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Youth is both the future and the present tonight. After seeing Cam Schlittler—a key 25-year-old pitcher for their current rotation—toss a strong outing against the Tigers this afternoon, the Yankees are back on the field for this Spring Breakout Game, facing the Braves. The Baby Bombers lineup will be led by shortstop George Lombard Jr., who faced his fair share of struggles this spring training, hitting a disappointing .179, but remains one of the more exciting names in the Yankees system and the organization’s top prospect by most public outlets.

A young pitcher who earned a late-season call-up to Double-A, Kyle Carr will start the game against Owen Murphy, both coming off promising but very limited appearances in spring. The third-round pick from New York’s 2023 draft class out of a California junior college, the 23-year-old Carr is the Yankees’ No. 11 prospect per MLB Pipeline an dhas thrown four innings in camp, allowing one run, striking out, and walking a pair. Both of these teams have done a good job in recent years in bringing up and relying on young starters to help playoff contenders, thus thrusting this evening’s spotlight on Carr and 22-year-old Atlanta righty Owen Murphy, their first-round pick from 2022 (20th overall).

Joining Lombard in the Yankees’ starting nine are third baseman Core Jackson (No. 12 overall in the Yankees’ system), left fielder Jace Avina (No. 20), first baseman Coby Morales, center fielder Garrett Martin, second baseman Kaeden Kent (No. 13), DH Eric Genther, right fielder Brando Mayea (the 20-year-old top name from the 2023 IFA class), and catcher Ediel Rivera.

Available off the bench are catcher Engelth Urena, infielders Roderick Arias (a former top prospect), Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, Dexters Peralta, and Enmanuel Tejeda, and outfielders Wilson Rodriguez (No. 18), Willy Montero, and Kyle West. Active out in the bullpen are lefty Pico Kohn (No. 10) and right-handers Harrison Cohen (No. 27, who recently appeared in the World Baseball Classic for Team Israel), Jack Cebert (No. 25), Eric Reyzelman (No. 28), Tony Rossi (No. 30), Ben Grable, and Chris Kean.

A quirky detail that only a baseball fiend would notice is that three of the five Spring Breakout games on the schedule today feature classic World Series matchups of the past. On top of this Yankees-Braves duel, the Phillies beat the Jays 5-4 later, and the Dodgers and White Sox will meet up to wrap up the evening.

How to watch

Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL

First pitch: 6:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES Network| Gray TV

Radio broadcast: none

Online stream: Gotham Sports App

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A new tradition to Spring Training is once again gracing us prospect enthusiasts as the Spring Breakout game is here. What is Spring Breakout? It’s a new showcase added to Spring Training where every team around the league highlight their top rated prospects in a competition against one another. Next year, it will be expanded to a single-elimination tournament where champions will be crowned.

The past two years have not been too kind to the Braves – with the Braves losing 7-2 to the Red Sox in 2024, and losing 6-3 to the Tigers in 2025. However, it has done a good job of showing flashes of the future for the Braves as the 2024 roster featured future Braves stars Drake Baldwin (0-for-2, K), and Spencer Schwellenbach (3IP 4H 2R 1ER 2BB 3K). However, there is buzz as the Braves positional talent pool is the highest it’s been in recent memory.

Owen Murphy gets the start for the Braves. The shortstops are out in full force this game with Alex Lodise getting the start at short, Tate Southisene at second, and John Gil at third. All of that has shifted Dixon Williams to first. While in the outfield Eric Hartman-Diego Tornes-Conor Essenburg create a group of players with some of the highest offensive upside.

Game Notes

Time: 6:35 PM ET

Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL

TV: YES | MLB Network | MLB.tv | MLB.com | GRAY TV

Carlos Correa’s teams have been fortunate to roster excellent closers such as Luke Gregerson, Ken Giles, Ryan Pressly, Jhoan Duran and Josh Hader.

For the biggest save of his life, though, he wants to thank God.

Correa opened up to MLB.com this week in revealing that last summer — while in Minnesota, shortly before the trade back to Houston — he and his young son nearly drowned.

The veteran infield star was in Lake Minnetonka without a life jacket and with his 3-year-old, Kylo, on his neck when the pair were caught between their boat and the shore. Correa’s hamstrings and quads were cramping, he said, and his stamina fading.

With Correa’s hopes slipping, he looked above.

“‘Lord, save me,'” he said. “‘I promise you that if you save me from this one, I will serve you and I will serve you forever.'”

