GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Hyeseong Kim #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers gets ready to make a play against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on February 26, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers play two games at the same time on Sunday. Here is the travel roster for their road contest, against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa. Hyeseong Kim returns from the World Baseball Classic and leads off at second base. Jack Suwinski, acquired on February 21 and now a non-roster invitee in camp, plays in his first game for the Dodgers, starting in right field.
Lineup
Hyeseong Kim 2B Alex Call DH Mookie Betts SS Dalton Rushing C Santiago Espinal 3B Jack Suwinski RF Zach Ehrhard LF James Tibbs III 1B Michael Siani CF
Emmet Sheehan starts on the mound, making his third appearance of the spring.
Other pitchers
Will Klein and Kyle Hurt are expected to pitch in this game, as is non-roster lefty Antoine Kelly.
From the minor league side are Matt Lanzendorfer (wearing number 87), Antonio Knowles (90), Myles Caba (91), Cody Morse (92), Alex Makarewich (93), and Domingo Geronimo (96).
Other position players
Non-roster invitees Ryan Fitzgerald and Seby Zavala are active for the road game.
Up from the minors are Emil Morales (05), Jake Gelof (08), Landyn Vidourek (06), Damon Keith (94), Samuel Muñoz (07), Eduardo Guerrero (88), and catcher Victor Rodrigues (95).
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 15: Luis Gil #81 of the New York Yankees pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on April 15, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Results be damned, Max Fried was healthy and pitched five-plus frames on Saturday, which is really all we want to see from this team’s current top pitcher. Wrapping up the weekend, the Yankees will play a splt-sqquad doubleheader on Sunday, starting with a matchup against a familiar face on an unfamiliar team. One of the newest Tigers, Framber Valdez, will face the Yankees, defending the colors of a different American League contender.
Detroit took a page right out of the Yankees’ recent playbook, signing an ace-caliber lefty who may not have the gaudy strikeout totals of some of his peers but gets the job done. Much like with Fried and the Yankees—although in his case, maybe just on a temporary basis—Valdez joins as the No. 2, serving behind the great Tarik Skubal, set to hit the open market at the end of this season.
Moving over to the Yankees side, Luis Gil will start the first of these two games against a different club. Perhaps more than nearly every other pitcher, Gil’s K/BB numbers are followed with extreme interest across spring, and so far, they show terrific promise. We all know how much Gil relies on strikeouts to perform at a high level and how a high walk rate has gotten him in trouble in the past. Through his first 11.1 innings of Grapefruit League action, Gil’s 15 strikeouts and 3 walks are right where you’d want them.
Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Giancarlo Stanton are the standout names on the Yankees lineup that’ll face Valdez; keep an eye on Randal Grichuk, whose skill set against left-handers is the primary reason the Yankees went after him in the first place.
How to watch
Location: George M Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL
First pitch: 1:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Detroit SportsNet
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660 AM (NYY) | WXYT 1270 (DET)
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 12: Riley Adams #15 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park at the Palm Beaches on Thursday, March 12, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While the Nationals are 11-6 in Grapefruit League play, the offense has been mostly quiet. The boys will look to change that today in a showdown against the Cardinals. This lineup is pretty close to what I expect the Opening Day lineup to be, so I am excited to see the big guns in action.
The Nats have been trying players at different positions throughout the spring, and today is no different. Dylan Crews is out in left field, a position he has never played at the big league level. Luis Garcia Jr. will get more work at first base, while Daylen Lile DH’s this afternoon. Miles Mikolas will be starting against his old club this afternoon.
The Cardinals are also rolling out a pretty strong lineup. Masyn Winn, JJ Wetherholt, Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman all feature. Wetherholt is one of the top prospects in the game and looks like he will win a big league job out of camp. He has performed very well this spring. Hard throwing Richard Fitts will be on the mound for the Cardinals. They acquired him from the Red Sox this offseason in the Sonny Gray deal.
The Nats have dropped their last two games, so they will look to get back on track this afternoon. Hopefully Miles Mikolas can perform well in this revenge game of sorts. I also want to see more life from the offense. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 08: Jarren Duran #16 of Team Mexico runs the bases after a solo home run in the second inning against Team Brazil during a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game at Daikin Park on March 08, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is it on TV?
Yes, first pitch at 1:05 PM on NESN.
What’s the lineup?
What should we watch for?
It’s always fun to watch Garrett Crochet, especially as we near the start of the regular season and the pitchers begin to really ramp up. But today will be all about the return of Jarren Duran. Keep an eye on him to see if his scorching hot WBC form can continue.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Lyon Richardson (72), left, and Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Tejay Antone (70), discuss pitching during spring training workouts, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at the team s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz.
Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds is just 11 days away, yet the current number of players they have in camp right now still far exceeds the 26 they’ll carry on their Opening Day roster. That means we’re in for some pretty aggressive rounds of cuts in the coming days, and those began in earnest this weekend.
On Sunday morning, the Reds officially reassigned veteran righty Tejay Antone to minor league camp, as MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed on Bluesky.
Antone, now 32, has thrown just 7.2 IP at the big league level since the start of the 2023 season, and that’s on the heels of missing all of the 2022 season, too. He missed all of 2025 as he recovered from his third Tommy John surgery, yet was in camp this year legitimately competing for a spot in the team’s bullpen.
His velocity hasn’t yet recovered to the 97.1 mph average he sported during his breakout 2021 season, but he did reportedly touch 95 mph while in camp this spring (and his breaking stuff has show considerable life, too). In other words, this seems like as much of an administrative decision as anything as he was in camp as a non-roster invitee who’s not currently on the 40-man roster.
They did reassign him to AAA after all, not release him. That seems to me that they plan on giving him some time and reps at that level to further work his way back to being as close to 100% as possible with an eye on him potentially providing bullpen depth at the highest level at some point later in the season.
This all comes a day after the Reds made a similar call with reliever Lyon Richardson, who was also in camp as a non-roster invitee after clearing waivers earlier in the offseason. He’s another depth arm who, when right, has stuff that’s plenty capable of getting big league hitters out, but a guy on whom the Reds won’t lean until something else goes wrong in front of him.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Wilyer Abreu #16 of Team Venezuela celebrates his home run with team during the sixth inning against Team Japan during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The field was halved Friday in the WBC, and once again Saturday, with a pair of impressive games and historic milestones for national baseball in Italy and Venezuela.
Yesterday’s matchups and how the Mariners performed:
Italy 8, Puerto Rico 6
The caffeinated fairy tale continues. Facing the ace of Team Puerto Rico in Royals starter Seth Lugo, Italy bounced back from a leadoff homer by PR star Willi Castro to stake a 4-1 lead after the first. While a bases-loaded HBP cut the score to 4-2 in the 2nd and ensured neither club’s starter recorded more than four outs, Italy’s lead swelled to a seemingly-insurmountable 8-2 in the 4th despite one of the more egregious fan interferences you’re likely to see. The threadbare Puerto Rican roster fought back ferociously, but came up just short against Red Sox reliever Jacob Weissert, who encored his shutdown performance in Italy’s upset of Team USA to cover the final 1.2 frames and send home the plucky Puerto Ricans 8-6.
The lone Mariner to play was Dominic Canzone notching a 1-for-3 night with two walks, two runs. That said, former M’s abounded in this one, with Yacksel Rios and Edwin Diaz working 1.2 combined scoreless frames for PR. Dan Altavilla was sterling in his inning for Italy, but Matt Festa ran into trouble with his command and was instrumental to the comeback effort that the Italians managed to quash. It’s Italy’s first trip to the semifinals in the WBC, while for Puerto Rico an exit earlier than hoped, but more than worthy of pride given the absence of 3-4 of the island’s stars.
Venezuela 8, Japan 5
What. A. Game. Attended by yours truly, I’m pleased to inform you all that this heavyweight bout was just as good as it appeared. The reigning WBC champs put their ace, and World Series MVP, Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the hill against Venezuela’s best hope – new Red Sox southpaw Ranger Suarez. Neither starter shone, with Suarez run after 2.2 thanks to homers from Shohei Ohtani and injury-replacement Shota Morishita, while Yamamoto hung on for four frames but could not go deep due to dangerous innings from the Venezuelans.
The game was a star turn for the left side of Venezuela’s infield, which saw Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia scorch the ball all night, sparking a comeback made possible by astounding work from the ostensible weakness of the Venezuela club: the pitching staff. Starting with Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo, who staunched the bleeding for Suarez to conclude the third inning, not a single run crossed the plate in the potent Samurai Japan lineup. A collection of journeymen like Enmanuel De Jesus and Andres Machado, who’d last pitched in MLB in 2023, as well as bullpen arms of decent repute in Jose Butto and Angel Zerpa, afforded Wilyer Abreu the chance to blast the roof off loanDepot Park.
Former Mariner Yusei Kikuchi kept things tight, but Japan could not find the answer for Cubs closer Daniel Palencia, and the raucous Miami crowd got to welcome Venezuela to the semifinals – and a clinched spot alongside Italy, U.S.A., and the Dominican Republic in the Olympics for baseball in 2028.
Venezuela will face Italy on Monday, March 16th at 5 PM PT on FS1, to determine who will play the winner of tonight’s matchup.
