Spring Training has arrived and as I’ve been writing daily notes for myself to recap all spring training starting pitchers for the Plus Pitch Podcast, I realized I should publish them on the site for quick access.
I’ll be livestreaming every weekday morning 10am-12pm ET at Twitch.tv/pitcherlist, as I watch all of the starts with y’all and answer all your fantasy baseball questions.
Major SP News To Know
In unsurprising news, Troy Melton will miss opening day after meeting with a doctor who recommended extended rest. A terrible sign for his 2026 season.
We haven’t seen Bailey Ober in a spring start, and it’s not due to injury, according to Aaron Gleeman, but instead a larger focus on his mechanics. He’s a potential sleeper if he can get his velocity back to 92+ mph while featuring his old four-seamer command upstairs.
Mark next Tuesday on your calendars – it’ll be the spring debut of Shane McClanahan who hasn’t pitched in the regular season since 2023. He threw two frames of live batting practice on Thursday and I’d expect at least two on Tuesday.
Expected Rotations By Team
On TV
BAL vs. DET
PIT vs. MIN
PHI vs. WSH
NYY vs. ATL
TOR vs. MIA
LAD vs. CWS
SEA vs. CLE
Dean Kremer (BAL) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Kremer had an off-season focusing on his extension, jumping from 6.0 feet to 6.5 feet across everything – that’s great! – but he’s a little down in velo and everything else is meh. I wonder if the velo can climb as he stretches out with the extension gains…? 0/47 whiffs is pretty telling that he’s not where he wants to be.
Trey Gibson (BAL) – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K. What am I missing about Gibson that has everyone in on him? My favorite part about him is his seven feet of extension, but he throws 92 mph with deadzone movement. Yikes. His best offerings are his secondaries – an 88 mph cutter with 10″ vert but proper action at -3″ cut, an 85 mph gyro slider with a little extra depth, and an 80/81 mph curve that could be a weapon against LHB if he spots it well. It doesn’t seem like enough for fantasy managers to pick him up if he gets the call this year.
Keider Montero (DET) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 0 K. He has a new cutter, but in reality, I think it’s a new curve that’s being called his old slider, and the old slider is the new cutter. Either way, I’m happy he’s trying something new, and get this – 96.8 mph velocity. He sat 94 mph last season, y’all. But he didn’t perform well. Yeaaaah. I know. He’s also the SP #6 on this team with Melton down and if that velocity holds + the breaker gets whiffs like it did last year, then Montero could be kinda interesting. I wish it weren’t Empty Velocity though.
José Urquidy (PIT) – 1.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K. His four-seamer is bonkers. 20″ of vert with nearly 11″ of horizontal is kinda wild, even with his arm angle. He faced mostly LHB, which brought out the changeup that he didn’t have the greatest feel for, but was still a strong pitch, with nearly two inches more ride than last year. Expect the cutter/slider to appear when he faces RHB and I think Urquidy could be a surprising SP #5 for the Pirates.
Wilber Dotel (PIT) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 K. He hurls 97/98 mph, which is sadly Empty Velocity, explaining the 1/20 whiffs despite 70% strikes. I like the hard 88/89 mph slider and hate the feel for his changeup, but he really doesn’t know where it’s going most of the time. Don’t do this.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Velo is at 92 mph (blegh), but he’s still using the splitter and that’s cool. I’m paying attention and curious what version we have of SWR through March.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) – 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K. The slider and cutter ate batters alive (8/29 whiffs, four apiece) and he’s getting 17″ of vert on the four-seamer, though I still question if he has the command in the zone we want, especially against LHB. He’s still a HIPSTER.
Taijuan Walker (PHI) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K. So, uh, where’s the cutter? You know, the pitch that made you get through the entire 2025 season. Seriously, where is it and why are you throwing 91 mph sliders instead? THIS MAKES NO SENSE.
Jake Eder (WSH) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K. It feels like the Nationals are pushing for Eder to be in the rotation and I don’t see anything for us to latch onto.
