As the start of the regular season gets closer, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Scherzer dealing with thumb soreness:
Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer is dealing with a bout of soreness in his right thumb, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Manager John Schneider called the Blue Jays’ decision to scratch Scherzer from his upcoming start tomorrow is the club “just being extra careful.” Scherzer missed time in 2024 with a litany of injuries, one of which was a nerve issue in his right arm that spanned his thumb to his triceps. If this latest thumb/nerve issue proves to be more serious, Toronto could call upon right-hander Yariel Rodriguez to step into the rotation from the bullpen or carry Jake Bloss, who is currently ticketed for Triple-A, on the big league roster to open the season.
2. Red Sox, Giolito await MRI results:
The Red Sox rotation has been tried by injuries this spring, with Kutter Crawford and Brayan Bello both already poised to start the season on the injured list. It’s possible another starting pitching option will join them, as right-hander Lucas Giolito is scheduled for an MRI after leaving yesterday’s game due to hamstring tightness. If the issue is severe enough to keep Giolito off the Opening Day roster, the Red Sox have a number of viable depth options to help cover for the absence. Quinn Priester might already be lined up to take Bello’s spot already, but other options on the 40-man roster incclude Richard Fitts, Cooper Criswell, and Josh Winckowski.
3. How will the Tigers fill out their outfield?
The Tigers were expected to welcome outfielder Wenceel Perez back into the lineup today after he was sidelined by a back issue last week, but Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports that Perez is absent from today’s Grapefruit League lineup and is not expected to play. With Matt Vierling and potentially Parker Meadows both slated to start the season on the injured list, Perez has stood out as a center field option for the Tigers to open the season. If he’s also ticketed for a late start to the 2025 campaign, however, the Tigers may need to get creative in filling out their outfield mix.
Riley Greene was ticketed for everyday duties in left field but could slide over to center if needed. Kerry Carpenter could spend more time in right field rather than serving as a regular DH. Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez both have at least some outfield experience, but it seems likely the club could benefit from another outfielder joining the roster like Justyn-Henry Malloy or perhaps even non-roster invitee Jahmai Jones. If Carpenter plays more in the outfield instead of filling the DH slot in the lineup, that could also create an avenue for Spencer Torkelson to get back into the lineup after losing the first base job to Colt Keith.
Giolito already got 18M from BOS having never thrown a pitch from them. How much more is he demanding before a debut? Goodness. This man is a trojan horse.
`Made of glass.
“I’ve pulled my hamstring in my career a few times, and it feels very minor,” Giolito told reporters, per MassLive’s Sean McAdam. “That’s what (the training staff) is saying based on the initial testing. It’s just an annoying little setback, I guess.”
nesn.com/2025/03/lucas-giolito-addresses-exit-from…
How long has it been since he was an effective MLB pitcher?
Giolito had a 3.79 ERA and 131 Ks over 121 innings in 21 starts in 2023 for the White Sox in 2023. He then got traded and went through a divorce and things went downhill after that in 2023. He then got hurt in 2024 spring training after being one of the most durable pitchers in baseball from 2018 to 2023.
I guess u answered my question. 2023.
Giolito also had a pretty good run from 2019 to 2022:
2019: 3.41 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 228 Ks in 176.2 IP
2020: 3.48 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 97 Ks in 72.1 IP (shortened season)
2021: 3.53 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 201 Ks in 178.2 IP
2022: 4.90 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 177 Ks in 161.2 IP
No arguing the results from 2019 – 2022, but he’s not that pitcher anymore.
He might be if his head is cleared from his divorce and he is healthy. He was pitching very well until his wife served him divorce papers in the middle of 2023.
Too many ifs and note he’s listed as the #5 starter right now. In 2023 his ERA was a good 3.79 with the Sox then he tanked with the Angels (coming home) and then Guardians.
Yes. He tanked in 2023 after he got served divorce papers. Might be the reason why.
or not. Point is you really want to rely on this guy as a solid rotation piece when there are other question marks? It appears RS do. Good luck with that.
Thanks. The Red Sox have a lot of pitching depth and I don’t think it makes sense to write off Giolito at this point.
Not too many Pitchers that don’t have question marks. Not enough experience. Too old. Returning from injury. Numbers were down last year. Low ERA, but a high FIP. Low FIP, but a high ERA. Pitched a career high in innings last year. Hasn’t pitched more than XXX innings. But those numbers were in a pitchers park. But those numbers were in a hitters park. Can he repeat last years improvement? Was last year just a one off, or the beginning of decline?
Divorce papers?
Bean a few guys and get over it…..
Exactly, Superfife. A divorce is not an excuse. He gets paid millions to play a game he loves and I highly doubt he’s on the mound thinking, “I have to overcompensate for the divorce!” Then overthrowing and hurting himself, lol. If anything, playing got his mind off of it. Everyone is hurting themselves because they want to throw/swing 7000 mph and have the rotation on their pitches be the equivalent to the rpm’s on the space shuttle.
