The Opener

With the 2025 MLB regular season now officially underway, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Tokyo Series continues:

Game 1 of the Tokyo Series is in the books. The Dodgers’ offense got to the Cubs’ bullpen after strong performances from starters Shota Imanaga (four scoreless frames) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (five innings of one-run ball). The Dodgers ultimately came away from the game with a 4-1 victory, and the Cubs will try to leave Japan with a split in Game 2 tomorrow morning. Youngster Roki Sasaki (2.35 NPB ERA in 2024) will make his MLB debut for the Dodgers, pitching opposite Cubs southpaw Justin Steele (3.07 MLB ERA in 2024). As was the case this morning, tomorrow’s game will take place at 5:10am CT (3:10am PT), and will be broadcasted nationally on FS1. Meanwhile, locals in Chicago and Los Angeles can tune into Marquee Sports Network and Sportsnet L.A. for their respective local broadcasts.

2. Freeman scratched from Game 1:

Just before the start of Game 1 this morning, the Dodgers announced that star first baseman Freddie Freeman had been scratched from the lineup due to left rib discomfort. Notably, Freeman played through a rib injury during the 2024 postseason. Freeman had previously indicated that his rib issue improved over the offseason with rest, however, and it’s unclear if today’s discomfort is related to that previous injury. The Dodgers figure to provide more details about Freeman’s status, including his availability for Game 2 of the series tomorrow, after the game. The Dodgers tabbed utilityman Enrique Hernandez to cover first base in Freeman’s absence this morning.

3. MLBTR chat today:

The regular season now officially underway, and the 28 teams that have yet to begin playing are sorting out their final roster decisions before stateside Opening Day later this month. Whether you have questions about an ongoing camp battle or a late spring trade proposal in the back of your mind, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT later today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

With regular season baseball just over the horizon, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Tokyo Series Game 1:

While it doesn’t actually occur until early tomorrow morning, by this time tomorrow the 2025 campaign will officially be underway! The Tokyo Series, a two-game set between the Dodgers and Cubs hosted at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, will kick off at 5:10am CT (3:10am PT) tomorrow morning. Early risers who want to catch the first regular season game of the year will be able to tune in on FOX tomorrow morning, while locals to Chicago and Los Angeles respectively can find the game on Marquee Sports Network and Sportsnet L.A. as per usual for in-market Cubs and Dodgers broadcasts.

Both the Cubs and Dodgers will send Japanese-born players to the mound in their home country to start Game 1, with Chicago southpaw Shota Imanaga (2.91 ERA in 2024) taking on prized Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3.00 ERA in 2024). Both clubs will be down a key piece of their middle infield for the series as well, with the Dodgers sitting star shortstop Mookie Betts due to illness while Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner has continued rehabbing from offseason flexor tendon surgery at the club’s spring facility in Arizona while the rest of the club is overseas for this week’s series. Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas are the top candidates to fill in for Betts at short with the Dodgers, while Jon Berti and Gage Workman could both be called upon to take Hoerner’s place in the Cubs lineup.

2. Strider returns to action:

Star right-hander Spencer Strider missed almost the entire 2024 regular season while rehabbing surgery an internal brace surgery on his UCL. While the right-hander will not be ready in time to make Atlanta’s Opening Day roster, he’s far enough along in his rehab to make his Grapefruit League debut in a start against the Red Sox this afternoon. Scheduled to take on left-hander Shane Drohan in a 1:05pm local time game at Atlanta’s spring facility in North Port, if Strider’s start today goes well and he continues on his current track, there now appears to be a good chance he’ll return to action ahead of schedule, perhaps missing only the regular season’s first couple of weeks.

3. Lewis undergoing testing:

Perhaps the most notable news from the weekend was the latest injury suffered by Twins third baseman Royce Lewis. The first overall pick of the 2017 draft has been plagued by frequent and lengthy absences due to injuries over the past half decade, and despite making his big league debut early in the 2022 season he has just 152 career MLB games under his belt. Lewis appeared set to finally have the first mostly normal offseason and Spring Training of his big league career this year, but unfortunately those hopes were dashed yesterday when he was pulled from the club’s game against the Red Sox due to a hamstring issue.

