Location: Publix Field at Joker Merchant Field, Lakeland, FL
How to Listen: KDKA-FM 93.7
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Detroit Tigers looking to grab a win in the Grapefruit League.
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Mar 7, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jayson Tatum returns when the Celtics face the Wizards on Saturday night at TD Garden. Tatum, who made his season debut last Friday, played in three consecutive games before he sat out on Thursday night vs the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In addition, Derrick White, who missed Thursday’s game with a right knee contusion, is listed as probable on the injury report. A one-game absence likely signals the injury is not a severe one.
Jayson Tatum is AVAILABLE tomorrow vs the Wizards
Baylor Scheierman, who sprained his right ankle at the end of last night’s game, is PROBABLE.
Derrick White, who is dealing with a right knee contusion, is PROBABLE
Baylor Scheierman appeared to be in pain at the conclusion of Thursday’s game after rolling his ankle. But, like White, Scheierman is listed as probable — also a good sign when it comes to getting a better sense at how severe his ankle injury might be.
The only Celtic expected to miss Saturday’s contest is Nikola Vucevic, who has missed three straight games since fracturing his right ring finger last Friday.
How the Celtics, Wizards stack up
The Celtics and Wizards are two teams headed in complete opposite directions. The Celtics are 43-23, owners of the Eastern Conference’s second-best record. The Wizards, meanwhile, are 15-51, owners of the Eastern Conference’s second-worst record. The Celtics have the NBA’s second-best net rating at +7.8; the Wizards have the NBA’s worst net rating at -10.9.
The Wizards will be without Anthony Davis, who has yet to lace up for DC. Kyshawn George (left elbow sprain) and Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) are also out, while Sharife Cooper (right ankle/foot sprain) is questionable.
The rest of the Wizards roster — Alex Sarr (17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds), Trae Young (14.7 points, 6.7 assists), and Jaden Hardy (12.8 points) have led the way. But, the Wizards have lost 10 straight — including infamously giving up 83 points to Bam Adebayo in a loss to the Heat on Tuesday night.
The two teams have faced off twice this season (in November and in December), and both times, the Celtics walked away with blowout wins.
The Celtics are set to face the Wizards in a third and final match-up at 6pm ET on Sunday.
Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
XRayReb asks:Which pitcher and position player do you predict will make their MLB debut first?
It’s difficult to say, as the Yankees carry a loaded roster and the few interchangeable pieces are players that have already seen action at the major league level. Still, the 40-man roster is a useful tool for estimating who has the inside track to a cup of Joe when the team is in a pinch, and currently that makes our likeliest candidates Elmer Rodriguez and Spencer Jones.
Rodriguez is an easier sell, as he rose through three levels of the minors last year (though admittedly he made just one start in Triple-A). After dominating at High-A and Double-A, he’s one good half with the RailRiders away from a callup if the team is in need of starting pitching, and even though the team’s depth is strong in the rotation there’s plenty of concern about how many of them are coming off of injuries — and new ones always pop up sooner or later in the year.
Jones is a much tougher pitch, for a variety of reasons. First, he’s blocked from the majors much like Rodriguez is with Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Trent Grisham patrolling Yankee Stadium’s outfield, but unlike with the rotation it’d take a small disaster unfolding for him to see time in the majors. The organization wants him developing by playing every day, which means a backup role where he’s playing once or twice a week is out of the question, and there’s another name ahead of Jones on the depth chart with Jasson Domínguez on the outskirts as well. On top of that, Jones’ play has one glaring flaw that the team surely wants to see major improvement on before they consider calling him up.
The problem with the position player side is that nearly everyone else has made their major league debut already, either because they’re veterans and journeymen waiting for another chance or they’re prospects that got a taste of the majors but not much more. Thus, even with a couple of theoretical candidates on the board, Jones still stands as the likeliest to appear first just because of the incredible power that he can put on display, flaws and all.
ConorGallogy asks: With so many at the WBC, have any minor leaguers getting an opportunity shown more than expected?
