SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Pitcher Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 2-4. Change on 2025: 0. 5-inning record: 1-5
And it was going so well, too… The D-backs jumped on the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki in the bottom of the first. Nolan Arenado doubled in Geraldo Perdomo, and Ildemaro Vargas then doubled in a pair for a quick 3-0 lead. But it was more or less downhill from there. While Arizona actually outhit Los Angeles by a margin of 13-7, errors and walked doomed them: half of the ten runs conceded by the D-backs today were unearned, and their pitchers also issued nine walks. But there were positives, with three Diamondbacks going deep this afternoon for the first time: Pavin Smith (below), Tim Tawa and Jose Fernandez all homered.
It was Zac Gallen who started, though he only went one inning, being a little behind the other pitchers. That may factor into the decision as to who might replace Merrill Kelly as our Opening Day starter. He allowed a lead-off hit, but struck out two and went over 95 mph, including on the last of his 23 pitches. Drey Jameson took over in the second and was touched up for a pair of runs (one unearned), on two hits and a walk, but was also throwing hard, reaching 98 mph. That was the last pitcher the casual fan would probably recognize, and the results thereafter were… mixed, shall we say.
The Dodgers added a four-spot in the fifth, helped out by a pair of bases-loaded walks and an error by Ildemaro Vargas leading to two more unearned runs. They repeated the damage – four runs, two unearned – in the seventh, with a Jose Fernandez error a key play there. Gerardo Carillo and Hayden Durke were the only two of the ten pitchers used by Arizona to throw a full, clean frame, each striking out one in their inning of work. Despite the three errors, there were some good plays by the D-backs, notably a diving catch in left-field (below) by Ryan Waldschmidt. There were four ABS challenges today, only one being successful.
Tawa was the offensive star of the day, adding another hit and a walk to his home-run, while Druw Jones also picked up two hits, and Jordan Lawlar drew a pair of walks. Tomorrow, the D-backs hit the road again, heading off to Surprise to take on the Kansas City Royals. It’ll be our first chance to get a look at left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, with Ryan Thompson and Kade Stroud potentially also taking the mound.
TOPSHOT - Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm in Montevideo on February 23, 2026. (Photo by Mariana SUAREZ / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds ran their win streak to, well, a win streak on Wednesday with a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. It was their first true road game of the season as they shipped over to Camelback Ranch, and the squad got both excellent pitching and a pair of big dingers to win the day.
The Good
Nick Lodolo looked incredibly sharp in his first outing of Cactus League play, fanning 4 and scattering a pair of hits in 2.0 scoreless frames. Luis Mey rebounded from a rough initial outing of the spring to strike out the side for a hold in his perfect frame of relief, while lefty Brock Burke put up a scoreless frame of his own.
The offense, meanwhile, was powered quite literally by Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday. Sal swatted his first dinger of the spring to begin the scoring, a towering 440 foot blast to CF in the Top of the 2nd that gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead. The following inning, Bleday knocked the snot out of an inside breaking ball, leaving a dent some 464 feet away down the LF line – a two-run shot that scored Hector Rodriguez and gave the Reds all the runs they would need on the day.
Nate Lowe singled and walked in his quest to make the Opening Day roster, while Leo Balcazar picked up yet another hit and now boasts a 1.334 OPS in this incredibly small spring sample size.
The Bad
Middle infield depth is already a bit of a question mark on this club, as the team’s regular 2B (Matt McLain) is currently the only other player projected on the roster who can cover SS when Elly De La Cruz needs a break. And on days when that happens, one of Sal Stewart or Spencer Steer would have to cover 2B, in theory, and neither of them has any real big league experience at the position in recent memory (or at all).
So, it’s a bit of a bummer to see both Edwin Arroyo and Michael Chavis have errors charged to them in this one since, in theory, both are glove-first backup options up the middle on the depth chart.
The Ugly
Lyon Richardson got bonked for a homer and a pair of hits in his one IP, failing to strike anyone out in the process. He’s now yielded 5 H and 3 ER with a walk and zero Ks in his pai of appearances so far this spring after having been DFA’d earlier in the winter (and clearing waivers).