Lewis is set to undergo testing to determine the severity of the issue (and his timetable for return to action) today, but even a mild hamstring strain for a player with his history of lower half injuries will likely be approached with caution. While Lewis is out of commission, Jose Miranda and Willi Castro appear to be the most likely candidates to step in at third base.

As the first regular season games of the year rapidly approach, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. Tokyo Series exhibitions:

The Cubs and Dodgers are already in Japan for the Tokyo Series, where they’ll face off for a two-game set next week. While that’s still several days away, there’s still baseball to be played in the meantime. At 10pm CT tonight, the Cubs will play an exhibition game against Nippon Professional Baseball’s Hanshin Tigers. The Tigers have not yet announced who they’ll send to the mound, but the Cubs have announced that veteran reliever Julian Merryweather will kick things off for them.

The Dodgers will get in on the action tomorrow, facing the Yomiuri Giants in an overnight game that begins at 3am PT tomorrow morning. No starter has been announced for that game, though manager Dave Roberts indicated that the club plans for it to be a bullpen game. Seventeen hours later, the Dodgers will take the field again against Hanshin with Blake Snell set to start an 8pm PT game tomorrow evening. After that, it’s Chicago’s turn for an early-morning game as they’ll face Yomiuri at 5am CT Sunday morning with right-hander Jameson Taillon on the mound.

2. Spring Breakout continues:

After yesterday’s game where the Red Sox made headlines when their top three prospects (Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer) all slugged homers off of Rays pitchers, MLB’s Spring Breakout prospect showcase is set to continue. Six games are scheduled to take place today, with another four tomorrow and three more on Sunday. Top 100 prospects Nick Kurtz, Leo De Vries, Ethan Salas, Colt Emerson, Travis Bazzana, Jac Caglianone, JJ Wetherholt, Thomas White, Bubba Chandler, Aidan Miller, Jarlin Susana, and Cam Smith are among the many young, up-and-coming talents set to be part of today’s slate of games. You can find broadcast details and full rosters for all of this weekend’s showcases here, courtesy of MLB.com.

3. Cubs on the prowl for rotation depth?

Earlier this week, the Cubs were reportedly exploring the possibility of adding to their rotation. That news came as somewhat of a surprise given that Chicago has four healthy starters locked into its rotation mix and a bevy of possible fifth starter options including Colin Rea, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, and the currently injured Javier Assad. Despite that depth, they’ve reportedly been discussing a big league deal with veteran right-hander Lance Lynn, who may be a particularly interesting fit for the club given that he’s drawn some interest as a reliever and expressed a willingness to pitch out of the bullpen this season as well.

The Cubs were once again connected to right-hander Dylan Cease this week, although the Padres righty seems very unlikely to move before Opening Day at this point. Will the Cubs add another name to their depth chart before their stateside opener against the Diamondbacks later this month?

After an early morning free agent signing and a notable injury development, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Spring Breakout begins today:

MLB’s Spring Breakout prospect showcase begins today after debuting during Spring Training last year. 16 games are set to be played as part of the showcase, with all 30 clubs participating. Only two of those games are scheduled for today, however: a Grapefruit League match between the Red Sox and the Rays scheduled for 7:05pm ET, and a Cactus League game between the Dodgers and Cubs scheduled for 6:05pm PT.

The two AL clubs will square off in a star-studded game that figures to feature six top-100 prospects, including top-ten talents Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Carson Williams. Meanwhile, the NL clubs six top-100 talents of their own. Among the prospects suiting up for L.A. are left-hander Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope, both of whom were drafted by the Cubs back in 2023 but shipped to the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season as the return for first baseman Michael Busch.

2. Teams nearing decision time on Rule 5 draft picks:

Yesterday saw the Reds return their selection in this offseason’s Rule 5 Draft, infielder Cooper Bowman, back to the Athletics. The move made Bowman, 25, the first of this winter’s 15 Rule 5 selections to be sent back to his original team. It’s likely several more players will follow in Bowman’s footsteps over the coming weeks, as Rule 5 picks must be carried on their new club’s active roster for the entire season and cannot be optioned to the minor leagues. With clubs now starting to finalize their Opening Day rosters, it’s likely that at least some of the remaining 14 Rule 5 draftees will fail to break camp with their new clubs and return to their original organization.

