rookie sensation Nolan McLean takes the mound as the New York Mets face the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Friday night.
At 3-4, both teams are looking to reach .500 on the young season.
See what I’m taking with my Mets vs. Giants predictions and MLB picks for Friday, April 3.
Who will win Mets vs Giants today: Mets (-127)
Nolan McLean is one of the best prospects in the sport, and his 107 Stuff+ and .173 xBA in his debut are positive indicators of success.
That gives the New York Mets a leg up in the starting pitching department against Tyler Mahle, who had a worrisome 92 Stuff+ and fourth-percentile barrel rate in his San Francisco Giants debut.
The Giants have been anemic at the dish (64 wRC+ and .255 wOBA against RHP). They’re the weaker club, and we’re getting a shortened price since they’ve won three of their last four while New York has dropped three straight.
COVERS INTEL: Mahle’s underlying peripherals were terrible in his debut. He ranked in the 15th percentile or worse in average exit velocity, chase rate, and whiff rate.
Mets vs Giants Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-104)
These two offenses have had a slow start to the season, and a matchup at the pitcher-friendly Oracle Park likely results in a low-scoring game.
The Giants have an 80 wRC+ en route to a 2-3-2 O/U record, while the Mets have an 88 wRC+ and are 2-5 O/U.
Both bullpens have a SIERA under 3.90 and have most of their best arms well-rested. They’re throwing behind starting pitchers projected to have an ERA below 4.00 this season.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 0-0, 0.0 units
Over/Under bets: 1-0, +1.0 units
Mets vs Giants odds
Moneyline: New York -110 | San Francisco +100
Run line: New York -1.5 (+130) | San Francisco +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-113) | Under 7 (-107)
Mets vs Giants trend
The Mets have hit the Under in five of their last six games. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Giants.
How to watch Mets vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Date
Friday, April 3, 2026
First pitch
10:15 p.m. ET
TV
WPIX, NBC Sports Bay Area
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (0-0, 3.60 ERA)
Giants starting pitcher
Tyler Mahle (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
Mets vs Giants latest injuries
Mets vs Giants weather
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.
Things haven’t quite gone as planned for Marcus Semien to start the season.
The veteran is coming off back-to-back down offensive years with the Rangers, but the Mets landed him this offseason with the hope that he had a little something left in the tank.
He showed signs of life with four extra-base hits over his 15 spring appearances, but hasn’t quite been able to carry that production over to the early part of the regular season.
Semien has recorded just three hits through the Mets’ first seven games.
His first two knocks were a sun-aided, Oneil Cruz botched hustle double and a single off the pitcher’s glove on Opening Day, then he picked up another infield single on Thursday.
His latest hit snapped a dreadful 0-for-20 skid at the plate.
Semien’s also drawn just three walks, and he’s struck out eight times over his first 28 plate appearances.
Certainly not the start the Mets or the 36-year-old were hoping for, but neither side is growing concerned yet.
“It's just [six games], I am not worried about him,” Carlos Mendoza added. “I feel like [pitchers] are attacking him, they are getting ahead of him and then they are making him chase, but I feel good with him at the plate."
After all, it hasn’t just been Semien stuck in this early-season funk.
The Mets as a team have yet to find their footing offensively, averaging just 2.0 runs per game and hitting .107 with runners in scoring position since scoring 11 times on Opening Day.
While it’s been hard of late, the skipper has been encouraged by his team's at-bats.
“We’re creating traffic,” Mendoza said. “That’s the one thing with our offense because we’re deep and we’ve got guys who are going to get on and we’re going to create opportunities -- more times than not those guys will come through.”
Semien and the Mets will look to get going Friday night against the Giants.
After a disappointing road trip to start the season, the Boston Red Sox (1-5) look to get their season on track with their home opener against the San Diego Padres (2-4). Michael King gets the start for San Diego and Sonny Gray takes the ball for the Red Sox. Each is making his second start of the young season. Gray was less than good in his first appearance allowing three earned runs in four innings in a 6-5 11-inning loss to the Reds. King was solid, allowing one run and just one hit over five innings in a 5-2 loss to Detroit.