Today’s Semifinal Matchup:
United States at Dominican Republic: 5 PM PT, FS1 – loanDepot Park, Miami, FL Pitching probables: Paul Skenes for USA, Luis Severino for DR
I implore you. Watch this game. Give yourself a gift, as we all have been. Find a bar, or a friend, or a Fubo free trial. This is what this tournament is all about. What baseball is capable of. The most imposing lineup in the world for the Dominican Republic faces the most difficult pitcher to hit in the world in Paul Skenes.
Winner goes to the Championship Game, which will be held on March 17 at 5 PM PT on FOX.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros at bat during a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 28, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Astros manager Joe Espada was happy with what he saw from SP Ryan Weiss, as well as Isaac Paredes play at 2B:
Astros manager Joe Espada on Ryan Weiss’ strong outing, Paredes turning a double play, Lambert escaping a jam and Alvarez‘s first homer pic.twitter.com/Shyy1Pzhlq
Ryan Weiss would prefer to be a starter. He’s certainly pitched well enough to earn a shot.
Ryan Weiss on his preference to be a starter: "I haven't communicated that with (the team). I think they know that. I signed as a starter and I've been starting the last couple of years." pic.twitter.com/Mh3z9c2R9z
The Astros may not have fully decided on a 5 or 6 man rotation as yet:
The Astros are still mulling a five-man rotation versus a six-man group. Here's how the contenders for those spots look so far this spring. https://t.co/zF8KaN27fL
While Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows have been the stars of spring, there are other Astros pitchers who are opening eyes as well:
You've read all about how good Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows have looked this spring, but that was expected. Here are 5 other guys battling for roster spots who have impressed. https://t.co/RopoKwZEQO via @houstonchron
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 14: Francisco Lindor (12) of the New York Mets looks on while rehabbing an injury on a back field during a Minor League spring training game on March 14, 2026 at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mets Lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS
Marcus Semien – 2B
Bo Bichette – 3B
Jorge Polanco – DH
Luis Robert – CF
Brett Baty – 1B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Mike Tauchman – RF
Tyrone Taylor – LF
Zach Thornton – LHP
Blue Jays Lineup
George Springer – DH
Daulton Varsho – CF
Davis Schneider – 2B
Addison Barger – 3B
Jesus Sanchez – RF
Nathan Lukes – LF
Leo Jimenez – SS
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Charles McAdoo – 1B
Grant Rogers – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:10 PM EDT TV: WPIX Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM
Build Your Winning Bracket!
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BRADENTON, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a portrait during the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates Photo Day at LECOM Park on February 18, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park and the Rays will be providing radio coverage.
Location: Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, FL
How to Listen: KDKA-FM 93.7
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Tampa Bay Rays looking to grab a win.
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DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - MARCH 03: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning against team Canada during a game at TD Ballpark on March 03, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There isn’t a lot for Blue Jays’ news this morning.
The team has announced that Kevin Gausman will be our opening day starter. So far he’s thrown 4.1 innings of ‘official spring’ ball so fair. He hasn’t allowed a run, with four hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Last year he had a 3.59 ERA in 32 starts.
Brendon Little has added a couple of pitches and dropped one from last year:
Pitch Repertoire Update! ⚾️🚨📢 Brendon Little (TOR) has added a four-seamer & slider this year in place of the cutter he threw in 2025; his full arsenal is now SI / FF / SL / KChttps://t.co/U7PVgzr9Xm
He’s looking to have a something else he can throw in the strikezone. It looks like he’ll be the number one lefty in the pen, so it’s good to see him looking to fix things up that weren’t working at the end of last season.
So far this spring, he’s thrown five innings, three hits, four walks and eight strikeouts with no runs against. we’ll see how things go.
The Jays play at 1:00 Eastern. Grant Rogers is starting. Since Berrios is suddenly out, we get a spring bullpen day. But the team is bringing a surprising number of regulars to St. Lucie County. Google maps says it is a 3 hour 15 minute days. Generally veterans don’t like to make bus rides that long.
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
METS
George Springer – DH
Francisco Lindor – SS
Daulton Varsho – CF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Davis Schneider – 2B
Bo Bichette – 3B
Addison Barger – 3B
Jorge Polanco – DH
Jesus Sanchez – RF
Luis Robert – CF
Nathan Lukes – LF
Brett Baty – 1B
Leo Jimenez – SS
Francisco Alvarez – C
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Mike Tauchman – RF
Charles McAdoo – 1B
Tyrone Taylor – LF
Grant Rogers – RHP
Zach Thornton – LHP
The game is on Sportsnet.