One player who appears poised to avoid that fate, at least for the time being, is infielder Gage Workman. Workman was plucked from the Tigers by the Cubs in this offseason’s Rule 5 draft and was included on Chicago’s travel roster for the upcoming Tokyo Series, which suggests that the club plans to keep Workman in the fold at least for the time being. The White Sox, Marlins, Angels, Athletics, Nationals, Blue Jays, Rays, Twins, Braves, Padres, and Brewers all have Rule 5 draftees currently in camp, with Tampa and Atlanta each holding onto two draftees.

3. Rangers facing rotation questions:

The Rangers suffered a scare in the rotation earlier this week, as both right-hander Tyler Mahle and left-hander Cody Bradford were sent for MRI exams due to potential arm injuries. Both MRIs came back clean, but with the hurlers facing soreness in their forearm and elbow respectively and just two weeks left before the regular season begins, it’s fair to wonder if both hurlers will be back to pitching and built up enough to start the season in the club’s rotation. If either pitcher suffers a setback or the Rangers simply decide to take things slowly with even one of the two veterans, that would open the door for a youngster like Jack Leiter or Kumar Rocker to break camp with the team in the rotation.

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.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things to watch for today:

1. Tokyo Series roster decisions:

The Cubs and Dodgers are hitting pause on Spring Training and boarding planes to Japan as they prepare for next week’s Tokyo Series. The exhibition games and other festivities associated with the coming event won’t get underway for a few more days, but the clubs will need to make decisions regarding their 31-man travel roster today. A few notable decisions remain, with Patrick Mooney of The Athletic writing that either outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara or infield prospect Matt Shaw will be heading to Japan with the Cubs, but not both players. Meanwhile, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic notes that the Dodgers have a decision to make on infielder Hyeseong Kim.

Shaw, 23, figures to be the club’s starting third baseman in 2025 but may not begin his time with the club immediately after being slowed in camp by an oblique injury. Alcantara, meanwhile, is the club’s primary backup to Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field after the Cubs parted ways with Cody Bellinger, Mike Tauchman, and Alexander Canario throughout the offseason. As for Kim, Ardaya notes that the 26-year-old could start the 2025 regular season in the minors as he works to implement changes to his swing the Dodgers have worked with him on throughout the spring.

2. Garver, Mariners await x-ray results:

Mariners catcher and DH Mitch Garver exited yesterday’s game against the Brewers after being hit by a pitch. The Mariners sent Garver for x-rays on his “hand and wrist area,” and Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times notes that the club is still awaiting those results. Garver, 34, is entering the second year of a two-year, $24MM contract with Seattle and is likely to serve as the club’s primary backup to Cal Raleigh behind the plate. If Garver were to miss significant time with injury, Blake Hunt is on the Mariners’ 40-man roster and would likely be tapped to fill in as Raleigh’s backup.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

The first regular season games of the year are just a week away, though a handful of of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned and some clubs are scrambling to patch holes created by spring injuries. Whether you have a late spring trade proposal in the back of your mind or questions about your favorite club’s final roster decisions, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Cole, Yankees await second opinion.

News broke yesterday that veteran Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has been recommended for Tommy John surgery after undergoing tests on his elbow over the weekend. It’s a potentially brutal blow to the Yankees’ hopes of returning to the World Series in 2025, but nothing is set in stone just yet as Cole and the club are seeking a second opinion before making a final decision on the right-hander’s path forward. Specifically, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Cole is set to consult with noted surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache about the issue. ElAttrache is one of the country’s preeminent sports medicine figures and, notably, met with Cole about his elbow just last year during Spring Training when a bout of elbow inflammation sidelined the righty for most of the first half.