There’s still a ton to like in his right arm, but it’s pretty clear he’s not right at the moment.
What’s Next
Chase Burns will make his second start of spring camp on Thursday afternoon back at Goodyear Ballpark when the Reds play host to Nick Pivetta and the San Diego Padres. Once again, there will be no televised coverage of the game, though audio will be provided by 1360 WSAI.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Rob Refsnyder #30 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a portrait at Peoria Sports Complex on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you planned on killing some time this afternoon by watching some Mariners Cactus League baseball – or more enticingly, Bryan Woo’s first outing of 2026 – you were out of luck. For the first time this spring, we were confined to the narration of Rick Rizzs, Gary Hill Jr., and Charlie Furbush, with some scant video across socials filling in some gaps. Even the humble AM radio wasn’t an option to follow along live, with the broadcast shunted to later this evening on 710. Remember when that was the norm for spring training games?
The game itself was a standard February baseball affair. Seattle slogged through ten pitchers and endless mid-inning pitching changes, while the Royals were a bit more economical at seven. The floodgates opened as the NRIs and nameless jerseys took over the game, with a dozen of the game’s sixteen runs scoring after the fifth inning. Still, as with any spring contest, there were a handful of nuggets – and ~grainy footage! – beyond the statlines that are worth touching on.
Bryan Woo
Woo tossed 28 pitches through 1.1 innings, including being pulled in the first with two outs after a nine-pitch battle with Salvador Pérez that followed back-to-back doubles from Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino to open the scoring. Spring training: where the rules are made up and the runs don’t matter! Famously fastball-forward, Woo didn’t deviate, with eleven four-seamers and seven sinkers leading the charge at their normal velocities. His sweeper was his primary offspeed offering, and he only threw a single changeup – though it got Kyle Isbel fishing in the other batter’s box for a strikeout in the second inning. Velo in line, a couple strikeouts, and no walks? We take that every time.
Postgame, Woo touched on his process and approach to his first time out: “Spring training can be a little bit of a trap, come in trying to feel things out, try new things. I think everyone has their traps. Some guys are too hard on themselves, or focused on different things. That’s the trap in spring training. For me, I try to take things like, work on what you worked on during the week. Having the head space to differentiate between those two things is important.” He also offered insight on his sweeper as he gets more comfortable with adding the pitch to his repertoire and figuring out when and where to deploy it. The double from Witt was off of one, but hey, spring brings the freedom to tinker and fail.
Rob Refsnyder
Refsnyder started in the two-hole and manned right field in his second game of the spring, and both of his plate appearances came against left-handed pitchers with predictable success. He notched a one-out single off of Royals starter Noah Cameron in the first inning, and got the Mariners on the board in the third with a ringing double into the left-center gap against indy ball veteran Chase Jessee. It’s two at-bats – one against someone whose outing was his first ever in affiliated ball – but Refsnyder producing in the exact role he was signed for was a more than welcome sight.
Andrés Muñoz and Eduard Bazardo
A pair of the Mariners’ key relievers got their second outing under their belts with no damage. Muñoz took the third, coaxing a pop-up from Luca Tresh and a groundout from Maikel García before rearing back for triple digits to blow away Witt. Bazardo followed suit in the fourth, a one-out knock from Salvy the lone blemish as he worked a scoreless frame of his own, picking up a signature called strikeout with a sinker on the outer edge against Lane Thomas. After some hard-hit balls plagued Muñoz’s spring debut, weak contact and 100 on the radar gun in a breezy outing was a perfect balm.
The former top-30 prospect has made a big impression early in camp, and checked in with a monster game off the bench. Taking over right field for Refsnyder, Davis opened the top of the sixth with a solo shot to left against José Cuas, and laced doubles in his next two plate appearances, including a 111.4 MPH shot to lead off the ninth inning. Injuries have long plagued Davis’s career – he got into just 105 combined games the past two seasons – but has shown big power when on the field. He won’t break camp with the M’s unless multiple catastrophes occur, but he’s a name worth keeping on eye on when the Rainiers kick off their season.