The issue thus far for Boston has been the lack of offense. As a team the Sox are hitting .208 and have scored just 17 runs in six games. The Padres have been better, but barely, scoring 19 runs in their first six games while batting just .202.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and the opener of this three-game series and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Padres
Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
Time: 2:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NESN, Padres.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (-126), San Diego Padres (+104)
Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+163) / Padres +1.5 (-199)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox vs. Padres
Pitching matchup for April 3:
Red Sox: Sonny Gray Season Totals: 4.0 IP, 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 5K, 1 BB
Padres: Michael King Season Totals: 5 IP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6K, 4 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Red Sox vs. Padres
Former Red Sox shortstop Xander Boegarts is 4-24 with 1 extra base hit this season
Jackson Merrill is 5-23 to start the season
Ramon Laureano is 7-18 with 2 HRs this season
Wilyer Abreu is 10-24 with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs this season
Roman Anthony is 5-22 with 1 HR this season
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox vs. Padres
The Red Sox are 1-5 on the Run Line this season
San Diego is 3-3 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Padres’ 6 games this season (4-2)
The OVER has cashed 2 times in the Sox’ first 6 games (2-3-1)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox vs. Padres
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Red Sox and the Padres:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
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Mar 31, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) celebrates his team’s victory over the Chicago Cubs with shortstop Zach Neto (9) at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Well, that series against the Yankees exposed some of the lingering issues with the Mariners roster, as currently constructed. Left-handed pitching is going to be a huge problem for this extremely lefty-heavy lineup throughout the season, and there really isn’t much relief in sight — J.P. Crawford is back from his brief IL stint but bats left-handed and newly-extended Cole Emerson does too. It’s very early days so we shouldn’t put much stock into just seven games. Anyway, I’m sure this lineup will start hitting a bit better as soon as they hit the road. Speak of the devil Angels. The Mariners embark on the first road trip of the season with stops in Anaheim and Arlington.
It’s so hard to parse who the Angels believe themselves to be. Are they trying to win? Gambling on bounce back seasons from guys like Grayson Rodriguez, Alek Manoah, and Josh Lowe isn’t a terrible idea if they’re looking to uncover some undervalued players but none of them are impact players in 2026. Are they building for the future? Signing four relievers with an average age of 36 and carrying Adam Frazier on the Opening Day roster instead of top prospect Christian Moore sends the wrong message. In an era where front office decision making has largely been homogenized by analytics, the Angels stand out as an outlier in the worst way possible. It’s easy to rag on them because things are so bleak for the franchise, but also, things are dire in Anaheim. Do you think the visitor’s clubhouse has air conditioning?
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Zach Neto
SS
R
554
26.9%
6.0%
0.217
116
Mike Trout
CF
R
556
32.0%
15.6%
0.206
120
Nolan Schanuel
1B
L
564
12.6%
10.5%
0.125
109
Jorge Soler
DH
R
315
29.8%
8.9%
0.172
88
Yoán Moncada
3B
S
289
26.0%
11.1%
0.214
117
Jo Adell
RF
R
573
26.4%
5.8%
0.249
112
Josh Lowe
LF
L
435
25.1%
7.6%
0.146
79
Logan O’Hoppe
C
R
451
30.8%
5.3%
0.158
72
Oswald Peraza
2B
R
265
30.2%
6.4%
0.219
32
2025 stats
For a brief moment during the first weekend of the season, Mike Trout was leading all of baseball in fWAR. He had a fantastic opening series against Houston, blasting two home runs, collecting six hits, and even stealing a bag. Then, he went hitless in three games against the Cubs to start this week. Zach Neto and Jo Adell are two of the most important players for the Angels’ future. The former has quietly developed into one of the best young shortstops in baseball over the last few years while the latter finally broke out last season after years of stalled development. Nolan Schanuel could be a core piece of the future if he could ever figure out how to hit for just a little more power. His bat-to-ball skills give him a decent floor, but right now, he’s profiling a bit too much like Casey Kochman.