I shouldn’t joke about it. Divorce is no laughing matter…unless of course, you’re a banker or a lawyer….or a hot divorcee who knows a really good lawyer and a really cool banker….
I shouldn’t even talk, knowing Al Avila has been way more lucky than I have.
Divorce must be terrible….poor guy.
Think of the millions she’s gonna take him for…..
Run – Agreed!! But the Sox thought they could “fix” him after posting a 4.89 ERA with three other teams over the prior two seasons. LOLOLOL!!!
Giolito has made at least 29 starts in 6 of the 7 seasons (not counting last year) since he’s been an MLB regular and the only year he didn’t was the shortened 2020 season. Hardly screams trojan horse or made of glass
@Rsox – all starts made for not your team a few years ago. It’s a special kind of player that makes LAA give up on you, like Giolito, that traded some good prospects to acquire him. I mean, they still have Rendon!
The Angels are terrible at signing players and always fork over big money to sluggers that stop hitting when they put on the uniform. The reason they still have Rendon is because no one will take him off their hands and he’s too expensive to just realease
Most probably know all of these bad signings by the Angels…but I thought this would be a fun countdown for non Angels fans:
sportsnaut.com/mlb/mlb-analysis/lists/los-angeles-…
Yep, Blanton was terrible, Cozart was a budget Rendon and Harvey cost them badly, twice.
Vaughn did admit to using PED’s after getting injured in the opening series of the ’99 season. I wonder if he stays in Boston would his career have ended on a better, or worse note
Rsox – Worse note, much worse.
He needed to get away from the Foxy Lady.
Remember shortly before signing with the Angels he drove drunk, flipping his truck by hitting a parked car on the way home from the Foxy Lady at 2AM..
Yeah, i forgot about that.
How different could Sox history be if Vaughn had stayed and Bernie Williams took the Sox offer. There may have been no Manny or Papi, possibly no rings either
Yeah go back 6 – 7 years before he was hurt. We’re talking the present.
How many Red Sox players is it starting the season on the IL now? 5? It’s the same guys repeatedly showing up to camp too out of shape to start the season on the active roster
Troy: That’s something I don’t understand, if it’s true. If I was a major league baseball player I would treat it like a regular job. Work on conditioning, strength and flexibility, as well as working on improving my performance at my position and at the plate than a year ago. I’m sure there are players who do that. Take your millions of dollars, go on a nice two week vacation, then it’s back to work. No matter how good a season a player had, there’s always room for improvement. The only thing perfect in baseball is a perfect game.
Abreu Mayer and high ceiling low level prospect for Sandy. LFG
Guessing a joke b/c teams don’t abruptly panic and trade top young talent if a mediocre 4th starter misses time.
Acquiring alcantara is anything but a panic move and unless the marlins have lost their wits – it will cost a hefty price
Big whiffa: The one thing missing in the Alcantra conversation is, what if he doesn’t come back from tjs and is the P he used to be? I think, right now, it’s a risk.
I agree ! There is definitely risk, but that’s the case with all pitchers this day and age. He’s hit velocity numbers this spring with pitches that only 2 players in mlb accomplished last year. So I’ll def draft him in fantasy lol
Is Richard fitts a real name!?
Not enough quality starter depth to make it to the finish line.
Safe to say that Max has become rather high maintenance?
Jahmai Jones is far ahead of Perez and the others with respect to winning the Tigers’ backup outfield spot. Similarly, Andrew Navigato has outperformed other candidates (particularly Jace Jung) for either the 3B job or a utility job.
But as Hinch has shown in previous years, top ST performers often don’t win the spots…
You’re correct, Javy will be the SS, Jung will play 3B and McKinstry will be a reserve. Jones might get a shot early to fill in outfield, but there’s going to be a really good AAA team in Toledo. They have good depth finally to cover most positions, but 3B is still weak! I like Jung but if he struggles they’ll need to make a move at the deadline.
I’m sick of falling for good ST though. I guarantee that if Jones and/or Navigato make the team, they’ll suck. At least that’s how it usually goes. Jung I’m betting will get off to a horrible start too. We can only hope he settles in eventually like Keith did.
Hinch is old school, like Leyland. “If you hit, you sit.”
Agree, re Jones, he should get the CF nod if Meadows is not ready. Greene in CF for any extended period is just asking for another flukey injury.
In addition, I feel sorry for the Meadows brothers. With all due respect to Austin, his career was upended by anxiety issues. He was really good when he could get on the field. Very sad.
Now Parker has a nerve in his throwing arm that has “gone to sleep”. What? Pitchers, I can see, but how does a CF’er make his arm go numb?
Modern MLB roster construction is built for peak performance, not season-long stability.
I think that’s true. But there is also a lot of value in a guy that’ll take the ball every 5th day or the field 150+ times a season.
Had they only hired the Superfife….