Connor Joe
Connor Joe is this year’s Michael Chavis, Colin Moran, or any other early-to-mid-30s corner infielder the M’s have brought aboard as a non-roster invitee you can think of. We’ll probably see him frequently this spring – especially when the World Baseball Classic gets underway – but once the regular season gets underway, he’ll be chilling in Tacoma for at least a little while as the Cactus League becomes a distant memory. That being said, he did tie the game in the ninth with a two-run bomb, so I’d be remiss not to include him here.
The Mariners will get another crack at getting back to .500 against the Guardians in Peoria tomorrow. Lefty Joey Cantillo will get the start for Cleveland; perhaps we’ll see Refsnyder in back-to-back games for the first time. It’s Bryce Miller’s turn to make his 2026 debut, but don’t fret about missing it – tomorrow’s tilt is back on TV and streaming.
Pete Alonso is doing his best to turn comedian John Oliver’s son into an Orioles fan.
Earlier this week, Oliver appeared on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and explained how his 8-year-old son got into baseball last year and followed Oliver into Mets fandom.
The host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” then described how he watched his son learn what Mets fandom is all about as the team broke his heart and then his favorite player, Pete Alonso, left in the offseason to sign with the Orioles.
Pete Alonso left the Mets for the Orioles this offseason. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Now Alonso is putting the pressure on Oliver and trying to convince the comedian’s son to become an Orioles fan by inviting them down to Charm City for a game. The new Orioles star, who signed a five-year, $155 million contract, appealed to Oliver and his family in a video that was posted to the team’s X account.
“I saw what your son had to say about being upset of me signing with the Orioles, but, hey, he could always become an O’s fan,” Alonso said. “[I] would love to extend an invitation to you and your family to come down to Camden [Yards] for a game this year and you guys can get out on the field for batting practice. Hopefully, you guys come down and have some fun. Hope to see you soon. Go O’s.”
Oliver said his son had previously asked if he was allowed to change his baseball allegiance earlier in the 2025 season. The comedian said he was not.
John Oliver on his son's Mets fandom and how the Mets are actually very British. pic.twitter.com/Fi1X9Poagk
“Watching [my son] fall in love with this guy — he has a signed ball [from Alonso] — and having to go into his room and say, ‘Pete Alonso’s going to Baltimore,’ and he said, ‘Are you sure I can’t be an Orioles fan?’” Oliver said. “‘We’ve had this discussion.’”
John Oliver, winner of Outstanding Scripted Variety Series and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” poses in the press room during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. WireImage
Oliver has not responded to Alonso’s invite. The comedian, his son and the rest of the Mets faithful will not get a chance to see Alonso back in Queens until September, when the O’s make the trip to Citi Field for a three-game series.
Colson Montgomery crushed his first Cactus League dinger. | (Mike Christy/Getty Images)
Well, after a stretch of play that had us checking the calendar to make sure it was actually still February, the White Sox took their second loss. The Cincinnati Reds’ pitching staff effectively cooled off a South Side offense that entered the day with a flashy +20 run differential.
Unlike some of the high-scoring games the Good Guys have played recently, this one actually felt like an MLB contest. Unfortunately, though, it was one where the Sox pitching staff surrendered too many homers, and their bats went silent when it mattered, as they were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Davis Martin made his Cactus League debut and was decent in his two innings of work. He flew through the first inning on three ground outs before Sal Stewart smoked a leadoff homer in the second. Jordan Hicks took the mound for the third inning, and although he touched 100 mph on the gun, he ultimately unraveled after hanging a fat 88 mph splitter to JJ Bleday that landed over the wall in right field for a two-run homer. Jordan, just a heads-up here for future reference, the splitter actually has to split.
The real story of the afternoon, though, was Jonathan Cannon. The righthander tossed three clean innings, going nine up and nine down. Not a single blemish on the record card. If Cannon can pitch like this on the regular, the front office is going to have some very difficult (and welcome) decisions to make in a few weeks. Jordan Leasure also looked solid for a frame, surviving a 379-foot fly ball to the wall that Tristan Peters tracked down nicely.