Last year, the Angels moved Reid Detmers to the bullpen and he wound up seeing some high leverage work by the end of the season. Perhaps it was out of frustration with his slow development path despite possessing above average stuff, but that experiment lasted one season because a talented starter — even an inconsistent one like Detmers — is always going to be more valuable than a back-end reliever. If there’s one thing that he’ll carry forward from his time in the ‘pen, it’s a more aggressive approach that leans heavily on his two fantastic breaking balls to put batters away. He’s also added a splitter to his repertoire this spring in the hopes that it gives him a weapon to keep right-handed batters at bay.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Jack Kochanowicz
111
14.1%
11.3%
18.4%
51.9%
6.81
6.05
Emerson Hancock
90
16.6%
8.1%
15.2%
43.0%
4.90
5.08
2025 stats
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
13.7%
21.9%
95.5
89
116
90
0.382
Sinker
52.2%
43.6%
95.5
97
104
93
0.366
Changeup
5.4%
19.7%
89.9
86
95
78
0.358
Slider
19.4%
11.6%
87.3
90
81
100
0.379
Sweeper
9.2%
3.1%
82.4
90
66
78
0.362
2025 stats
There’s a pretty serious disconnect between Jack Kochanowicz’s high velocity and extremely miniscule strikeout rate. Sure, he throws a sinker as his primary fastball, but his entire repertoire is simply too hittable. It’s really not a good thing when each of your pitches has an expected wOBA over .350. And when he pitches in the zone, batters run a contact rate over 90%, an outrageously high rate. That has forced him to start pitching out of the zone more often, but his secondary pitches just aren’t optimized to earn swings and misses. It’s a vicious cycle where his arsenal isn’t good enough to overpower batters, but not deceptive enough to get them to chase. Without those strikeouts, we’re left with a groundball specialist who doesn’t have great command and allows way too many balls in play. It’s not a great profile.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Ryan Johnson (High-A)
57.1
29.7%
4.6%
6.7%
51.0%
1.88
2.38
Luis Castillo
180.2
21.7%
6.2%
10.5%
41.3%
3.54
3.88
2025 stats
Ryan Johnson is a perfect encapsulation of everything wrong with the Angels current player development philosophy. He was drafted in the second round in 2024 after dominating in college ball at Dallas Baptist. He made the Opening Day roster in 2025 as a reliever, skipping the minor leagues entirely. After a month and a half and a 7.36 ERA, the Angels pulled the plug and sent him to High-A to continue his development as a starter. He made 12 starts in the minors and looked really good. Fast forward a year and Johnson had a solid, but not outstanding, spring training and Los Angeles opted to start the season with Johnson on the big league roster again. His first start of the season did not go well; he lasted just 3.1 innings against the Cubs, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out just two. It’s really too bad because Johnson has a really intriguing profile, and obviously has some raw talent, but the games the Angels have played with his development pathway have really hurt his ability to grow.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Astros
5-2
0.714
—
+13
W-W-W-W-W
Rangers
4-2
0.667
0.5
+5
W-W-W-W-L
Mariners
3-4
0.429
2.0
+3
L-W-W-L-L
Angels
3-4
0.429
2.0
-4
L-L-L-W-L
Athletics
1-5
0.167
3.5
-10
L-L-L-W-L
The Astros swept the Red Sox earlier this week, pushing their early season win streak to five games. They’ll travel to Sacramento this weekend, starting a long road trip that culminates in Seattle next week. The A’s offense has started the season in a huge funk, but maybe returning to the friendly confines of Sutter Health Park will give them the spark they need. The Rangers won their series against Baltimore and will open up their home slate with a series against the Reds this weekend.
Apr 1, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
The New York Yankees have completed their first road trip of the 2026 season, and while it’s definitely too early to take any bit of data too seriously, these six games leave us with some important takeaways. The most important one is reflected in the standings, as the Yanks boast the best record in the American League. Still, here are five fun ones:
Cam Schlittler is the real deal
Well, we are running out of adjectives to describe Schlittler. Not only did he post a 2.96 ERA in his 73-inning cameo last year, but he also dominated in the postseason and is at 11.2 scoreless frames in the young 2026 campaign, with no walks and 15 strikeouts.
He is now throwing harder than last year, Wednesday’s start notwithstanding (it was cold in Seattle), and has developed three different fastballs with elite velocity, command, and movement profiles: a four-seamer, a cutter, and a sinker. We don’t want to use the “a” word yet, but Schlittler is well on his way to cementing his place as one of the finest young starters in the league.
