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
Brandon Woodruff is still up in the air for Opening Day and may need to be a part of a six-man rotation to ensure his health throughout the season. This really isn’t encouraging.
Shane Bieber could possible start throwing off a mound next week. We haven’t heard a lot about Bieber and at least we’ve moving forward.
The Padres will likely be without Joe Musgrove to begin the year, stating that he needs to “get over that hump”. I’d hold off from drafting Musgrove, personally.
We were jazzed about Bryce Miller throwing a bullpen to quell our concerns for his oblique injury, yet he cut the bullpen short due to discomfort in the area. It sure doesn’t seem like he can be trusted to skip a trip to the IL.
Blake Snell tossed a bullpen and the hope is to return before the end of April. An important update for those hoping it would be a short IL stint to begin the year. I’m grouping him with Wheeler, Cole, Rodón, etc.
Quinn Priester has been diagnosed with a nerve issue “in the TOS Family”. It’s possible he can pitch through it, but why risk it?
Brewers fans can cheer up a little: Logan Henderson had a “good bullpen” and could possibly pitch in a spring game this weekend.
The haze around the Blue Jays’ rotation may clear with the news of José Berríos enduring elbow inflammation. He will continue throwing, though it could make demote him into a piggy-back role with either Scherzer or Yesavage early in the year.
If you were wondering where Adam Mazur went, he’ll be getting elbow surgery and will miss the entire season. As a member of the 40-man, this opens a spot, which could be used for prospect Robby Snelling, granting a faster path to the majors. Snelling could be in that rotation before the end of April and would be an auto-add.
Gunnar Hoglund has a back issue, which explains why we haven’t seen him pitch at all this spring. You can continue forgetting about him.
You can put your worries about Zac Gallen’s early volume to rest – he’s been tagged as the Opening Day starter for the Diamondbacks. Great news.
The Athletics are likely going with Luis Morales and Jacob Lopez for the final two spots of the rotation, removing Jack Perkins and J.T. Ginn from the conversation.
Zach Wheeler is nearing his first live BP session and has a chance to throw in a spring game before the end of camp. I’m still in disbelief of the Phillies’ optimism for Wheeler’s “April” timeline, and that could be dispelled by proper spring data.
Speaking of injured aces hopefully getting a spring start, Gerrit Cole is pushing to make a start before camp ends. It sure makes it seem that Cole will be back before the end of May at this rate.
Merrill Kelly will make his first spring start on Friday after missing time with a back injury. If all goes well, he could be the SP #4/#5 to start the year with the club and not miss a beat.
Expected Rotations By Team
On TV
ATL vs. PIT
BOS vs. MIN
CWS vs. SFG
CIN vs. LAD
WSH vs. HOU
KCR vs. SDP
NYM vs. STL
TOR vs. PHI
Grant Holmes (ATL) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 9 K. You see that line and I know what you’re thinking. His slider and curve are not only coming in 1-3 ticks slower, they also have less movement in the process. What is this, Romeo & Juliet? Why are they both sacrificing for each other? The cutter lost a tick as well, the fastball was down, it was all a worse version of The Real Estate Broker. But nine strikeouts! Very true, and it was against a somewhat normal Pirates lineup. The answer? He got the slider down and in two beautifully. Maybe that’s enough to treat him like a streamer, but I don’t see this panning out for a proper hold.
Connelly Early (BOS) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K. But you said he was dope. Uh, he is. One strikeout?! HAISTBMBWT?! Dude, it’s the spring. He was limited to 62 pitches. And just one run crossed the plate while flexing his six-pitch mix. He did struggle to get everything where he wanted to, from fastballs just missing off the edge, to curveballs sputtering up-and-armside. I don’t really care, honestly. The cutter usage went up dramatically and it was hot inside to RHB, and his stuff is still legit. He’ll start eventually this season and I’m still so very in.
Jonathan Cannon (CWS) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 3 K. No overtures today, fellas. Maybe never again. Well let’s not get dramatic, he was sitting 1-2 ticks up on everything across 72 pitches, sitting 95.5 mph on the four-seamer. There’s some hope, if he can get the stellar precision back once again.
Nick Lodolo (CIN) – 4.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K. He didn’t have it. The fastball command, the curveball for strikes, changeups down-and-away to RHB, all of it wasn’t locked in like last year.
Mike Burrows (HOU) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K. We got another look at Burrows and it sure looks like a new slider at 89 mph (not 87 mph) with three more inches of lift, which is fine with me, especially with his absurd accuracy down-and-gloveside. That’s the only real change here for Burrows, and I’m not sure it’s enough for me to consider him a legit sleeper to circle. That said, I thought he’d be higher than a #300 ADP by now given how much I’ve heard his name, and that’s fine with me as a flier. Keep your expectations in check, though. He hasn’t gone six innings a whole lot in his career.