The Sox offense ran into a buzzsaw early in Reds’ starter Nick Lodolo, who struck out the side in the first. The Good Guys had a chance in the second with back-to-back singles from Luisangel Acuña and Andrew Benintendi, but Jarred Kelenic and Korey Lee couldn’t drive them in. Munetaka Murakami tried to get things rolling once Terry Francona took Lodolo out of the game by smacking a single with two outs in the third. Unfortunately, Reds’ pitcher Brock Burke promptly picked him off to end the inning.
There was a bit of a scare early in the game for Acuña. After a single in the fourth, he swiped second but suffered some type of injury to his face. He had to leave the game to get stitches for a cut above his eye. It sounds like he’ll be fine, but it’s a tough way to earn a stolen base.
The offensive highlight of the day belonged to Colson Montgomery, who finally got all of one, obliterating a 94 mph fastball from Lyon Richardson in the fourth. Montgomery’s first homer of the spring had an exit velocity of 104.6 mph and went 421 feet to right center. Baseball is back!
The South Siders threatened late but couldn’t find the big knock. In the eighth, a walk to Oliver Dunn and yet another base hit by William Bergolla Jr. put two on with one out, but Caden Connor and Mario Camilletti went down quietly to end the threat.
The ninth got interesting when Sam Antonacci led off with a single and caught a massive break. He would’ve been gunned down trying to stretch the base hit into a double, but an interference call on first baseman Michael Toglia gifted him the bag. After moving to third on a Dru Baker K in the dirt, Antonacci scored on a Dustin Harris double to center. Unfortunately, that was the end of the line, as Kelenic and Josh Breaux both went down swinging and left the tying run stranded.
The White Sox head “away” tomorrow, although they aren’t going far. They face the Los Angeles Dodgers right back at Camelback Ranch, this time as the road team. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m. CST, and if you’re looking for a reason to tune in, Sean Newcomb gets the start against Tyler Glasnow. Hopefully, the boys’ bats will awaken from today’s desert slumber, but it’s the Dodgers, so maybe keep your expectations in check for a Thursday afternoon in February.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Noah Miller #88 of the Los Angeles Dodgers turns a double play over Tim Tawa #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers keep their undefeated start to the spring alive, improving to 5-0, as they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks by a final score of 10-7 on Wednesday.
Roki Sasaki made his spring debut, which was also his first start since May of last season. Sasaki struggled over 1 1/3 innings of work, tossing 36 pitches with just 17 going for strikes. He gave up three runs on a pair of doubles from Nolan Arenado and Ildemaro Vargas while striking out three and walking two.
River Ryan made his spring debut, completing a scoreless bottom of the third inning while collecting a strikeout and allowing a walk. Edwin Díaz made his Dodgers debut, tossing a scoreless fourth inning while allowing a hit and picking up a strikeout. Will Klein followed Díaz for his first appearance since his World Series heroics, also completing a scoreless inning of his own.
Hyeseong Kim made his first start in center field this spring, robbing Pavin Smith of a hit with a sliding catch in the bottom of the first and making a nice running catch to end the fourth inning. He collected a pair of hits and stole two bases while also collecting his fourth RBI of the spring with a game-tying single in the top of the fifth inning.
The Dodgers added an additional three runs in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the game. Alex Freeland and Jake Gelof both walked in a run, while Nick Senzel reached on a fielding error by Ildemaro Vargas to bring home a run.
Outfield prospects Zyhir Hope and Kendall George added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning, with Hope driving in two on a ground-rule double and George reaching on an infield single, with an errant throw into the Dodgers dugout allowing two runs to score.
The Dodgers are now averaging 8.8 runs per game, although they have to wait at least one more day to hit their first home run of the spring.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers return to Camelback Ranch on Thursday as they host the Chicago White Sox (12:05 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Tyler Glasnow gets the ball for the Dodgers, making his first spring start, as he faces left-hander Sean Newcomb.