The Yankees’ offense is more than just Aaron Judge
Many MLB squads have scored more runs than the Yankees’ 24 as of Thursday afternoon. However, even with Aaron Judge sporting a 52 wRC+, New York has been able to win five out of six games, and to do that, the offense has to come up with some big hits.
Granted, the pitching has been doing most of the heavy lifting, but some of the non-Judge hitters are showing up. Four of them deserve a special mention: Giancarlo Stanton, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt. Stanton is hitting .500 and slugging .750, Rice is sporting a .765 slugging percentage and a 19 percent walk rate, Bellinger has stolen two bases already and boasts a .400 OBP, and the Yankees don’t win on Wednesday without Goldschmidt’s huge three-run jack against George Kirby.
The pitching staff has a chance to be elite
Most teams have allowed more than 20 runs by now. The Atlanta Braves, the second-best pitching staff to this point, have conceded 12 runs. The Yankees, however, lead the league with just six runs allowed.
The starters have a 0.53 ERA, a 0.68 WHIP, and 35 punchouts in 33.2 innings. Only David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Paul Blackburn have allowed runs among relievers. A couple of pitchers on the roster bubble this spring, Jake Bird and Brent Headrick, have looked amazing. And the Yankees still have Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt due back at some point. In terms of quality and depth, the pitching staff has a chance to be elite.
Giancarlo Stanton still has it
Stanton has already hit his first home run of the season and boasts a 1.250 OPS. He might not be able to open a bag of chips, but he sure can swing a bat and murder a baseball. The veteran slugger leads the Yankees’ position players in fWAR with 0.4, and he hasn’t set a foot in the outfield. As long as he is healthy, he will be among the most productive players on the field. Staying in one piece has proven to be a challenge, though.
The Yankees know their strike zone
The Yankees, through Wednesday, rank second in baseball with 81.3 percent of ABS challenges won, only behind the Baltimore Orioles’ 85.7 percent. New York is a perfect 100 percent in challenges initiated by pitchers and catchers, and ranks fourth in MLB in challenges initiated by hitters, with a 72.7 percent success rate according to ESPN. Their 13 successful challenges overall are second behind the Minnesota Twins’ 16.
The Yankees sure do know their strike zone. They were even 5-for-5 on Monday with Mike Estabrook as the home plate umpire, the day in which manager Aaron Boone was this close to being ejected.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 1: Justin Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with J.T. Realmuto #10, Kyle Schwarber #12, and Adolis García #53 after hitting a walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 1, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 6-5. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To spice things up for a new season of The Notes, there will be a new dedicated section called “Sequence of the Week”. This section will break down a fun pitching or hitting sequence that happened during the week.
I’ve done some video breakdowns in the past on TheGoodPhight but this section will be weekly and a bit smaller. Maybe there are plenty of other people doing it, but I haven’t seen many, so it seems like an original idea.
Sequence of the Week: Andrew Painter’s strikeout on James Wood
There were many impressive signs with Andrew Painter’s outing against the Nationals. His fastball command was great, the changeup became a huge weapon the second time through the Nationals lineup, and his composure seemed top-notch for someone making their big league debut.
But if there was one highlight that summed up so much of what Painter did well against the Nationals, it was what he did against James Wood to finish off the fifth inning.
He missed a four-seam fastball up in the zone, an uncompetitive take from Wood. However, it does help him with dropping a steal-a-strike curveball. Painter dropped several of those against a heavy left-handed Nationals lineup but a high four-seam fastball can keep hitters slightly off balance.
The backdoor and backfoot slider played like a weapon on Tuesday night. He struck out Keibert Ruiz earlier in the game on a backfoot slider, but he mostly used the pitch to backdoor it to left-handed hitters.
Wood swung at this one because Painter tried throwing one earlier to him. The movement and late reaction because of the high heater still gets him a whiff.
Because Wood took the curveball for a strike and just saw a backdoor slider that started above the zone, he will have to respect the outside part of the plate. JT Realmuto goes back to the high fastball and Wood can’t layoff.
It’s not but the outfield showed up for the first six games in a big way. Justin Crawford flashed some solid early count swing decisions, especially on his walk-off Wednesday afternoon. Brandon Marsh has worked the best at bats overall and is hitting the ball hard.
Then there’s Adolis Garcia, who worked great at bats against the Nationals and has shown an early spike in his bat speed. It is early, and it might be hard for him maintain for him because of his age but Garcia’s average bat speed is the highest it’s been since 2023.