According to Correa, he found a buoy and a moment to breathe. But Correa’s grip slipped from the buoy, and he hurt his hand grasping for the buoy’s chain. Correa told MLB.com that he had to continually switch hands on the buoy to ensure he and Kylo would stay above water.

As a last gasp, he yelled with his all his might toward his boat. He was heard.

His father-in-law swam over and flung a life jacket, which Correa just barely grabbed with his pinkie. He was going to be OK.

“I was like, ‘From that moment on, I’m going to serve you,’” Correa told MLB.com. “I am going to keep my promise. And from that moment, I’ve been fully devoted.”

Correa — who always has been religious — took the next steps in his faith and organized a Bible study at his house in Houston over the offseason. He also told his story at a retirement home in hopes of inspiring others.

Correa may be more appreciative in Year 12 as a major leaguer. The three-time All-Star dealt with injuries and had begun to slope downhill with the Twins before the deadline trade back home that might have helped, as Correa posted a .785 OPS in 51 games back with the Astros last season.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke after the team's 5-3 loss to the Astros on Saturday afternoon and touched on a number of topics...

Position players still in the mix for Opening Day

The Mets made a few decisions regarding the Opening Day roster in recent days. They laid out their five-man starting rotation to start the season, which doesn't include Sean Manaea. Instead, the southpaw will begin the regular season in the bullpen as a piggyback to the starters. 

New York also optioned right-hander Austin Warren to Triple-A -- along with Kevin Herget and Robert Stock. Warren was in the mix for a bullpen spot.

But how about the position players?

The big story heading into camp was who would start in right field. Prospect Carson Benge seemingly had the inside track and has backed it up with a big spring, but veterans like MJ Melendez and Mike Tauchman were competing for a spot. Melendez was optioned earlier this week, and Tauchman exited Saturday's game with knee soreness. He'll undergo an MRI.

Although Mendoza didn't have an update on Tauchman, the Mets skipper was asked whether Benge's spot is all-but-assured with this latest development. 

"Can’t say," Mendoza said. "We don’t know. Just gotta wait."

On a follow-up, Mendoza was asked which of the position players are still in contention for a roster spot, and the third-year manager was honest about the situation.

"From the guys who are at camp, here. You got Jared Young, you got [Vidal] Brujan. There’s a lot of versatility here," Mendoza answered. "Carson’s pretty much in the mix as well. We’re looking at three, four guys for two spots."

Young hasn't produced at the plate this spring, hitting 3-for-30 (.150), but he offers that versatility Mendoza mentioned. He's played first base as well as left and right field in his six-year career.

Brujan has been better offensively this spring. He's batting .273 with seven walks, four stolen bases in 14 games. But Brujan offers more versatility than Young, having major league experience at six different positions, including all three outfield spots. 

Jorge Polanco's throwing error

Polanco is one of two new Mets who are learning a new position and the veteran infielder's inexperience at first base showed on one play during Saturday's game.

In the eighth inning, Polanco ranged far to his right to get to the ball, but made a poor underhand throw to the bag, resulting in a throwing error.

Mendoza was asked about the play and what Polanco can learn from the moment. 

"A very good learning opportunity," he said. "Not an easy play when he has to go that far. He’s diving for that ball, and not an easy angle for that 3-1 feed. Glad that it kinda happened, so he can learn from it. If he’s going to go underhand, continue to move your field or treat it like an infielder, which he’s done his whole career. You have that short throw, but it’s a moving target from that angle. It’s a tricky play. Because of who he is, he went long ways for that ball. You’re looking at a position where not too many first basemans are able to get to that ball. Learn from it and glad that happened today." 

PORT ST. LUCIE — Mike Tauchman’s bid to secure a spot on the Mets’ Opening Day roster may have hit a snag.

The veteran outfielder departed Saturday’s 7-5 exhibition loss to the Astros with left knee discomfort and was to receive an MRI exam, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.

Mendoza added that it was unclear if Tauchman’s injury was related to his collision with the right field fence early in the game.

Tauchman appeared uncomfortable after the play, and in the following inning, stopped in pain as he left the dugout.

“He felt something and just came back in and went inside with the trainer, so I am not sure how it happened,” Mendoza said.

Tauchman’s status is among the final decisions the team is facing in finalizing the 26-man roster for Opening Day.