Feb 25, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss (4) talks with bench coach Tony Mansolino (89) before the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Good evening, everybody! Y’all enjoyig spring training so far or are you already ready for Opening Day? The floor is now yours and here’s a random clip:
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, left, gave up three runs in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
Roki Sasaki took the mound Wednesday, looking to build off the success he enjoyed late last season, as he enters his second year with the Dodgers.
It did not go smoothly, with Sasaki struggling to find the strike zone and getting hit hard by the Arizona Diamondbacks when he did. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up three runs on three hits and two walks. He did record three strikeouts, with his fastball topping out at 98.6 miles per hour, but only 17 of his 36 pitches landed for strikes.
"There were some positive things, but also things I need to work on," Sasaki said via an interpreter after he was lifted from the Dodgers' 10-7 win.
Sasaki gave up a hard-hit single to leadoff hitter Geraldo Perdomo, and Tim Tawa walked. With one out, Nolan Arenado hit a line-drive double to left that scored Perdomo. Ildemaro Vargas followed with another double, scoring Tawa and Arenado for a 3-0 lead.
After a mound visit from pitching coach Mark Prior, Sasaki struck out Jordan Lawlar and Ryan Waldschmidt to end the inning. Sasaki struck out Druw Jones leading off the second, then walked Aramis Garcia and was removed.
"In the bullpen, I felt pretty good about the forkball but once I got on the mound, it didn't go well," Sasaki said. "And the four-seam, I felt pretty good in the bullpen but once I got on the mound, it felt a little off."
Sasaki emerged as a viable high-leverage relief option out of Dave Roberts’ bullpen upon his return to the club’s big-league roster in late September. He gave up just one run, six hits and five walks over 10.2 IP in the postseason. But the goal this spring is for him to cement himself as a mainstay in the club’s pitching rotation.
"I thought he was overthrowing, I hadn't seen that all spring," Roberts said after the game. "He was a little too bullish on the fastball, but he was getting behind in the first inning. It was good to see that second inning, I thought he mixed better and commanded the baseball a little bit better."
Sasaki spent the offseason working to develop a third pitch, to add to his fastball-splitter mix. The new weapon in Sasaki’s arsenal has been described by Roberts as a “slider-cutter” hybrid.
Two other notable names made their Cactus League debuts on Wednesday for the Dodgers, with River Ryan pitching a scoreless third inning while walking one and striking out one. Edwin Díaz pitched the fourth inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.
Paul Gervase trying to make his mark in camp
Dodgers pitcher Paul Gervase pitching in the third inning at Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., against the Angels. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
Paul Gervase is more than just the answer to a trivia question.
Yes, when the 6-foot-10 right-hander appeared in one game for the Dodgers last season, he became the tallest pitcher in team history, surpassing the 6-9 Mark Hendrickson. And this year at Camelback Ranch, the 25-year-old has cut a distinct figure on the mound as he works on his consistency and pitch mix.
“I’m working on a few things, mainly routine-oriented, trying to stay more consistent every time I go out there,” he said last week. “When I have a good outing, make sure the next one’s good and not just have spurts.”
Gervase joined the organization last year at the trade deadline as part of a minor three-team deal that became known more for netting the Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt, a crucial fill-in for an injured Will Smith down the stretch and early in the postseason.
But the story really begins with an ultimatum.
Dodgers pitcher Paul Gervase gets ready to throw a pitch against the Angels at Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Gervase started his collegiate career at Pfeiffer University, a Division III school in Misenheimer, N.C. After struggling his freshman season, his father said they would not pay for school if Gervase didn't improve his performance. The right-hander pushed himself to transform his game, working with a trainer to improve his mechanics and eventually increasing his fastball velocity by 8-10 mph.
After a stint in community college, Gervase latched on with Louisiana State for the 2022 season and got drafted that year in the 12th round by the New York Mets. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024 and he made his MLB debut with the Rays last June and appeared in five games before going to the Dodgers.
Following the trade, Gervase spent most of his time with triple-A Oklahoma City but did pitch two innings against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 20, giving up a run and two hits in two innings of work. And this spring, he's made two scoreless appearances in Cactus League play, yielding two hits and recording three strikeouts over two innings.