Through the first week of 2026, the Phillies outfield ranks 9th in wRC+ and 4th in strikeout rate. Will it hold? Probably not but still a good sign.
The defense has been more impressive than at the plate, and more sustainable. This sliding play by Garcia had a 20% catch probability, and he made it with ease. This is the kind of play Nick Castellanos was never making as a Phillie because of his very limited range and straight line speed.
Justin Crawford flashed some leather in the second game of the season and has generally looked fine in the field otherwise.
Marsh, Crawford, and Garcia have plus speed and range for their positions. This could end up being the best all-around outfield defensively the Phillies have put together under Dave Dombrowski.
A tough away series awaits Missouri baseball this weekend as the Tigers’ travel to Kentucky Proud Park for a three-game set against No. 24 University of Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT on Friday, followed by a 1 p.m. CT start Saturday and a noon CT finale Sunday. All three games will be streamed on SECN+.
Kentucky enters the series at 22-6 overall and 14-1 at home, while Missouri is 17-13 and 1-5 on the road. This series will set up an early April test for the Tigers, who are seeking redemption after a sudden loss to their rivals, Kansas.
Pitching for the Tigers on Friday, April 3, will be Josh McDevitt, who is the Tigers’ most reliable pitcher, with a 3.93 ERA. McDevitt worked through three and a half innings against Texas A&M, on Friday, March 27, only allowing one run in.
Mizzou Batters to Look Out For This Series
Jase Woita, a Star
The most consistent hitter for the Tigers this season has been Jase Woita. He currently has a batting average of .354, with an elite OPS of 1.070 over 99 at bats. Woita has been a powerhouse for the team, with a 1.000 fielding percentage on top of his offensive play. During the first game against Auburn, Woita forced extra innings with his powerful single, keeping the game alive.
Tyler Macon
Tyler Macon is close behind with a .360 batting average. He has a .952 OPS in 89 at-bats and has been a reliable run producer with 25 RBIs. Much of Missouri’s success this season has come from his ability to generate offense with singles and doubles.
Macon extended his hitting streak to 10 games during the series against North Dakota State and went 2 for 4 in the opener.
Cameron Benson
Cameron Benson rounds it out for the Tigers in third, as a very reliable presence for the lineup. He is batting .318, with an OPS of .933. Benson drove in four runs in the first game of the UIC series.
Other Strong Offensive Notes
Kam Durnin has continuously hit it off for the Tigers’, batting .319 with back-to-back singles during the first game of the Tennessee series. Juliomar Campos has only had 17 at-bats, but hit his first collegiate home run against Kansas on Tuesday, March 31, and will have lots more to show for during the remainder of the season.
Pitching Remarks
Javyn Pimental has been the team’s most efficient pitcher, allowing few baserunners and keeping hitters in check. His ERA stands at 3.33, and last pitched during the opener against Auburn, where he shook the crowd by allowing no runs and only three hits over six innings.
Last but not least, Eli Skidmore has had 10 appearances this season, with his current ERA of 3.07 and a record of 2-0. Skidmore used just three pitches to get out of the eighth inning against Illinois, and will continue to shine this season.
KU Game Highlights
A long awaited home game for the Tigers’ slipped away in a sudden loss to in-state rival Kansas on Tuesday, March 31. Missouri struggled to bring about timely hits which allowed the Jayhawks to pull through for their victory.
The Tigers’ star player of the day was Macon, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Despite his efforts, Missouri was unable to bring runners home when needed most. On the mound was Pimental, who delivered a solid start and held Kansas to just three runs over six innings and struck out five batters.
Skidmore went to battle as a reliever, but the Jayhawks’ rallied during the eighth inning. This loss was Missouri’s fifth in a row, but the upcoming series against Kentucky will hopefully provide another chance for the Tigers’ to secure a victory once again.
Final Note
Missouri has not won in Lexington since April 28, 2018 so the Tigers’ will be looking to change that this weekend, while facing a top-25 team nationally in college baseball.
With one of the Tigers’ best pitchers set to be on the mound for game one, this will hopefully set the tone early as they head into the next two games of the series.