Tauchman, Carson Benge, Vidal Brujan and Jared Young are essentially the four position players that appear in the mix for two roster spots. The Mets also have one bullpen spot open.

“We don’t know what we’re dealing with, but anytime you send somebody for an MRI there is a bit of a concern,” Mendoza said. “But we have just got to see what happens.”

Benge, the organization’s top position player prospect, could be the team’s starting right fielder.

The Mets have Tyrone Taylor as a backup outfield option, and Tauchman has battled for a job — potentially as the starter if Benge isn’t added to the roster.

If the Mets keep five outfielders, they would begin the season without a backup shortstop beyond Bo Bichette, who could move over from third base if needed.

Francisco Alvarez returned to the lineup after leaving Thursday’s game with back tightness.

Jonah Tong, on loan from minor league camp, allowed three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings against the Astros.

The right-hander, who began the spring in major league camp, has pitched to a 7.71 ERA in the Grapefruit League.

The Dodgers on Saturday tied the Athletics 5-5 in nine innings at Camelback Ranch to close out the Arizona portion of their spring training. What a way to make a living.

It marked the first Dodgers tie in 756 days, since February 24, 2024 against the Angels.

Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski are both ticketed for the Dodgers roster, and given that Sheehan started Saturday, he’ll be the one in the rotation at first, possibly in line to start next weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sheehan said as much after his outing on Saturday:

It hasn’t been smooth sailing at all this spring for Sheehan, who was sidelined a bit with the flu, and was forced to play catch up. His first three games were a mess, needing 149 pitches to get through his 7 1/3 innings, with as many walks (six) as strikeouts in his 38 batters faced.

Saturday provided more stability for Sheehan, who threw 80 pitches in 4 2/3 innings for his longest outing to date, with five strikeouts and a pair of walks. But even that came with some troubles in the second inning.

Colby Thomas doubled and stole third base. Henry Bolte stole second base because Sheehan’s pickoff throw to first took too long. He would have stolen third with an incredible jump had Leo DeVries not made contact and tripled him home. Rick Monday on the SportsNet LA telecast multiple times in the inning described Sheehan as falling asleep on the mound. Sheehan then wild-pitched De Vries home, capping a largely forgettable three-run frame.

De Vries singled again in the fifth inning, and Sheehan threw twice to first base, then stepped off the mound for a third time, triggering a disengagement violation. De Vries after getting balked to second base later scored. In his two years in the majors, Sheehan has only allowed four steals in eight attempts in 133 2/3 innings, so him getting caught flat-footed on Saturday was surprising.

One battle remaining

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday at Camelback Ranch that the lone position-player roster battle remaining this spring is between Hyeseong Kim and switch-hitter Alex Freeland, as the likely left-handed side of a platoon at second base, plus potential extra work around the infield.

It’s been a rough spring for Freeland, who was in an 0-for-18 skid when he hit a two-run home run on Saturday, his first home run this spring.

That was only the second hit this month for Freeland, who has five hits in 43 at-bats this spring, with a team-leading 11 walks while hitting .116/.286/.233.

Worth the wait?

Most of Jack Suwinski’s work in Dodgers camp this spring, after getting claimed off waivers on February 21, has come on the backfields and in the team facilities at Camelback Ranch. After getting sent outright to the minors and off the 40-man roster, Suwinski finally got into a game last Sunday and played a total of three Cactus League games over the last seven days. Suwinski homered in all three games, including a solo shot to dead center field.

Suwinski is tied for the Dodgers’ team lead with three home runs. He batted 11 times.

Only in spring

We’ve seen the re-entry rule exercised a few times this spring, when a starting pitcher is removed in a struggling inning to avoid running up stressful pitches, then allowed to resume pitching the following inning. That happened on Saturday, when A’s starter Jacob Lopez was taken out with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning. He pitched a scoreless second, then allowed a run and loaded the bases again in the third, this time removed for good with one out.

Both relievers — CD Pelham in the first inning, Justin Steiner in the third inning — escaped those unenviable jams unscathed, giving Lopez an otherwise impossible six bequeathed runners in one game, and none of them scored.

Up next

No more games in Arizona for the Dodgers, at least not until June 1-4 when they are back in Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks. Just three spring training games remain, with the Freeway Series against the Angels beginning in Anaheim on Sunday night (6:07 p.m.; SportsNet LA, MLB Network). Tyler Glasnow starts the opener, with George Klassen going for the Angels.