2. Mets in need of catching help:

With youngster Francisco Alvarez set to miss the next six to eight weeks due to hamate surgery, the Mets are now facing a scramble for catching help with Opening Day just over two weeks away. Backup catcher Luis Torrens figures to step into the starting role for the Mets while Alvarez is out, but the club has no other catchers on the 40-man roster with Jakson Reetz and his eight games of MLB experience standing out as the most experienced non-roster catcher in camp. The club’s lackluster internal solutions make an addition appear likely before Opening Day, with veterans Yasmani Grandal and James McCann still on the market.

3. Non-roster veterans await opportunities:

With Spring Training beginning to wind down and teams beginning to plan out their Opening Day rosters in earnest, there are a number of veterans in camp on minor league deals who will be on the outside looking in when it comes to the big league roster of their current organization. It’s likely that the majority of those veterans will opt out and return to free agency in hopes of finding a major league opportunity elsewhere, as infielder Nicky Lopez seems poised to do after being re-assigned to minor league camp yesterday. As injuries (such as the aforementioned issues faced by the Yankees and Mets) begin to pile up around the league, that could create opportunities for some non-roster veterans in camp with other clubs to get snapped up relatively quickly once they get the chance to opt out closer to Opening Day.

As the start of the regular season draws closer, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world heading into the weekend:

1. Roberts, Dodgers nearing extension?

Working out an extension with longtime manager Dave Roberts has been a clear priority for the Dodgers all offseason, and reporting yesterday indicated that the sides are not only making progress towards a deal, but that an agreement is likely to be finalized before the club’s trip to Tokyo next week. With Roberts entering the final year of his contract, getting a deal done should be a major relief for both sides. Roberts has spent all but one game of his managerial career in Los Angeles, and the partnership has certainly been very fruitful. Since Roberts first took over as manager back in 2016, the Dodgers have a sensational 851-506 record with nine consecutive playoff appearances, two World Series championships and two additional NL pennants.

2. Rodriguez being evaluated:

The Orioles are dealing with another injury scare, as manager Brandon Hyde told reporters (including Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun) that young right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is dealing with soreness in his right triceps. A more comprehensive update on Rodriguez’s status is expected sometime today after they receive test results. Word of a potential triceps issue comes just days after Rodriguez downplayed an alarming velocity drop in a spring start against the Twins, one in which he felt “sluggish” and felt as though all of his pitches were “flat,” to use his own words.

It’s a concerning situation with Opening Day just three weeks away, especially for an Orioles club that’s light on potential impact rotation talent after losing Corbin Burnes to free agency this past winter. If Rodriguez were to miss time due to the issue, the club would seem poised to utilize a quintet of Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer, and Albert Suarez in the rotation, although youngsters like Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott could also be viable depth options.

3. Walker undergoing MRI:

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) yesterday that first baseman Christian Walker was headed back to Houston yesterday in order to undergo an MRI. Walker’s been dealing with an ailing oblique in recent days, and depending on what the imaging reveals it’s possible that the veteran won’t be ready for Opening Day. That could clear playing time for last year’s first baseman Jon Singleton to return to the lineup, though third baseman Isaac Paredes and backup catcher Victor Caratini also have some level of experience at the position. Even so, the loss of Walker for significant time would be a major blow to the club given his long track record of steady work on both sides of the ball in Arizona, which convinced Houston to offer him a three-year, $60MM deal this winter.

Here are three things we’ll be watching for around baseball today:

1. Christian Walker’s oblique injury:

Christian Walker was removed from the Astros’ spring training matchup against the Cardinals on Wednesday with soreness in his left oblique (per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle). Manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Brian McTaggart of MLB.com) that the team will have more information on Walker’s injury today after the first baseman has met with team doctors. While Espada couldn’t offer many more details, it’s worth noting that he did not downplay the injury, saying: “It’s something I don’t want to see right now. I’m just hoping for the best.”

With Opening Day just three weeks away, even a mild strain could keep Walker out for the beginning of the season. The veteran missed five weeks last summer with a left oblique strain. He also missed a similar amount of time with a right oblique injury in 2021. Losing Walker for even a couple of weeks would be a tough blow for the Astros. The soon-to-be 34-year-old blossomed into one of the better first baseman in the sport in his thirties. Over the last three seasons, he has hit 95 home runs with a 120 wRC+, while winning the NL Gold Glove each year. The Astros, meanwhile, ranked last among AL teams in FanGraphs WAR at first base last season, and they are counting on Walker to change that.

2. Justin Topa to go for testing:

Twins right-hander Justin Topa exited early on Wednesday in his third outing of the spring, with manager Rocco Baldelli later telling reporters (including Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune) that Topa felt some tightness in his pitching shoulder. The skipper expressed optimism, suggesting the issue does not seem “overly serious,” but Topa, who’ll turn 34 tomorrow, will undergo testing today.

Topa did not make his MLB debut until his age-29 season in 2020, and injuries kept him from pitching more than eight innings in a season until 2023. However, he was phenomenal out of the Mariners’ bullpen that year, tossing 69 frames with a 2.61 ERA and 3.47 SIERA. Unfortunately, patellar tendinitis in his left knee limited him to just three appearances last year in his first season with the Twins. Minnesota will hope this latest setback proves to be minor and Topa can quickly return to the mound. If he can pitch anything like he did in 2023, he will make this team’s already strong bullpen even more dangerous.

3. Spring breakout rosters to be announced:

After a successful debut last March, Spring Breakout is returning for another year. The four-day event is designed to spotlight the top young talent in all 30 organizations. Every club will put together a roster of prospects to compete in a spring training showcase matchup against a team of prospects from another organization. Each of these prospect teams will play at least one Spring Breakout game from March 13-16, while the Cubs and Nationals will each play two games to account for the uneven number of clubs in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.

The rosters for all 30 teams will be announced this morning at 10:00 a.m. CT on MLB Network. Not every top prospect will take part in Spring Breakout, but much of the game’s best young talent will be on display. Last year, 71 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects participated in the event.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Walker, Cardinals await imaging results:

Cardinals youngster Jordan Walker underwent imaging on his left knee yesterday after he felt some pain during a play in the outfield yesterday, as noted by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Goold adds that more information on Walker’s situation is expected as soon as this morning. The 22-year-old was once one of the top 10 prospects in the entire sport but has struggled somewhat to this point in his big league career with a league-average .255/.317/.423 slash line in 168 big league games over the past two seasons.

Despite that middling performance so far, Walker still figures to be a key part of the future in St. Louis and is ticketed for everyday reps in right field this year. The Cardinals have options if Walker needs to miss any time. Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan can handle the outfield corners, thereby making room for both Nolan Gorman at second base with either Michael Siani or Victor Scott II in center field.

2. Garcia, Rangers await imaging results:

The Cardinals aren’t the only club awaiting imaging results on regular right fielder. The Rangers sent Adolis Garcia for an MRI due to discomfort in his left oblique yesterday. The club is already expecting Garcia to miss at least a few games due to the issue, though a specific timetable for his return likely won’t be clear until the club receives results from Garcia’s MRI.

The Rangers’ situation is further complicated the fact that fellow outfielder Wyatt Langford is also dealing with an oblique injury that has kept him out of spring games so far. If either player misses time during the regular season, Leody Taveras would likely move from a bench role back into regular center field work. Young Evan Carter can handle a corner spot, and if both Garcia and Langford were to miss Opening Day, a utility bat like Josh Smith could move to left field or the Rangers could select a non-roster veteran like Kevin Pillar.

3. Could the Royals upgrade their outfield?

Earlier this week, it was reported that the Mets and Royals discussed the possibility of a Starling Marte trade earlier this winter. Perhaps more notably, that report indicated that Kansas City has not entirely closed the door on making a deal for Marte. With a matter of weeks left until Opening Day, even the remote possibility of a notable trade is cause for some intrigue. It also stands to reason that if the Royals haven’t ruled out Marte entirely, they could yet look to the remnants of the free agent market as well. The Royals reportedly made an offer to veteran outfielder Adam Duvall, though it was declined. Other notable free agent outfielders still on the market include Alex Verdugo and David Peralta.