• MLB.com ran an article with all of the projected beginning lineups. For instance, the writer sees the Marlins beginning Matt Mervis at first base.
MARLINS
Lineup1. Xavier Edwards, SS2. Connor Norby, 3B3. Jonah Bride, DH4. Jesús Sánchez, RF5. Dane Myers, CF6. Matt Mervis, 1B7. Otto Lopez, 2B8. Kyle Stowers, LF9. Nick Fortes, C
• One other collection in any respect the MLB.com group websites try and mission the Opening Day roster. For instance, right here is one for the Mets with Griffin Canning beginning within the rotation.
Beginning pitchers (6): Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Griffin Canning
The Mets determine to make use of a six-man rotation as a rule, particularly with continued uncertainty surrounding Senga’s well being. The primary 4 names listed here are rotation locks. Additionally within the combine are Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill, creating some probably tough camp selections. Whereas Megill and Peterson have Minor League choices remaining, Blackburn and Canning have sufficient service time to say no such an project. It’s a state of affairs to observe all through March.
American League
Astros
• Jeremy Peña is total hauling his swing to get extra energy.
Jeremy Peña, SS: Peña hit 22 house runs throughout his breakout rookie season. He’s managed 25 within the two years since, forcing an overhaul in his batting stance and swing in an effort to generate extra energy. Discovering a extra environment friendly option to raise the baseball could possibly be an important a part of his spring.
Blue Jays
• Yariel Rodríguez shall be stretched out as a starter in Spring Coaching …
The depth is spectacular, too, which we haven’t been capable of say in years. The Scherzer signing possible bumps Yariel Rodríguez right into a swingman function, however it is a good downside for the Blue Jays to have.
“Yariel will are available stretched out and compete for that fifth spot,” GM Ross Atkins mentioned. “He’ll stay depth for us, and we’ll decide about midway or three-quarters of the way in which by Spring Coaching to attempt to put our items in the very best positions to achieve success.”
… whereas Jake Bloss would be the group’s seventh starter.
Atkins was fast to say Jake Bloss, who can be the No. 7 starter should you wrote out a listing immediately, together with left-handed pitching prospect Adam Macko, who ought to begin in Triple-A. Then there’s Eric Lauer 라우어, Adam Kloffenstein and the potential that one in all Alek Manoah or Ricky Tiedemann return from their elbow surgical procedures later this summer time.
Crimson Sox
• Connor Wong seems to be stronger.
Wong seemed noticeably stronger at Fenway Fest after a winter spent “consuming so much,” as he put it, with a view to be extra sturdy behind the plate.
Royals
• Nelson Velázquez is out of choices so he’d have to stay on the MLB group or might signal elsewhere.
Velázquez, who’s out of choices, brings energy, however he solely hit .200/.274/.366 in 205 Main League at-bats final season earlier than he was optioned on the finish of June.
Tigers
• The group might go together with a 3rd base platoon with Jace Jung and Matt Vierling
Third baseman (2): Jace Jung, Matt Vierling
Till Alex Bregman indicators someplace, hypothesis on his potential match on this spot will proceed. If Bregman indicators elsewhere, nevertheless, the Tigers are anticipated to remain in-house with a platoon. Jung nonetheless qualifies as a rookie and had flashes of affect in an total mundane late-season audition, hampered partly by a proper wrist harm that required surgical procedure at season’s finish. There’s curiosity about what he can do towards large league pitching with full energy in his swing. Vierling dealt with the function nicely in his alternatives final yr.
Title: Profession OPS vs LHP, vs RHPJung: .717, .658Vierling: .720, .740
Or Vierling might take the job.
Nationwide League
Cubs
• Shota Imanaga will pitch in one of many video games in Japan.
Craig Counsell cracked a smile on Sunday when a reporter from a Japanese outlet requested if lefty Shota Imanaga would pitch one of many video games towards the Dodgers within the Tokyo Collection from March 18-19. For the reason that occasion was introduced final yr, the Cubs’ supervisor has quipped that he was most likely obligated at hand the ball to Imanaga within the opener.
“Shota’s going to pitch in Japan,” Counsell mentioned. “I believe that’s mandated, form of. I don’t assume I’ve a selection, really.”
Diamondbacks
• Randal Grichuk (vs LHP) and Pavin Smith (vs RHP) will kind a DH platoon.
Grichuk was the right-handed-hitting a part of Arizona’s designated-hitter place final yr, teaming with Joc Pederson to kind a potent duo. Grichuk slashed .291/.348/.528 with 12 house runs in 279 plate appearances final season whereas producing 2.2 bWAR, his highest mark since 2018, when he was with the Blue Jays.
Pederson signed a free-agent take care of the Rangers, and Pavin Smith appears to be the participant who will get the primary seems to be at DH towards right-handers. Grichuk will face lefties once more as DH and will additionally get some at-bats within the outfield.