The Cubs will be part of their second home opener of 2026, after their own last Thursday, as Friday’s game will be the first 2026 game for the Guardians at Progressive Field.
For more on the Guardians, here’s Quincy Wheeler, manager of the SB Nation Guardians site Covering The Corner.
Hello Cubs fans!
Welcome to Cleveland for our home opening series. Guardians fans are excited to welcome their hometown club back after a very successful opening road trip against the Mariners and Dodgers that has seen the Guards find a way to a 4-3 record. Some things to monitor as you watch:
* Weather, as always, is the big factor. You are aware of this as residents or observers of the Great Lakes region experiencing April. Both Friday and Saturday have shower and thunderstorm chances late, at the moment. Looks like they should be able to start and possibly finish Friday’s game but Saturday’s may be more questionable. Rain clears out for Sunday – BUT it will be frigid. Such is life, but enough of meteorology for the moment.
* You will see Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick in these three games. Cantillo had an uneven debut for 2026, but he’s a metrics darling. He’s a lefty, but actually has performed better against right-handed hitters than lefties so far. Cecconi flashed new pitch shapes and pitch mixes that had fans excited in Spring Training but he was apparently pretty ill for his first start of 2026. We will see how outing number 2 goes. Finally, Messick just finished dominating the Dodgers so that’s exciting for us. He has a magic changeup, so watch out for that. Metrics don’t love Messick as much as they do the other two, but the lefty’s got a bulldog mentality that seems to do a lot for him.
* It’s been a fitful start for the Guardians’ offense that has yet to see Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan and Kyle Manzardo (2025’s top hitters) take off. Instead, veteran Rhys Hoskins, rookie Chase DeLauter, and utility man Daniel Schneemann were the early stars. DeLauter’s health is always a topic of conversation here and he fouled a ball off his bad foot a couple days ago, so we will see if we can get him back for Opening Day at Progressive Field. If the Guardians can manage to get SOMETHING from Manzardo, Bo Naylor and their defensive-first middle infielders (Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio), they are a formidable offensive force. However, the cold, the rain and the wind may make scoring runs a challenge for everyone this weekend.
If you’re in Cleveland for the series, welcome! I always park down 4 blocks or so on Carnegie Street and walk a little bit to the games to get cheaper parking (I take my kids and have never felt unsafe doing so). I recommend the Killer Kilbane dog from Happy Dog, but there are a lot of great eating options, or, to save money, pack a soft-side cooler and bring an unopened bottle of water. Finally, the best deal in the ballpark for my money is the kid’s ice cream dish behind home plate. $5 but plenty of ice cream. Enjoy!
Fun facts
The Cubs were 3-1 at Cleveland when it mattered most, in the 2016 World Series, but they are 8-12 there in the regular season, compared to 11-8 at home. The Cubs’ 19-20 overall record is despite having outscored the Guardians by 27 runs, 186-159.
The Cubs have lost five in a row at Cleveland, two in 2021 and three in 2024. They won all three games vs. the Guardians last year at Wrigley Field.
Saturday: 6:15 p.m. CT, Fox-TV (regional — coverage map, scroll to the bottom of that link)
Sunday: 12:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
I called for two of three in each of the Cubs’ first two series and was right once.
The Guardians are a better team than either the Nationals or Angels. And as noted by John, the Cubs have lost five straight games in Cleveland.
Nevertheless, I persist. The Cubs will win two of three.
Up next
The Cubs travel to Tampa to face the Rays in a three-game series beginning Monday afternoon. The first game of the series is the Rays’ home opener and the first game back at Tropicana Field after its renovation following the damage done there by Hurricane Milton in October 2024.
Binghamton Rumble Ponies teammates celebrate winning the Eastern League baseball championship 8-2 over the Erie SeaWolves at UPMC Park in Erie on Sept. 24, 2025. | GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
First Half Record: 45-22 (1/6, Eastern League Northeast Division)
Second Half Record: 45-24 (1/6 Eastern League Northeast Division)
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies began the season with a higher concentration of Mets top prospects than any other team in the system, beginning the year with Jett Williams, Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, Ryan Clifford, and Nick Morabito all rostered there. Their standout performances, combined with other farmhands stepping up, led the Rumble Ponies demolishing the division in the first half. The team won the Eastern League Northeast division by 10.0 games over the Hartford Yard Goats, their 45 wins were tied with the Erie SeaWolves for most in the league in the first half, and their .672 winning percentage was best in the Eastern League.