"Yesterday was a good one," Roberts said Wednesday morning of Gervase's inning of work against the Cleveland Guardians. "He's looked fine. It's a really good fastball. I think the secondaries, just continue to tighten those up. I would expect Paul to pitch for us at some point this year."
Gervase's one appearance in 2025 was enough to earn him a World Series ring, which he'll be happy to share with the father who gave him an ultimatum to improve his game.
“I wish I did more to get it, but it does feel really cool,” he said. “He’ll be excited.”
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 18: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees looks on during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 18, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we continue on with spring training, it’s time for a little night baseball. Tonight, the Yankees will welcome the Nationals into Steinbrenner Field, which will feature our first look at one of the newest members of the Bronx Bombers.
Tonight, Ryan Weathers will take the mound for his first appearance as a Yankees. The team acquired him in a trade from the Marlins over the offseason, and he seems mostly slated to be a depth arm, who could appear as a starter or out of the bullpen (more likely the former than the latter, at least to begin 2026). However at 25 years old, he’s still young enough that there’s hope he could develop into something intriguing.
After loading up yesterday’s lineup, this one has fewer expected regulars. Amed Rosario, Jasson Domínguez, and Ben Rice make up the top third of the order, and even the middle one of those three has some questions about his Opening Day roster status. Besides that, we will get a look at prospect George Lombard Jr. tonight.
CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews are the big names in the Nats’ lineup tonight, while Andrew Alvarez will take the mound for them.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread for tonight’s matchup, and here’s everything you need to know on how to catch the action.
How to watch
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas (14) catches the ball before a MLB spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 23, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Nationals have had a red hot start to Spring Training. They have won four games and tied once so far in the Grapefruit League. The Nats will look to keep that up as they travel to Tampa to take on the Yankees. This is a long trip for Spring Training but multiple regulars will be in the lineup.
CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews and Keibert Ruiz are the biggest names in the lineup. Honestly, the lineup looks similar to the one the Nats threw out on Monday. Trade acquisition Abimelec Ortiz will be at first base as he tries to secure an Opening Day roster spot. Andrew Alvarez will be making his first start of the spring. He was impressive in a few starts in September.
We will not be seeing Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton or most of the other famous Bronx Bombers. However, notable names like Ben Rice and Jasson Dominguez will be in the lineup. There will be a couple of former Nats in the lineup as well, with Amed Rosario and Paul DeJong featuring for the Yankees. Ryan Weathers, who they acquired from the Marlins will be on the mound.
TV: Nationals.TV (but it will be the YES telecast)
Radio: N/A
The Nats have not been on TV since the first game of Spring Training, so it will be nice to have them back. They have been performing well so far this spring. Obviously these games do not count, but it is nice to see them securing curly W’s. Interested to see what Andrew Alvarez has in store tonight. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 30: Matt Waldron #61 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Petco Park on July 30,...
Padres starter Matt Waldron could begin the season on the injured list after manager Craig Stammen said the pitcher recently sustained an “infection in his rear end.”
The San Diego skipper told reporters the 29-year-old knuckleballer actually required a procedure this week to fix the ailment — which was later clarified to be a hemorrhoid issue.
“(Waldron) had to have surgery to drain it and make it better,” Stammen said. “So he’s been in the hospital the last couple days.”
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Fortunately, Stammen said he expected the Padres pitcher to be discharged soon.
Padres pitcher Matt Waldron could begin the season on the injured list after he sustained an “infection in his rear end.” The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images
“But he’ll be out kind of week-to-week depending on how that incision heals and how he’s feeling moving around,” Stammen added.
Waldron, an 18th-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, has thrown for the Padres the last three seasons, earning appearances in 36 total games.
His last and only 2025 start for San Diego came in June, when he gave up four earned runs in 4.2 innings in a loss to the Phillies.
Matt Waldron has logged 36 appearances for the Padres since the 2023 season. Getty Images
Stammen said Waldron had been showing promising signs in the early goings of spring training this month, and he was “disappointed in that regard” for the wounded right-hander.
“We’ll take care of him the best we can,” Stammen said, “set him up here for the end of spring training, get him going, and then we’ll see where that takes us as the season goes and where his rehab process goes.”
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had an opportunity to clarify his comments about Los Angeles Dodgers fans that appeared in an article inside Chicago Magazine recently.
Instead, he added gasoline to the fire.
The 23-year-old All-Star, who grew up in the shadow of Los Angeles Dodgers blue, doubled down this week on his criticism of Dodgers fans. He told Foul Territory that he remembers “nasty stuff” in the stands as a kid, invoking the brutal 2011 beating of Bryan Stow as something that stuck with him. He insisted his comments weren’t about the players or the organization — only the fanbase.
“I grew up going to Dodgers games when they weren’t always good. Their fans go in phases. Putting the Giants fan in the coma stuck with me as a kid. Sitting in the stands, nasty stuff goes on. I didn’t always experience that at other ballparks,” he said in the interview.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong clarified his comments about Los Angeles Dodgers fans recently. Getty Images
Pete Crow-Armstrong says his comments about Dodgers fans have nothing to do with the players.
"They [the fans] go in phases. I remember putting the Giants fan in a coma. That stuck with me as a kid. Just little things, sitting in the stands, nasty stuff goes on." pic.twitter.com/0qWe1LkghE
But here’s the problem: that’s not the song he was singing before.
Crow-Armstrong’s original critique was that Dodgers fans don’t “give a s—,” that they show up to take photos rather than understand the game.
Now the argument has shifted from passion and baseball IQ to violence and ugliness. Those are two very different accusations. One is about engagement. The other is about morality.
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Dodgers fans fired back quickly, pointing to record attendance, division titles, and October thunder. They also reminded Cubs loyalists of their own scars — hello, Steve Bartman.
Crow-Armstrong’s original critique was that Dodgers fans don’t “give a s—,” that they show up to take photos. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Every fanbase has its demons. Every stadium has its shadows. But when you grow up near Dodger Stadium and choose to keep swinging at its people, you better be ready for the fastball back at your face.
Good thing Crow-Armstrong has crushed a few of those into the pavilion before. He’ll hear about it again in when the Cubs come to Chavez ravine in late April.
Feb 25, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Pirates fans saw their first glimpse of the 2025 National League Cy Young winner on Wednesday afternoon.
Paul Skenes took the mound for the first time in 2026 against the Atlanta Braves in North Port, Florida.
It’s the only game Skenes is scheduled to pitch for the Pirates before joining Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Facing a Braves order with regulars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Michael Harris, and Ozzie Albies in the lineup, Skenes totaled 2.1 innings of work.
Skenes allowed four walks, including back-to-back free passes to Olson and Jurickson Profar in the first frame. He responded by striking out Riley to end the inning.
Skenes worked around two walks in the second inning and stranded a runner on third by inducing an Acuña pop-up to prevent any runs from crossing the plate.
Drake Baldwin led off the third with a triple in the books, but it was misplayed by Oneil Cruz in right-center field. Cruz overran the ball and didn’t track it well enough, but it wasn’t ruled an error. Skenes followed it up by striking out Olson in his final at-bat of the day.
Skenes was replaced by Jarod Bayless, who allowed a two-run homer to Riley to account for Skenes’ lone earned run.
He threw 53 pitches, 27 for strikes, and faced 12 hitters in his first appearance since September 24. Atlanta received strong pitching throughout the game and claimed a 3-1 victory over the Buccos.
The Pirates provided early run support for Skenes. Oneil Cruz led off with an opposite-field base hit, stole second base, and scored on an RBI base hit by Ryan O’Hearn.
While it was a tad concerning to see Skenes walk four hitters, he did work his way out of jams. Oh, and it’s (check notes) February 25.
Skenes won his first Cy Young after leading baseball in ERA (1.97) and fourth in strikeouts (216) and WHIP (0.95) in 187.2 innings.
He is set to start two games for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Team USA is looking to avenge its 3-2 championship loss to Japan and Shohei Ohtani in 2023. The Americans have only won the WBC one time (2017) in five total tournaments, beginning in 2006.