There’s quite a number of Yankees participating in the WBC, to be sure, but it hasn’t opened up that massive a window for the organization’s prospect to take over the show. The tournament is two weeks long after all, and some players will be returning earlier as they get eliminated. One of the more unheralded names that have shined during this part of spring, however, is Max Schuemann, a third baseman with a handful of game experience in the majors with the A’s. Schuemann has appeared in 10 games this spring, hitting for a 1.036 OPS entering play on Friday, and he’s caught the eye of Aaron Boone and the coaching staff for his effort in camp. He’s not likely to appear with the team anytime soon, but his name is in the hat now should the team need depth in the infield, and that’s not something that might’ve developed as well had so many of the regular’s not been busy elsewhere.
yankobb asks: Is it just me or are the WBC celebrations become more exaggerated this time around? I know it’s always been more emotional but celebrating like you just won the championship when you push your lead from 14 runs to 15 runs seems a bit excessive.
We here at Pinstripe Alley tend to collectively side in favor of letting players express themselves on the field, and the WBC is no exception here. Quite the opposite, in fact — the unique circumstances of the tournament and the limited time with which these players have to enjoy the bonds they formed on these rosters lead to plenty of moments where the players want to erupt in celebration, regardless of the scoreboard. And since the mercy rule is in play, there’s no real threat of “overcelebrating” or anything of the sort: every run brings a team closer to walking off in a way that these players won’t get to experience once they’re back with their MLB teams.
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: The sneakers worn by Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mar 13, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
A rough first inning cost Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers dearly, as he surrendered four runs in that opening frame in the Bombers’ 7-6 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Braves on Friday afternoon at CoolToday Park in North Port. Things did get interesting in the ninth, though.
Atlanta got to the last inning up 7-1, but Tyler Hardman singled with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to plate two runs, and then Garrett Martin launched a three-run bomb to put the Yankees within one. After Ornelas’ blast, however, the Bombers couldn’t do any more damage, as Owen Cobb lined out, Jorbit Vivas struck out, and while Ernesto Martínez Jr. singled, Kenedy Corona popped out to shortstop to end the game.
The Yankees are now 13-7 in Grapefruit League play, while the Braves improved to 13-5 with their win. New York simply couldn’t touch Atlanta’s starter Didier Fuentes, who pitched three perfect innings with five strikeouts to his name. The righty debuted for the Braves last year and won’t even turn 21 until June, and since they’ll now be entering the season without the injured Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz, he certainly made his case to new skipper Walt Weiss that he should have a role on the 2026 club.
New York’s starter didn’t fare nearly as well. Mauricio Dubón welcomed Weathers to Atlanta’s spring home with a leadoff home run. Later in the first, the southpaw surrendered RBI singles to Austin Riley, Jonah Heim, and Kyle Farmer to make it 4-0 before he could complete the first three outs.
After that, Weathers settled in and threw 2.2 scoreless frames with four punchouts before being lifted in the fourth. He touched 100 mph with his four-seamer and averaged 98.4 mph, but could only get one whiff on 13 swings with the pitch.
Weathers’ sweeper, however, was on point, earning him a whopping seven whiffs on 10 swings for a 70-percent whiff rate. The changeup gave him three additional swings and misses to round out his total for the afternoon to 11. Weathers, whose spring training ERA is now at 8.68, managed to stretch out to 67 pitches. He appears to have hit a bit of a wall, but as long as his stuff and velocity keep trending up, there shouldn’t be a reason to worry about him. Barring injury, Weathers should slot in somewhere behind Max Fried and Cam Schlittler in the back end of the Yankees’ Opening Day rotation, with Will Warren and Luis Gil likely joining him.
The Yankees finally scored in the top of the fourth, when Max Schuemann doubled and crossed the plate on a Cody Bellinger single against Dylan Dodd.
That marked Bellinger’s only hit on the day, and it proved to be a quiet one for the Bombers’ more familiar contingent. Ryan McMahon (playing a clean shortstop), and outfielders Trent Grisham, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Randal Grichuk combined to go 0-for-11 with six K’s.
Although none of the members of the Yankees’ bullpen today should be on the Opening Day roster, they fared decently enough on this afternoon. Kelly Austin got Ozzie Albies to ground out and was followed by an impressive Yovanny Cruz, who touched 101.5 mph and struck out two brand names—Matt Olson and Austin Riley—in a perfect inning. From there, it got a little bumpier, as Dom Hamel allowed a couple of runs in two innings of relief, surrendering five hits and a walk while failing to record a single strikeout. Osvaldo Bido conceded the Braves’ seventh run late in the game.