During the first half, and in second half, some of those players eventually were promoted and moved on, but they were replaced by other top prospects, such as Carson Benge, Jacob Reimer, Jonathan Santucci, and Will Watson. Their standout performances along with other previously unheralded players stepping up led to Binghamton making mincemeat of the competition once again. The Rumble Ponies ended the second half with a nearly identical 45-24 record, winning the second half by 7.0 games over the Somerset Patriots. Once again, their 45 wins led the Eastern League, this time the only team to win 40 or more games in the second half.
Binghamton’s 90 wins established a new season high, beating the prior record of 86, set in 2023. Their 90-46 overall record was second-best in all of minor league baseball, with only the 92-39 West Michigan Whitecaps outplaying the Ponies. Their record was the best of any Mets minor league affiliate since Capital City Bombers went 90-51 in 1998 and their .661 winning percentage was the highest of any Mets minor league team since the 1986 Columbia Mets went 90-42, good for a .682 winning percentage.
The Rumble Ponies met the Somerset Patriots in the Eastern League Division Series and swept them in the best-of-three series, 3-1 and 5-4. Facing the Erie SeaWolves in the Eastern League Finals, the Rumble Ponies lost the first game in a 14-5 blowout, but rallied in Game Two to win 5-4, and then won decisively in the clinching Game Three 8-2. With the win, Binghamton won their first Eastern League championship as the Rumble Ponies and their fourth overall, having won prior as the Binghamton Mets in 1992, 1994, and 2014.
Michael Collins will be taking the reigns as team skipper, replacing Reid Brigniac, who was hired by Tampa Bay to coach the Triple-A Durham Bulls. Joining him will be Mariano Duncan, who will be serving as bench coach, Matt Carasiti, who will be serving as pitching coach, and Rachel Folden, who will be serving as hitting coach. Duncan served as 2025 bench coach, while Carasiti will be replacing 2025 pitching coach Dan McKinney and Folden will be replacing 2025 hitting coach Nate Irving.
The 2026 season will be Michael Collins’ first in the organization. Prior to joining the Mets, he spent the last eight with the Houston Astros, acting as their catching coach. Additionally, he managed in the San Diego Padres organization, managing the DSL Padres, AZL Padres, Fort Wayne TinCaps, and Lake Elsinore Storm between 2012 and 2017. Collins, who is Australian-American and was raised in Australia, also managed the Canberra Cavalry in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 Australian Baseball League seasons.
Mariano Duncan will be returning for his eighth year in the Mets organization, and his fifth season serving as Binghamton Rumble Ponies bench coach. Additionally, he served as bench coach for the 2021 Brooklyn Cyclones and the 2019 Kingsport Mets.
The 2026 season will be Matt Carasiti’s first with the Mets, and his second season overall as a coach. In 2025, he served as pitching coach for the Everett AquaSox, the Seattle Mariners’ High-A affiliate.
The 2026 will also be the first season in the organization for Rachel Folden. She spent the prior five seasons with the Chicago Cubs, serving as Triple-A Iowa Cubs hitting coach in 2025, Double-A Tennessee Smokies hitting coach in 2024, minor league hitting coordinator in 2023, and Arizona Complex League hitting coach in 2021 and 2022.
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies will be opening the 2026 season against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Delta Dental Stadium tonight. Here’s their full Opening Day roster.
Mar 7, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Luis de Leon (81) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during spring Training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
As of last night, the Double-A Chesapeake season got under way. The highest-level Orioles affiliate that you don’t have to leave Maryland to watch is always a place with prospects to watch, at least as long as the Orioles farm system is well-stocked with prospects worth watching.
This affiliate had a lot going for it all through last season, starting with several players who are now in Norfolk, including pitching prospect Trey Gibson and outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., all the way to the end with some late-season promotions of pitchers like Luis De León and the since-traded (for Shane Baz) Michael Forret. It didn’t really translate to wins and losses for the Baysox team itself, as they ended up with a 59-77 record a year ago.