“I believe there’s most likely a wholesome quantity of DHing vs. lefties,” Hazen mentioned. “He can definitely spell [Lourdes Gurriel Jr.] vs. lefties and go within the outfield if Gurriel has a day at DH or two. We’ll most likely combine and match that round and positively we all know how a lot of a weapon he was as a pinch-hitter, so there’s going to be loads of alternative for that, too.”
• Ryne Nelson is projected to NOT be a part of the group’s rotation.
Beginning pitchers (5): Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly 켈리, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt
Ryne Nelson was the group’s finest pitcher over the ultimate two months of 2024, so being not noted of the rotation would appear unfair.
Dodgers
• Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen will get the group’s most crucial outs.
Tanner Scott, LHRP: There may not have been a extra imposing reliever within the 2024 postseason, which partly explains why the Dodgers made the out-of-character resolution to offer Scott a four-year deal. He received’t be the set nearer, however will typically get essentially the most crucial outs together with Blake Treinen.
• One other report places Tanner Scott getting the majority of the group’s Saves.
Dave Roberts #Dodgers MGR simply advised us that Tanner Scott will get the brunt of the saves to start out the season
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) February 9, 2025
• MLB.com’s Sonja Chen tasks Andy Pages to start out within the outfield with Tommy Edman on the bench.
Outfielders (3): Michael Conforto, Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages
Pages confirmed promise in his rookie season, particularly towards left-handers, and he has earned an extended look in 2025. Whereas he’s able to enjoying middle area, he profiles higher in a nook, the place he may spell Conforto in left or Hernández in proper. James Outman also needs to be within the combine for what is basically the fourth outfielder spot, with Tommy Edman anticipated to see a good period of time in middle.
Bench/Utility (3): Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor
Edman has been getting ready to play each the infield and outfield, as ordinary, however will most likely be wanted extra in middle area. Rojas might probably platoon with Kim at second base or spell different infielders as wanted, and Taylor will slot again in because the group’s superutility man.
I’m not shocked with Pages projected for a .703 OPS and Edman a .358 OPS. Additionally, Edman struggles towards righties with a profession .689 OPS towards them however a .831 OPS towards lefties.
Marlins
• MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola thinks Matt Mervis will begin at first base.
First baseman (1): Matt Mervis
The 26-year-old Mervis, who was acquired from the Cubs in a commerce, is a change-of-scenery candidate. The previous high prospect dominated Minor League competitors however couldn’t discover his footing or constant enjoying time on the MLB stage (.481 OPS in 36 video games). In response to MLB Pipeline’s 2023 scouting report, Mervis “strikes nicely sufficient to play an ample first base.”
Mets
• Sean Manaea is engaged on his changeup.
Sean Manaea, LHP: Every spring, dozens of pitchers discuss engaged on their changeup. Manaea already talked about it, doing so in a video name with reporters final month after he re-signed with the Mets. However the changeup is definitely an fascinating pitch to observe in Manaea’s case. He throws it solely to right-handed batters and it improved throughout his second-half metamorphosis, changing into a put-away providing in September.
Nationals
• MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato thinks DJ Herz and Shinnosuke Ogasawar will begin the season in AAA.
Beginning pitchers (5): RHP Jake Irvin, LHP MacKenzie Gore, RHP Michael Soroka, LHP Mitchell Parker, RHP Trevor Williams
The Nationals have an abundance of beginning pitching depth heading into Spring Coaching, and this record is more likely to change all through camp. For now, this projection would have DJ Herz and Shinnosuke Ogasawara starting the season in Triple-A.
It’s loopy {that a} group would consider not beginning their second-best projected starter.
Reds
• Graham Ashcraft may transfer to the bullpen.
Graham Ashcraft, RHP — All 60 of Ashcraft’s appearances over his three seasons within the large leagues have been as a starter and he’s coming right into a camp to compete for one of many rotation spots. If the Reds’ starters are wholesome, the group has thought-about transferring Ashcraft to the bullpen this season.
• That is the primary I’ve ever seen of Spencer Steer getting platooned.
If Friedl is again to kind, that would go away the nook spots left for platoon gamers, with the right-handed hitting Steer, Austin Hays and Stuart Fairchild together with the left-handed hitting Jake Fraley and Will Benson. Righty bats Blake Dunn and Rece Hinds, and left-hander Jacob Hurtubise ought to get loads of enjoying time in Cactus League video games however are possible certain for Louisville.
I believe the writer is simply making shit up right here. Whereas Steer hits lefties (.822 OPS) higher than righties (.739 OPS) over his profession, he’s no less than league common towards righties (99 wRC+). The group didn’t platoon him final yr as seen by him enjoying in 158 video games and accumulating 656 PA.