The Yankees will play again on Saturday, as they return home to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to take on the Philadelphia Phillies, starting at 1:05 pm ET. Max Fried will toe the rubber for the Bombers in preparation for his Opening Day start. In the meantime, if you’re interested in World Baseball Classic action, Austin Wells and the Dominican Republic will face Korea tonight at 6:30pm ET on FS2, while Aaron Judge and Team USA will contend with Canada at 8pm ET on Fox.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 06: Jose Quintana #62 of Team Colombia pitches against against Team Puerto Rico during the first inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 06, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After recording a scoreless appearance in three innings with one strikeout and one walk in the World Baseball Classic as the captain for Colombia’s squad, new Rockies José Quintana (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is back in action today as Colorado (10-8-1) hosts the Texas Rangers (11-8) at Salt River Fields.
The Rockies will face Jabob Latz (0-0, 5.40 ERA). The Rockies lost their first showdown against Texas in Cactus League action when they fell 9-5 on Feb. 22. The Rockies will be looking to build off the momentum of their 13-2 win over Arizona on Thursday.
First Pitch: 2:10 p.m. MDT
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM KOA Rockies Radio Network (1:55 p.m. pregame)
Giants ace Logan Webb‘s dominant World Baseball Classic continued in Team USA’s 5-3 quarterfinal win over Team Canada on Friday at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Webb, making his second Team USA start, struck out five in 4 2/3 shutout innings. He allowed four hits and walked one batter in his second WBC win.
The 29-year-old put two runners on in the bottom of the first inning, but struck out Team Canada’s Owen Caissie and Abraham Toro to get out of the jam.
In the second inning, Webb allowed a one-out single and never let Edward Julien advance past first base. Team USA shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made a slick running grab to end the frame.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa let Webb start the fifth inning, but after walking one batter and recording two outs, the right-hander was approaching his pitch limit, so he was pulled from the game to a standing ovation.
“Nice,” Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters in Arizona when informed of Webb’s line from Friday’s WBC start. “Not a huge surprise there but definitely great to hear. That’s great to hear, and obviously we’ll wait a little bit until they’re done before we see him.”
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal spoke to Webb in the dugout during the seventh inning and asked him about pitching in the high-stakes game.
“Yeah, it’s a win-or-go-home type of game, playoff atmosphere,” Webb told Rosenthal. “It was awesome. I had a blast out there. It was pretty electric.”
How happy are you that you said yes to playing for @USABaseball?
In two Team USA starts, Webb has allowed just five hits and one earned run while striking out 11 in 8 2/3 innings.
With the win, Team USA advances to the World Baseball Classic semifinal, where they will face the Dominican Republic at 5 p.m. PT on Sunday at loanDepot park in Miami.
With two possible WBC games remaining, Webb isn’t expected to pitch again for Team USA. But he did his job and still has a chance to return to Giants camp in Scottsdale as a world champion.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: Mitchell Parker #70 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning at Nationals Park on September 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Nationals have made another round of cuts as Opening Day comes closer. This round involved the most notable names and saw some familiar faces get sent to the minors. It also provided some clarity on what the roster could look like. However, there are still plenty of roster spots up for grabs.
The Nationals have made the following roster moves:
Optioned to Triple-A Rochester -LHP Andrew Alvarez -LHP Jake Eder -LHP Mitchell Parker
Reassigned to Minor League camp -RHP Trevor Gott -INF Seaver King -INF Trey Lipscomb -1B Matt Mervis
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) March 13, 2026
For me, the two most notable cuts are Andrew Alvarez and Mitchell Parker. Both were vying for a rotation spot, but are going to have to start the season in the minors. Parker was honestly not a surprising cut. Despite making 59 starts over the past two seasons, it felt like he was on the outside looking in. His 2025 season was ugly after a great April, and he will now have to go back to the drawing board in Rochester.
Like a lot of Nats pitchers, I would expect Parker to cut his fastball usage. He threw his 4-seamer 55% of the time despite the pitch getting hit hard. However, I do not think his secondary pitches are as sharp as guys like Josiah Gray or Jake Irvin. That was likely a big part of why those guys had the upper hand on Parker.
The Nationals optioned Mitchell Parker to Rochester. Curious to see how his repertoire changes, if they have him use his slider more, etc.
They also optioned Andrew Alvarez and Jake Eder, and reassigned Trevor Gott, Seaver King, Trey Lipscomb and Matt Mervis to MiLB camp.
This has got to sting for Parker, who established himself as a big leaguer these past couple seasons. However, at just 26 years old, Parker has time to get his career back on track. There were times in 2024 where Parker showed serious promise. Now, he will have to get back in the lab and make some adjustments.
Andrew Alvarez getting cut this early is a bit more surprising. The 26 year old had five excellent starts in September and was throwing the ball well in camp. However, he was likely a victim of the numbers game. It is easier to cut a guy like Alvarez than it is to let go of veterans like Gray and Irvin.
I would expect to see Alvarez at some point this season and I am intrigued by him. He has excellent command and great feel for his breaking balls. The velocity is not great, but he is able to make it work. I was very impressed by his last outing against the Astros.
Andrew Alvarez (WSH) struck out five over four scoreless innings against the Astros pic.twitter.com/8ujRYG7iwC
— Pitcher List Stats (@PitcherListPLV) March 8, 2026
The other cuts were not as surprising, but Seaver King is a guy who can hold his head high. He had a really nice spring and kept up the momentum he gained in the Arizona Fall League. The former top 10 pick is likely to start the season in AA, and hopefully he can keep up the strong performances. King is a great athlete, who had a rough first season as a pro. Getting him back on track would be a big boost for the Nats.
Coming into camp, Matt Mervis had a shot at MLB playing time at first base if he had a strong spring. However, the local kid was underwhelming and will start the year in the minors. Mervis has big time power, but will have to find a way to keep the strikeouts under control.
While this gives us some clarity, there are still plenty of cuts to make. A bunch of bullpen spots are still up for grabs and none of the outfielders on the 40-man roster have been sent down yet. That means these last couple weeks of spring will be crucial for guys looking to lock down roster spots.
With a new regime in place, I am super interested to see how they put together the Opening Day roster. Will we see any surprise cuts or will they stick to the status quo? That is what we are going to find out over these next couple of weeks.
Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds called the game in the commentary box as their team called the shots on the pitch
Wrexham get the ball rolling. “There’s going to be a lot of goals,” says Rob Mac. The first rule of football commentary, Do Not Tempt Fate, recklessly kicked to touch from the get-go.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac take to the mic on Sky Sports Football. They’ve got regular presenter David Prutton alongside them during the build-up, which seems a bit of a cop out, but presumably he’ll be taking a back seat soon enough. Meanwhile, the teams are out! Wrexham in red, Swansea in white. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes. “I wish Snoop Dogg all the best in his investment in Swansea City,” begins Peter Oh. “I hope he’ll simply appreciate the beauty and atmosphere of the game rather than get caught up in statistics and metrics. Nuthin’ but an xG Thang just wouldn’t be as good as the original.”
Our NBA player prop projections are back for tonight’s primetime matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, and the model has already identified several standout opportunities.
After breaking down the data and comparing our projections with the current market lines, we’ve pinpointed the spots offering the strongest betting value.
These Timberwolves vs. Warriors predictions aren’t based on gut instinct — they’re driven by the numbers. If you’re building your betting card, these are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, March 13.
Timberwolves vs Warriors computer picks for March 13
Timberwolves
Warriors
Edwards u29.5 points -105
Podziemski o15.5 points -115
Reid o6.5 rebounds +102
Green u1.5 threes -105
Randle o4.5 assists +120
Horford o5.5 rebounds -145
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Timberwolves computer picks
Anthony Edwards Under 29.5 points (-105)
Projection: 28.0 points
Although Anthony Edwards has only gone Under his 29.5-point line in four of the last 10 games, the matchup still presents challenges.
Opposing starting shooting guards have been held to just 38.4% shooting from the field against the Golden State Warriors — the second-lowest mark allowed in the league — making this a difficult spot for the Minnesota Timberwolves star to erupt offensively.
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Naz Reid Over 6.5 rebounds (+102)
Projection: 6.6 rebounds
The Timberwolves have played at the ninth-fastest pace in the league over their last 25 road games, a tempo that could boost rebounding opportunities for Naz Reid.
Reid has cleared his 6.5-rebound line in four of his last 10 games and could benefit from the increased possessions in this matchup.
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Julius Randle Over 4.5 assists (+120)
Projection: 4.6 assists
Julius Randle has only cleared the 4.5-rebound line in three of his last 10, but tonight’s matchup presents a much more favorable environment for him to get back on the glass.
One key factor is the style of this Warriors offense. Golden State relies heavily on perimeter shooting and high-volume 3-point attempts, which naturally creates long rebound opportunities.
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Warriors computer picks
Brandin Podziemski Over 15.5 points (-115)
Projection: 16.3 points
Brandin Podziemski has averaged 17.6 points per game over his last five contests, which is 5.0 points higher than his season average.
That scoring bump could continue against the Timberwolves, who have played at the ninth-fastest road pace in the NBA over their last 25 games.
The uptick in tempo should lead to more possessions for the Warriors, giving Podziemski additional opportunities to stay aggressive offensively.
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Draymond Green Under 1.5 threes (-105)
Projection: 1.4 threes
The matchup with the Timberwolves isn’t an ideal one for perimeter shooting. Opposing starting power forwards are attempting just 3.6 threes per game against Minnesota this season — the third-fewest in the league.
That trend could limit opportunities from deep for Draymond Green of the Warriors, especially after he’s already gone Under his 1.5 made threes line in six of his last 10 games.
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Al Horford Over 5.5 rebounds (-145)
Projection: 6.0 rebounds
The Warriors should see an increase in possessions against the Timberwolves.
Golden State has also been the league’s top offensive-rebounding team over the last 10 games, a trend that could benefit Al Horford, who's cleared his 5.5 rebound line in six of his last 10 games.
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How to watch Timberwolves vs Warriors tonight
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Friday, March 13, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime
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With nine games to go, we assess the Premier League teams behind Arsenal and Manchester City who are most likely to fill the remaining berths
Reasons for optimism: Michael Carrick recently professed himself as “definitely a glass half-full” manager so the interim surely looks at the final nine games and sees a huge opportunity. Particularly positive here are the fixtures with Aston Villa (Sunday), Chelsea (18 April) and Liverpool (2 May): three chances for Manchester United to seriously damage the Champions League qualification prospects of the three teams currently directly below them and enhance their own. Carrick’s men are third but only three points above Liverpool in sixth and, with fifth probably enough for a Champions League berth, beating even one of the three would be a big boost to hopes – provided results are rosy in United’s other fixtures.
There’s now less than two weeks to go until Opening Day, and things are definitely beginning to come into focus. We’ve lost our Opening Day starter, with Merrill Kelly’s nervous back ruling him out for that role. However, he started today’s game. Let’s start off with that section of the roster in more detail, shall we?
Starting rotation
Zac Gallen ($22m)
Brandon Pfaadt ($3.4m)
Ryne Nelson ($3m)
Eduardo Rodriguez ($21m)
Michael Soroka ($7.5m)
No changes in personnel here, but a move of Soroka back from the bullpen is in order, due to the Kelly situation hinted at above. It’s uncertain when Merrill will be considered adequately stretched out in order to return to the rotation: that should become closer as we move towards Opening Day. It may not require a stay on the 10-day injured list, but I suspect it will. The D-backs do not need a fifth starter until their ninth game on Saturday April 4. This is due to the (weird) off-day the first Sunday of the season. However, if the team IL Kelly on Opening Day, and backdate this the maximum permitted three days he wouldn’t be able to come off until April 7.
Alternatively, they could keep the rotation on point, and use Soroka for spot starts on March 31st and April 5th. Or not IL Kelly at all: there’s a case to be made that four innings of Kelly is better than no innings at all. Or, if you’re feeling less charitable, better than four innings of Soroka. That pair could just piggy-back when needed for a start or, at worst, two. We’ll likely know more as we see how long Kelly pitches in his upcoming Cactus League outings, which would be March 18 and 23, if he maintains a normal five-day rotation. It’s all uncertain for now.
Gallen has been anointed as Opening Day starter, his fourth consecutive year in the role. Though both this year and last, he backed into the role after the original candidate was unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. After him, Jack has mapped out the most likely order. Pfaadt, for example, has been pitching the day after Gallen this spring, so it make sense he’ll follow him once the regular season starts. Things thereafter do become a little more flexible, and the World Baseball Classic also affected things, with uncertainty around Eduardo Rodriguez
Bullpen
Ryan Thompson ($3.95m)
Kevin Ginkel ($2.725m)
Taylor Clarke ($1.55m)
Kade Stroud
Paul Sewald ($1.5m)
Jonathan Loáisiga
Brandyn Garcia
Andrew Hoffmann
Moving Soroka into the rotation opens a spot in the bullpen. Albeit probably a relatively short-term one. but it’s not a major issue, since the like of Stroud, Garcia and Hoffman all have minor league options available, when Soroka goes back to long relief. I’m no longer convinced that Drey Jameson will crack the roster. While his velo has been up, he has had his struggles this spring (an 8.44 ERA, on eight hits and five walks over 5.1 IP). Oddly, it seems like the team has been stretching him out a little, with his more recent spring outing lasting thirty pitches. He only reached that figure in one of his 19 appearances last year. May be significant, may not.
Garcia is still my pick for the left-handers spot, but had a bit of a blow-up yesterday, to put it mildly. Until then both he and Philip Abner had put up decent numbers in spring. Abner has allowed one run over six innings, on three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. Garcia had given up no runs over 4 IP, with a K:BB of 5:1. But Thursday’s rough outing (BB, HBP, 1B, HBP, BB – 26 pitches without recording an out) was definitely a concern, and his ERA went from zero to 11.25. The pessimist in me is predicting an elbow specialist in his future, naturally. Even if that isn’t the case, the door is certainly still open for Abner.
It’s possible the team could go with both, if Torey Lovullo wants two lefties. But I like the chances of Hoffmann, who has had an excellent spring. He has allowed one run over 4.2 innings on four hits, with a K:BB of 7:1. If he sustains that over the remaining couple of weeks, he could fill the final spot. It would, however, perhaps be between him and Stroud for who gets the short-stay token, and goes down to Reno when it is time for Merrill Kelly to rejoin the rotation, pushing Soroka down.
Starting line-up
Catcher: Gabriel Moreno ($2.55m)
First base: Carlos Santana ($2m)
Second base: Ketel Marte ($15m)
Shortstop: Geraldo Perdomo ($6.25m)
Third-base: Nolan Arenado ($5m)
Left field: Alek Thomas ($1.96m)
Center field: Jordan Lawlar
Right field: Corbin Carroll (10.635m)
Designated hitter: Pavin Smith ($2.25m)
The good news about Carroll has certainly made a tricky situation in the outfield a lot more bearable. He didn’t just make it back in time for Opening Day, he did so with two weeks to spare. That should give him plenty of time to get ramped up, and there are backfield opportunities should more at-bats be needed. Lawlar has also played encouragingly well this spring. He has a .323 average and 1.174 OPS going into play this afternoon, while not embarrassing himself in center [despite the near miss the other day]. We haven’t seem much of Thomas, due to the WBC, but with Mexico now eliminated, he should be back in camp.
This has all removed the need for Ryan Waldschmidt to be rushed out of the majors for Opening Day. While we may still see him in 2026, service time elements – not just direct years, but a desire to avoid potential Super 2 status – will become a factor. While he played well enough, I’m fine with letting him mature in Reno for a bit. His time will come, and it may not be far off. Elsewhere on the diamond, things are progressing as expected. Nobody has got hurt, and nobody has done much in terms of performance – either to play their way out of a starting spot or into one.
Bench
James McCann ($2.75m)
Tim Tawa
Jorge Barrosa
Ildemaro Vargas
The supposed deal for a utility player discussed last time still has been notable by its absence, but the need still seems to be there. However, every day which passes makes it seem more likely the team is going to be comfortable going with the quartet above, or something close to it. I’m a lot happier with Barrosa as a fourth outfielder than I was when it seemed like he might become an everyday left-fielder. With him being out of options, it will get a little tricky when Lourdes Gurriel comes back and a spot needs to be found. What happens may depend on how Lawlar fares in center: he does still have a minor-league option left, if needed.
Meanwhile, Vargas comes into play today batting .345, though has yet to take a walk. I suspect that batting average is not sustainable, but he really isn’t going to be on the roster for his bat. What Vargas does have, is over 100 MLB innings at each infield position, as well as in left-field, so he offers a lot of positional flexibility and experience. Between him, Tawa and Barrosa (plus, in a pitch, Pavin Smith can play the outfield – albeit for some loose definition of “play”), I feel like the D-backs have adequate coverage around the diamond.
MIAMI, Florida — World Baseball Classic pool play wrapped up on Wednesday night with one of the most exciting games of the tournament to date as the Dominican Republic beat Venezuela 7-5 in Miami. There were a lot of great moments like this epic Fernando Tatis Jr. blast:
Juan Soto, also playing for the Dominican Republic, described it as the perfect bat flip. I must say I agree, honestly the whole show from bat flip to the slow, exaggerated trot around the bases was a 10/10 no notes type of performance. Don’t believe me, take a look at the reaction in Santo Domingo:
Last night in Santo Domingo’s Malecón 🇩🇴, thousands watching 🇻🇪 vs 🇩🇴 on a big screen by the ocean.
It’s going to be exceedingly difficult for anyone to top the caliber of play the Dominicans are bringing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but I have to believe the Contrerii playing for Venezuela, the Boricua led by Yadi Molina who will be making their debut in Houston tonight, and Japan, anchored by Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki and the one and only Shohei Ohtani will give it a go as they make their debut against Venezuela in Miami on Saturday.
It’s going to be a blast.
As much as my heart is shattered that Mexico missed the elimination rounds, I can’t take anything away from the incredible showing Italy and their espresso machine have put on so far this tournament. You can see the whole bracket below:
On paper this is a mismatch with a stacked Dominican team featuring a Latino murderers row of hitters that would strike fear in the hearts of the 1927 Yankees. Tatis & Soto are joined by Junior Caminero, Manny Machado, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Oneil Cruz, Julio Rodríguez y mas. Just look at this swagger:
Juan Soto, Ketel Marte, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. all homer as Team Dominican Republic secures the top seed in Pool D! 🇩🇴 pic.twitter.com/rIw4CCBYrE
Oh, did I mention they can pitch? They can pitch. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara heads up a pitching roster that includes Red Sox starter Brayan Bello and at least four guys with MLB closing experience in Dennis Santana, Seranthony Domínguez, Camilo Doval, Carlos Estévez, Gregory Soto and Abner Uribe. Don’t fall behind against La República Dominicana.
But the beauty of a single elimination baseball tournament is that on any given day anyone can win, just ask Mark DeRosa and Team USA. Korea qualified for the elimination rounds for the first time in four tournaments. Former MLB pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu will toe the rubber for Korea tonight in Miami.
The Kings in the North: Canada vs. USA
Later tonight in Houston, a scrappy Canadian team will hope to repeat Italy’s performance and stun a stacked US team that ranks second in the ESPN power rankings. The Canadians are coming off a surprise win against team Puerto Rico in San Juan (admittedly, on a night where Puerto Rico’s manager Molina was resting many of his regulars after clinching a spot in the elimination rounds). The Americans are coming off a surprise loss against team Italy in Houston (admittedly on a night where USA manager Mark DeRosa maybe thought he clinched when he hadn’t but says he knew he hadn’t?).
Pete Crow-Armstrong was the star in a losing effort against Italy, but has generally been backing up Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton. Lineups are not out yet, but keep an eye out to see if PCA is in the game or on the bench.
The Canadians will have Giants ace Logan Webb on the mound while the Americans will counter with former Cub Michael Soroka. Keep an eye on left field where former Cub Owen Caissie has been starting for Canada.
Not gonna miss their shot: Puerto Rico vs. Italy
The middle of the bracket features two teams with MLB regulars and a few lineup flaws. Puerto Rico is without some of their heaviest hitters, but had a strong second place finish in San Juan. They’ll look for a strong outing from staring pitcher Seth Lugo, who’ll likely partner with defensive catcher extraordinaire Martín Maldonado behind the plate. Manager Yadi (mi favorito Yadi) will look for strong offensive performances from Nolan Arenado, Heliot Ramos and walkoff hero Darrel Hernaiz:
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 8, 2026
The Italians will hope their espresso-powered vibes and young electric bats like Jac Caglionne, Vinnie Pasquantino and Jakob Marsee, along with former Cubs Jon Berti and Miles Mastrobuoni, can score enough runs to make up for their lack of deep pitching. They’ll send Sam Aldegheri or Michael Lorenzan to the mound Saturday afternoon in Houston.
A League of Their Own: Japan vs. Venezuela
Japan will send the greatest baseball player on the planet, Shohei Ohtani, and Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki to anchor their offense with pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yusei Kikuchi into their debut in Miami hoping to start yet one more run to the World Baseball Classic Championship. There will be incredible cheers, there will be vibes. There will be Ohtani:
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 6, 2026
Ohtani may be a unicorn but these are evenly matched teams with Venezuela countering Yamamoto with the pitching prowess of Ranger Suárez, backed up by a fierce offense featuring Ronald Acuña Jr., catching legend Salvador Perez and my favorite Contreras brothers for the nightcap on Saturday in Miami.
It’s a fascinating matchup with both teams offering star-studded MLB rosters, including All Star pitching.
There will be a game thread for tonight’s two games here at 5 p.m. CT.
Timberwolves
Warriors