And tonight we have the USA vs Dominican Republic in the semifinal for the WBC. Paul Skenes starts for the US (that couldn’t have worked out better for them. Luis Severino starts for DR.
We’ll have a GameThread up for that.
Italy and Venezuela play tomorrow.
What should we expect the Jays rotation to look like the first time through?
Gausman, Cease, Scherzer, Ponce, Lauer? Or will Yesavage be ready? Pretty doubtful.
Then it is a game of when will Yesavage, Bieber and Berrios be ready. Maybe Mr. Grant Rogers there is closer than I think.
On the bullpen side, does Spencer Miles make the team? Angel Bastardo?
Beyond that: Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, Varland, Nance, Little, Fisher, Nance and Fluharty. That’s eight guys without Miles or Bastardo.
Opening Day is on the 27th, and there is still a few decisions to be made.
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 14: A general view of a baseball cap and glove of the Atlanta Braves sits on the field prior to the spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves on March 14, 2026 at CoolToday Park in North Port, FL. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
JR Ritchie was slated to start today’s game, but instead, Jose Suarez gets the start, with Ritchie set to get some work later in the game. Taijuan Walker will take the mound for Philly, coming off of a rough two seasons and looking to bounce back in a contract year.
The Braves are running out the quad-A lineup, while the Phillies are starting a number of their regulars. You can see the lineups below.
You can watch today’s game on MLB Network or MLBTV at 1:05 PM ET.
Join us and discuss today’s game in the comments below!
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WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 03: Cristian Javier #53 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Team Venezuela and the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Houston Astros (8-10-3) host the Miami Marlins (8-10-2) in Grapefruit League play.
RHP Cristian Javier is set to make his second start of the Grapefruit League. RHP Eury Perez will be on the mound for the Marlins.
TODAY’S STARTER: RHP Cristian Javier is making his second start of the Grapefruit League this season. In his only outing in the Grapefruit League on March 9 vs. STL, he allowed one earned run on one hit and three walks with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
In his return from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Javier made eight starts, going 2-4 with a 4.62 ERA (19ER/37IP), 34 strikeouts and a .230 opponent average. In his career, Javier has held opponents to a .203 (397×1956) batting average. Among AL pitchers to toss 525.0-plus innings between the 202025 seasons, Javier ranks first in the AL in that category.
He’s also helped author several notable moments in his career, starting a combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series, as well as a combined no-hitter in June of that season at Yankee Stadium.
TODAY’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: RHP Bryan Abreu, RHP AJ Blubaugh, LHP Bryan King, LHP Steven Okert and RHP Christian Roa
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have reassigned LHP Tom Cosgrove and RHP Amos Willingham to minor league camp.
LINEUP NOTES: Astros top prospect Kevin Alvarez will play LF and bat fifth. Alvarez, 18, played last season for DSL Astros Blue in his first year of professional baseball. He slashed .301/.419/.455 with 12 doubles, 3 triples and 2 homes in 156 AB. He also walked more than he struck out (23/19) and stole 11 bases.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, March 15, 12:05 p.m. CST
Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches – W. Palm Beach, Florida
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 8: Taijuan Walker #99 of Mexico throws a pitch during a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Brazil and Mexico at Daikin Park on March 8, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves will visit BayCare Ballpark on Sunday afternoon for some Grapefruit League action.
Taijuan Walker will be the first pitcher for the Phillies, fresh off his stint with the Mexican team in the WBC.
Game time is 1:05 and will be televised locally on NBCSP.
Build Your Winning Bracket!
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor at spring training last month after undergoing left hand surgery.
PORT ST. LUCIE — The final piece of the Mets lineup is healthy enough to play.
Francisco Lindor was penciled into the team’s lineup for Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays at Clover Park, giving the All-Star shortstop his first Grapefruit League start of the season.
Lindor has spent the last month rehabbing from left hamate bone surgery and had just progressed to batting against live pitching in recent days.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor at spring training last month after undergoing left hand surgery. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
“He went through his progression and we’re getting to a point now where it’s time for him to start playing with us,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Sunday’s plan was for Lindor to play four innings and receive two at-bats. He will likely have Monday off and then resume Grapefruit League action on Tuesday. The Mets have spring training games running through next weekend, ahead of the March 26 opener against the Pirates at Citi Field.
Mendoza said in the aftermath of the surgery there wasn’t a firm timetable for Lindor to begin playing games.
“But we saw he was progressing, not only defensively but offensively, with the way he was swinging the bat in the cages, transitioning to the field, getting live at-bats,” Mendoza said.
Lindor became the second starting position player to begin exhibition games this week: Luis Robert Jr. debuted in the Grapefruit League on Thursday after the Mets slow played his spring to ensure his legs were strengthened.