Orioles top 30 prospects
LHP Luis De León
2B/OF Aron Estrada
RHP Tyson Neighbors
OF Thomas Sosa
C/1B Ethan Anderson
SS Griff O’Ferrall
With Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers graduating out of prospect status in the early days of the 2026 MLB season, the Orioles system is now down to just one player on the current MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects list. That’s outfielder Nate George, who will be beginning the season at Frederick.
One of the key stories for the organization as this year goes along is whether they can develop some more of their talent into top prospects who will either contribute to the MLB club or headline trades for established stars. If this happens, Chesapeake will probably be a place that plays witness to it. The highest-placed prospect here, De León, is now the #2 prospect in the Orioles system, and the top pitcher in the system. Can the Orioles finally develop a homegrown player into a useful starting pitcher for the MLB team?
Estrada, my current favorite outside of the top-tier prospects, is young, having just turned 21 in January. He just keeps getting interesting results while being a young guy for the levels he’s played. This included last year when, at Aberdeen, a place that was cursed for hitters, Estrada was able to bat .284/.369/.429 before getting promoted to Chesapeake. The scouting world isn’t sure what position he’ll be able to play at higher levels and he will have to keep proving the doubters wrong by hitting at each level also.
Sometimes guys like that end up like Trey Mancini. Sometimes they end up like Connor Norby. Sometimes they end up like Frederick Bencosme, a Baysox teammate who, if you remember that you’ve heard his name before just now, you’re an Orioles prospect sicko.
Neighbors is one of the players the Orioles got in the O’Hearn/Laureano trade with the Padres last year. He is, in fact, the closest to the majors from that trade. The reliever had a 0.59 ERA in 12 games after that trade. I hope he’s in Norfolk before long. The team has generally been aggressive in moving its older prospects. This is the age 23 season for Neighbors, which is old to be at Double-A and still be much of a prospect.
The Orioles have been aggressive in promoting Sosa, who only turned 21 in January, despite Sosa never really hitting good at any of the stops lower in the minors. The outfielder with big power potential has been more in what is often described as “holding his own,” which is what you get when you have a player who’s young for the level (he’ll be close to 2.5 years below the average player at Double-A) who is able to avoid completely collapsing numbers. He hit .222/.309/.407 for Aberdeen last year. It’s not good, but it’s good enough for the team to move him up and keep waiting for the breakout at the next level.
Anderson and O’Ferrall were each part of the high picks in the 2024 draft who encountered serious struggles at High-A last year. Anderson is a first baseman/catcher with no power (four homers in 90 games last year) and O’Ferrall is a shortstop/second baseman with no power (four homers in 121 games).
Starting on the injured list
RHP Braxton Bragg (Tommy John)
RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (shoulder)
RHP Patrick Reilly (Tommy John)
When the break camp rosters for the minor league teams were announced, I was surprised that Watts-Brown wasn’t listed on the Chesapeake roster. Now I know why: He’s hurt. I hope he’s recovered soon and can get back to it, because I was excited for hyphenated Team Brown.
Bragg did not have his Tommy John surgery until the end of July last year, so it’s unlikely that he’ll pitch with this affiliate this year. Absolute best case scenario might be if he is able to do a rehab outing or two before Low-A Delmarva’s season ends. Reilly, on the other hand, had his surgery in the middle of May. A return to the Double-A level before this minor league season is through is more realistic, if not guaranteed. Both of these guys were showing some real promise last year before the elbow ligaments went pop. There’s a reason why the acronym TINSTAAPP – there is no such thing as a pitching prospect – is said frequently enough to be understood.
Others who may arrive later
Pretty much anybody who’s starting the year assigned to High-A Frederick, whose roster I’ll be previewing on Monday, is a possibility to make it to Chesapeake at some point during the season. That starts with the guy who is now the #1 prospect in the system, George. It also includes high 2025 draft picks Ike Irish, Wehiwa Aloy, and Joseph Dzierwa. A pitcher, Dzierwa put on a showcase in the Spring Breakout prospect game last month.
Potentially, Vance Honeycutt, who dropped off the radar after flopping at High-A last year, could make his way up a level if his spring home run prowess translates in any way to regular season improvement. Honeycutt or any of the guys from the previous paragraph advancing depends on them actually showing well in Frederick. That’s not guaranteed for anyone, but hopefully it’ll happen for at least a couple of them.
COVERS INTEL:
