3/18-3/19 MLB Spring Training Updates

American League

East 

• Blue Jays: While there’s no structural damage, relievers Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson are both dealing with right arm injuries and are in jeopardy of missing a few days to start the season.
  

• Orioles: Jackson Holliday hits another homer and hustles a ground ball into a single as he fights to make the Opening Day roster. 🤩 
  

• Rays: After a strong first season in Tampa, Zach Eflin gets the nod for Opening Day.
  

• Red Sox: Brayan Bello, who gets the Opening Day start, was surprised to learn he had won the opportunity. He’ll be the fourth youngest Opening Day starting pitcher for the Sox.
  

• Yankees: After a strong 5.2 IP, Carlos Rodón, Yankees Manager… Joe Torre comes out to give the ball to the bullpen.

Central

• Guardians: Shane Bieber will tie the Guardians franchise record with his fifth straight Opening Day start. 🥇 
  

• Royals: Fourth overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, Asa Lacy, underwent Tommy John surgery.
  

• Tigers: A.J. Hinch says it’s still a tight race for the third base position.
  

• Twins: Jhoan Duran is placed on the 15-day IL, and a recent addition from the Jorge Polanco trade, Anthony DeSclafani, might need elbow surgery.

• White Sox: Garrett Crochet will start Opening Day, becoming just the ninth pitcher to make his first career start on Opening Day.

West

• Angels: Aaron Hicks went 2-2 with a no-doubt homer, two RBIs, two walks, and two stolen bases yesterday.
  

• Astros: José Urquidy received an MRI and has no visible damage. He’ll be able to begin throwing in 10-15 days.
  

• Athletics: Offseason acquisition Alex Wood gets his first Opening Day start in his 11-year career.
  

• Mariners: This offense has been red hot, scoring 56 runs in their last seven games. 🔥 
  

• Rangers: Adolis García continues to focus on laying off the high fastball.

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National League

East

• Braves: After Max Fried started the last three Opening Days, Spencer Strider gets the nod to start this season.
  

• Marlins: Jazz Chisholm Jr. has some strong feelings about prior player leadership in the dugout.
  

• Mets: Francisco Alvarez guns down his eighth would-be base stealer of the spring. 🚀 
  

• Nationals: Expect the young, talented prospects to shift around for a bit as they carve out their positions.
  

• Phillies: With Johan Rojas struggling at the plate this spring, the Phils have a harder decision to make in center field to start the season.

Central

• Brewers: Jackson Chourio makes the Opening Day roster and has a chance to be the youngest centerfielder to start the season since Ken Griffey Jr.
  

• Cardinals: Despite a 10.80 ERA this spring, Kyle Gibson isn’t worried about the upcoming season.
  

• Cubs: Patrick Wisdom was scratched from the lineup on Tuesday with back stiffness putting his Opening Day status in jeopardy.
  

• Pirates: Oneil Cruz goes yard twice on Monday. Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before, but you’ll want all the Oneil Cruz you can get this year. 📈 
  

• Reds: Jon Morosi of MLB Network calls this the best pitching rotation in the NL Central and suggests you learn their names sooner rather than later.

West

• Diamondbacks: Eduardo Rodriguez leaves yesterday’s game after throwing a scoreless first inning due to left lat tightness. 😬 

• Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow was the seventh Dodger to make his debut as an Opening Day starting pitcher. Dodgers win game 1 of the regular season.
  

• Giants: Blake Snell signs a 2-year, $62M deal, which includes an opt-out after year one. This will be just the seventh time two pitchers who finished top two in Cy Young voting the prior season will be on the same team.
  

• Padres: Xander Bogaerts is one of three players who recorded a hit in five countries. If he can hit a home run this series, he’d be the first to homer in five countries.
  

• Rockies: Kyle Freeland gets the Opening Day nod for the third time in a row.

🥔 Today’s Tater

Colton Cowser crushes the baseball as he goes 463ft to dead center for his fifth homer of the spring.

This new camera angle previewed during the Seoul Series this morning blew my mind.

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