Elmer Rodríguez (NYY) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K. I’m not super impressed by ERC. The slider’s 83 mph velocity is really a sweeper at -12″ and that’s fine, with good command of the pitch to RHB, and the changeup’s 2″ of vert to LHB was stellar, returning 4/10 whiffs. That’s all lovely. The four-seamer is highly suspect at 95 mph with terrible movement and mid extension, while the 16″ of horizontal on his sinker (and 4″ vert, which is cool) is saved for RHB and he doesn’t get it inside all the time. Are the sweeper and changeup enough to cover for the mid fastballs? Does this actually work in the majors or is he just a slightly better Toby? I’m not jumping on this one for now, but then again, I’m judging him on three innings of spring training…
Cade Winquest (NYY) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K. He has two fastballs at 95mph – a cut four-seamer at 15/16″ of vert + a 5″ vert sinker and 13/14″ of ride. That’s a massive difference in movement and I wish he had a little more extension (6.5 = mid) that would amplify its effects. Still, pairing them together could work well if he has command. I don’t love the secondaries, too. There’s really just one – a 78 mph two-plane curve (-12+ drop and sweep), which needs to have Nola’s feel for it to be a true weapon. I’m looking forward to seeing more.
Carlos Carrasco (ATL) – 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Atlanta may be in another situation of finding innings anywhere with Wladrep and Schwellenbach already out, but it doesn’t look like it should be Carrasco, like it was for a moment last year.
Elieser Hernández (ATL) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K. There’s a name you may not remember. The slide piece isn’t what it used to be, but at least he has 17/18″ of vert. I don’t think this will work out.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K. Nothing new, just a little lower velo than we’d expect. Move along.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K. The changeup has depth and he’s at 93 mph with a fantastic 89 mph cutter with 3″/-3″ movement. Great to see him low down in the zone, too, though the four-seamers could be a little better. Feeling okay about this for now, assuming he ramps up well.
Ryan Gusto (MIA) – 1.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Despite throwing six pitches at least three times, there’s nothing impressive to report. He’s not the guy.
Thomas White (MIA) – 1.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K. I’ve heard a lot of hype for White, but why? What is the exceptional part of his game? 95/96 mph four-seamers are Empty Velocity with just 15″ vert, little cut, and average extension. The slider is 85/86 mph and is decent, and oh. The sweeper is legit as a two-plane curve at about 85 mph. So the whole love is about this breaking ball and getting away with his heater because of its velocity. Well, there’s a 3″ vert changeup, too. Sure. So the hope is he’s a SWATCH with a legit sweeper for LHB. Okay, I guess that makes more sense, but I still don’t love it. And because he’s on the Marlins, of course there’s no sinker to LHB. What a crime that would be.
Tyler Glasnow (LAD) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Aces gonna ace. The slider feel is still a little wonky, but it may be different as he’s upped its velo 1-2 ticks (nothing else that much) at the cost of three inches of depth. That’s fine with me – it’s enough separation from the four-seamer – but he bounced a pair and struggled to actually find the zone with it. Give it a moment. At the very least, he’s pitching normally and that’s dope.
Ben Casparius (LAD) – 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K. The sweeper is still dope at 86 mph, the four-seamer is 96 mph at 17-18″ of vert with cut action, a changeup had fantastic separation from the four-seamer (that was terrible, inside to LHB), and I just want him to get a job elsewhere at this point. After just 12 pitches here, I imagine he’s not in this rotation.
Sean Newcomb (CWS) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K. He may ultimately get the job in Chicago, but he’s not giving us anything interesting here.
Bryce Miller (SEA) – 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Oh look, it’s 97+ mph from Bryce. Across 21 pitches, sure, and he was around 96 mph by the end, but that’s two ticks up after a season of pitching hurt. He didn’t get surgery. Very fair. He’s also throwing dope curveballs at 24% usage and has all the tools he needs to have a phenomenal season. Here’s to velo sticking throughout the spring.
Cooper Criswell (SEA) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K. Just remember, he exists in Seattle for a reason. He could find some rare starts here and there and be shockingly decent with the negative vert on his sinker and changeup.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) – 1.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K. It’s the same Cantillo, with great curveball feel, a poor slider command to LHB, an excellent changeup, elite extension, and 92 mph four-seamers that need a little more help.
Not on TV
HOU vs. NYM
STL vs. HOU
BOS vs. TB
CIN vs. SD
SF vs. COL
ATH vs. TEX
TEX vs. MIL
LAA vs. CHC
AZ vs. KC
Tatsuya Imai (HOU) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K. He’s here! And threw 10 pitches! Super short extension is awfully annoying at sub 6″ (yikes) and I wonder if he mixed sinkers with four-seamers that are mislabeled. The splitter and slider moved similarly to the sinker and it wasn’t a clear picture of who this guy is yet, especially at 93/94 mph. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this was pretty dang mid. Just 10 pitches. Let’s wait.
AJ Blubaugh (HOU) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 2 K. 18″ of vert on the four-seamer at 94/95 mph is still the main focus for BlueBagh, and I wish he threw a harder cutter than this one at 86 mph. The slowball comes in at the same speed with vicious 4″ drop (14 inches off the four-seamer) and I’d expect him to lean on it against both LHB and RHB. Maybe the cutter or sweeper is enough for him to be solid SP when the Astros need him this year.
Ryan Weiss (HOU) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K. It’s Weiss! And look at this, I thought he may be sinker/slider, but nope, he’s 93/94 mph with 17/18″ of vert! And a massive kick-changeup underneath + an 82 mph sweeper that pairs well with the four-seamer. This absolutely can work, I just need to see a little more to believe he can throw enough strikes with everything. I’d be shocked if he didn’t start out of the gate after tossing 32 pitches.
Nolan McLean (NYM) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 K. You’re drooling. Stop that. Only if you do too. Touché. McLean’s sinker sat 1-2 ticks up with 3″ extra horizontal to a whopping 19″, though it gained 3″ of vert in the process (not what we want. Now 5″+ instead of ~2″) and his sweeper’s 85/96 mph velocity with -15″ of sweeper is hot Hot HOT. It actually got 2/6 RHB whiffs! I still worry about his four-seamer command to LHB and the new cutter may be a solution, especially at a whopping 94/95 mph clip, which is just dumb. It had 19″ of separation from his sinker at just two ticks less velocity. Okay, I may be pushing him up my draft board. This was through 56 pitches, after all. I’ll wait for one more start of them same. Or two. But yeah, I think I’m too low.
Robert Stock (NYM) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 6 K. I love the guy and I’m super happy for him. He still wants to be more efficient and seeing him comfortably sit upper 90s (was 100 in Dominican league?!) sure makes it seem like the Mets have a bullpen piece. Awesome.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K. He’s working on the changeup to RHB and I love that. I really want Liberatore to become a SWATCH and nearly 30% slowballs is the only way it’ll happen. And look at this, 5/14 whiffs on the pitch! He also had 95 mph on his cut four-seamer for the game, we love that. I’m paying attention.
Colton Gordon (HOU) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K. He’s fighting for a rotation spot and was a tick down with less movement on the sweeper and four-seamer. Nope, not the guy you want.
Miguel Ullola (HOU) – 1.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K. Man, I love the 20″ of vert at near seven feet of extension, but at 92 mph? And poor secondaries underneath? And wonky command? Womp womp. He’s not ready.
Garrett Crochet (BOS) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K. Aces gonna ace with a new splitter that’s pretty dope, but he just missed the zone with it. Nothing but love here.
Payton Tolle (BOS) – 1.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 K. Yes, he still has a stupid good four-seamer with 99th percentile extension and 17″ vert at 97 mph. And look at this, he threw 30% cutters! For 70% strikes! Then why did he get two whiffs total and none on the cutter? Well, because they landed well over the plate. He’s figuring it out y’all, give it some time. The fact that he’s actually throwing the pitch is awesome. It has the same movement as last year. Yeah, that’s a little disheartening, but hey! He has a sinker now, too! 21% usage to LHB at -16″ ride! Intent for inside! These are good things.
Steven Matz (TB) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Expect him to start for the Rays after 30 pitches thrown here. He tried out the slider in this one, tossing four after averaging roughly 1 per 100 thrown last year. I don’t hate it for him and if it means he has a better weapon to deal with LHB (zero faced in this), then I could be interested.
Chase Burns (CIN) – 2.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K. Yep, he’s still dope. 14/48 whiffs on the day, eight on the slider, and five on the heater + one more on the changeup. I love that he went for it and experimented with it for 16% usage against LHB, but I was hoping for a little more than that in the spring. It’s not the best slowball, but at 7 mph difference and 9″ more drop than the four-seamer, it’ll do its job if he can get it close. And yes, the command to RHB is still absolutely bonkers.
Chase Petty (CIN) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K. I wish his sinker and four-seamer had better movement at 95-97 mph. The 90 mph slider is good – not absurd – and there’s nothing else. Strikes are still an issue, too, especially with the slider. Sigh.
Connor Phillips (CIN) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Boy, that four-seamer is Empty Velocity. Fortunately, he displayed three legit 86 mph sweepers at -16″ horizontal, but I worry about the overall command and deadzone movement at just 6.2 extension.