The WBC takes place from March 5 to March 17, leading into Opening Day between the Pirates and Mets in New York on March 26.
VENICE, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves runs out a single during the sixth inning of a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at CoolToday Park on March 11, 2025 in Venice, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Braves and Pirates tangled in Grapefruit League action on Wednesday afternoon, and the Braves came away victorious by a 3-1 score, taking advantage of rusty-ish Paul Skenes in the process.
Let’s get the key performances out of the way first.
Bryce Elder was, well, Bryce Elder. Especially the kind of Bryce Elder he appears to be when successful. He struck out three in two innings, walked none, and kept the ball on the lower side of the launch angle spectrum. As a result, the Pirates scratched across a run as a result of a couple of hard-hit singles sandwiching a steal, but there wasn’t much else going on.
Austin Riley unloaded his first Spring Training homer, a gargantuan 419-foot shot off the batters’ eye in center. Earlier in the same plate appearance, he had obliterated another high fastball, but pulled that one just foul. He kept this one (way more) fair.
Riley’s homer actually capped the scoring, as Drake Baldwin led off that frame with a weird triple on a less-routine-than-it-should-have-been fly ball to center, and scored on a Jurickson Profar soft liner down the right-field line. Riley drove Profar in with his moonshot.
Beyond that, the Braves had some fun making Paul Skenes, making his Spring Training 2026 debut, somewhat uncomfortable. They drew four walks against Skenes, who completed 2 1/3 innings — while successfully challenging four of Skenes’ called strikes. (In this game, the Braves went 6-for-6 in successful challenges, while the Pirates whiffed on both of theirs.) They didn’t get more than three runs, though, despite the early walks because Skenes carved up Riley in the first with two on and two out, while Mauricio Dubon and Ronald Acuña Jr. couldn’t get a key hit with two on in the second. (Dubon actually had a hard grounder, but Acuña just popped out. Acuña also later hit into a double play ball by hitting a grounder right at an infielder.)
Other than that, very little happened. The Braves used seven different pitchers in relief of Elder:
Tyler Kinley: 1/1 K/BB
Dylan Lee, 1/1 K/BB
Dylan Dodd, 2/1 K/BB in 1 2/3 IP
Tyler LaPorte, who struck out the only batter he faced
Hayden Harris, 2/0 K/BB
James Karinchak, 2/1 K/BB
Javy Guerra, on a redemptive note from his prior horrid outing, 1/0 K/BB
Basically, it was a breezy day at the park. The Braves had a collective 9/6 K/BB ratio offensively, while the Pirates were eaten up to the tune of 13/4 by Braves pitching. The Pirates got a runner on in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, but a routine flyout ended the game.
Marcell Ozuna went 0-for-2 with a walk (against Dylan Dodd) in his first uniformed game against his erstwhile mates.
The Braves will now head to Tampa to play the Yankees tomorrow afternoon.
PEORIA, Ariz. — Cal Raleigh has already gone deep this spring, yet the switch-hitting Seattle Mariners catcher isn’t focused on trying to hit 60 home runs again this season.
Raleigh, who had an MLB-leading 60 homers last year, hit a 427-foot homer against the Chicago White Sox in an exhibition game Tuesday. His first spring homer came in his third game.
“I think the elephant in the room is 60 home runs. That’s not something I’m setting out to do,” Raleigh told Seattle Sports this week. “To me, I’m just trying to be as consistent as possible, trying to do what I did last year.”
His 60 homers last season were the most for a player who was primarily a catcher, having started 119 games behind the plate and another 38 at designated hitter. The 29-year-old Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” also had a career-high 125 RBIs and finished second in the American League MVP voting behind New York Yankees slugger and third-time winner Aaron Judge.
Judge and Raleigh are both set to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which begins pool play next week. Judge set the AL record with 62 home runs in 2022.
There are among only seven players with a 60-homer season, and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are the only ones to do so in consecutive seasons (1998 and 1999). McGwire and Sosa are the only players with multiple 60-homer seasons, and Sosa had a third in 2001.