Nick Pivetta (SD) – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K. Pivetta looked pretty normal here, save for a tough time landing his sinker and sweeper. Cool to see the splitter and cutter, too, with the latter appearing at 91 mph velocity. All good.
Blade Tidwell (SF) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K. It wasn’t the best look at Tidwell, who mostly went four-seamer sweeper regardless of handedness. He needs that extra something to become a dude and I’m not jumping on the train yet.
Hayden Birdsong (SF) – 1.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Command is still awfully weird. Finding a game where Birdsong executes is like searching for a needle in a Hayden stack.
Jack Perkins (ATH) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Cool to see Perkins and two frames to start a game this early in the spring showcase his potential for a rotation spot. I don’t find his arsenal too appealing, though.
Cal Quantrill (TEX) – 2.2 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 1 K. This isn’t going to work out. 1-2 ticks down from a pitcher vying for a rotation spot is no bueno.
Kumar Rocker (TEX) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 K. The cutter was his best pitch last year, so obviously Rocker threw zero of them. He went 53% sliders at 83/84 mph that have a little more depth than a gyro. I. Don’t. Understand. Latz should have the #5 spot.
David Davalillo (TEX) – 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K. Here I was, thinking Daviallo could be something fun and…Oh, wait. The data is wrong. They combined his four-seamer and sinker. The sinker is actually 16-18″ of horizontal, while the four-seamer should just never be touched, and that at least makes a little more sense, but I’m not seeing a phenomenal arm here. Welp, nevermind.
Aaron Ashby (MIL) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K. They gave him two frames! And he’s worse than he was as a reliever. Which wasn’t as great as you want. Sigh.
DL Hall (MIL) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K. There isn’t anything to report here. He’ll be a reliever again.
José Soriano (LAA) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K. It’s the same Soriano, with an extra tick of velocity to 99 mph, which may be due to the shorter stint, but he’s already at 59 pitches. Sadly, the defense is going to be suspect behind him and I can’t endorse the fella.
Chase Silseth (LAA) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Hey, that’s a name! The four-seamer is Empty Velocity at 96 mph but there was a splitter and sweeper of extraordinary movement each and that’s cool…? Nah, he’s a reliever.
Mitch Farris (LAA) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Yooooo, this is actually of interest. Wait what. Ferris was a 90 mph soft-tosser with a disgusting changeup but that velo was a huge issue. HOWEVER, he was at 93 mph, up nearly three full ticks on everything. And guess what? The changeup is still stupid good – 3/9 whiffs, -2″ of vert – while the four-seamer had a clump that flirted with 17/18″ of vert. Uhhhh, this feels like sleeper territory.
Matthew Boyd (CHC) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. He’s at last year’s velo and a little extra vert. All good here.
Jaxon Wiggins (CHC) – 1.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K. It’s a 97 mph heater at 6.8 extension and 18″ of vert with a 92 mph cutter that has enough separation from his four-seamer to work. The problem? He locates too much inside the zone. Like right down the pipe to RHB, with two changeups right down Broadway to LHB, too. That feels more adjustable than wildly out of the zone, right? He’s one to watch this year, the stuff is legit.
Eduardo Rodriguez (AZ) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 K. He’s at 93 mph (not 92) and that’s all we can really pull from this for now. He may be a deep league sleeper with the solid Diamondbacks defense behind him.
Ryan Bergert (KC) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Bergert needs to impress if he’s to be the SP #6 for the Royals over Falter and Kolek and I’m not seeing anything exciting here to make me circle him. It’s the same fastball with a bit more depth on the 87 mph slider, and not much else. We’ll see.
Ben Kudrna (KC) – 1.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K. I don’t consider Kudrna a prospect to pay attention to, despite some favoring him. It’s 95 mph of deadzone movement with a gyro slider that gets some extra depth. That’s it. No thanks.
What To Watch Today On TV
SPs to watch on TV today #SpringSPnotesGet morning updates to EVERY SP via my daily Plus Pitch Podcast AND SP Roundup article on the Pitcher List site.Chris Sale – Extension over 7ft?!Aaron Nola – Sinkers >> 4S to RHB?Cole Sands – PEW PE–wait.Robbie Ray – Secondaries cool? Sinker return?
— Nick Pollack (@nickpollack.pitcherlist.com) 2026-02-27T15:58:08.452Z