Kris Bubic (KCR) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Ayyyy we’re back to 92 mph! Across 52 pitches (his final heater was 93 mph at 0-2, two outs), too, but this wasn’t peak Bubic. Four-seamers and changeups weren’t where he wanted them to go, the sinker didn’t get inside, and the sweeper wasn’t getting away from LHB. And yet, I still dig this. The velo is fine and he’ll likely go a little harder next time, too. You can see it in the dip in extension, which should express reluctance to push himself.
Cole Irvin (LAD) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 K. I wanted this to be a wonderful surprise of the spring because I love this guy. Sadly, it’s not meant to be.
Bailey Ober (MIN) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K. He sat under 89 mph on his four-seamer and didn’t get it upstairs nearly as much as he needed to. On the plus side, his changeup was filthy. Not enough plus. Ah yes, I see you’ve got that plust. The lust for plus. I’m not in, sorry Bailey.
Sean Manaea (NYM) – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Oh wow, I could imagine Ober throwing sub 89 mph, but Manaea?! He said he doesn’t quite know why he isn’t throwing harder, and that’s ominous.
Tobias Myers (NYM) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Myers finished this game with 32 pitches, so don’t get any major ideas that he’s stretched out to enter the rotation. He’s also at just 92 mph (not 93/94 mph, but hey! 21″ of vert! That’s fun. We move on.
Jesús Luzardo (PHI) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K. Yep, that’s Luzardo. He was exclusively inside with his four-seamer to RHB, and throwing a little too much of his sinker if you ask me. Maybe he’s learning from Sánchez about throwing hard sinkers with…WHOA. 5.5″ vert?! Like actual sink?! Okay, hold on. This is actually kinda awesome. What if Luzardo is a groundballer with a dope change and breaker? PLEASE STAY HEALTHY.
Bubba Chandler (PIT) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K. Oh hey, it’s 98+ mph with 18″ of vert, an 89 mph gyro slider, and a phenomenal changeup that got whiffs even though it missed the zone a ton. He went 74% four-seamers here and induced 6/7 weak contact with 10/49 whiffs. Yeaaaaaaaah. He’s dope. I wish he could flex the secondaries a little better, though. Still, nothing better in baseball than a stupid good four-seamer.
Germán Márquez (SDP) – 1.2 IP, 6 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 K. I really don’t think this will work. The curveball is really a gyro slider at 83 mph and the fastballs are yikes with the worst extension I’ve ever seen. Just over five feet. Not 5.5 feet. We’re talking 5.1 feet. Oh no. That makes his 93 mph look like 88 mph and I can’t believe he doesn’t get more movement on the curveballs. Don’t. Please.
JP Sears (SDP) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K. I’m trying to figure out exactly how to make Sears work. The best answer is the flat attack angle up and a changeup underneath – the SWATCH life! – but I don’t trust Sears to command it all. Maybe if he just works on that, he can steal time in the rotation again.
Michael McGreevy (STL) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K. I’d say he’s back to his old ways, but I wish. Instead, we have 2-3 ticks down on everything, sitting just 89 mph on his sinker with worse movement. He’s not ready. He shouldn’t be in the rotation. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s hurt given this giant dip this far into the spring and in the midst of a rotation battle. But he did well! That’s a good point, but…it’s the spring. This doesn’t look good.
Jake Irvin (WSH) – 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Hey Irvin. Here’s to hoping you can make a stretch work once again with a dope curve and mixing sinkers/four-seamers with your 7+ feet extension. Sure, whatever. LET ME HOPE.
Not on TV
COL vs. ARI
ATH vs. TEX
SEA vs. CHC
MIL vs. CLE
NYY vs. DET
Drey Jameson (ARI) – 1.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 0 K. It’s nice to see him, but not like this. Not like this. He tossed just 30 pitches, too. Nope.
J.T. Ginn (ATH) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K. It doesn’t look like Ginn is in the rotation, and honestly, he doesn’t deserve it right now. Too much variance on his slider movement and sinker precision. Maybe he’ll get it back in time, but on the bright side, he is up to 94/95 mph on the sinker again.
Edward Cabrera (CHC) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K. I don’t quite understand why Cabrera is throwing 17 four-seamers (47% strikes) vs. just two sinkers. Welp, the changeup was disgusting to LHB and his slider is okay to RHB, and that’s good enough for me at the moment. This has to be a spring thing, right?
Slade Cecconi (CLE) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K. Huh. Is it too late to join the Brigade? Say what. Look, when I see a guy have a new pitch (sorry, 3% to 34% usage) and that new pitch is an 89mph cutter with -3″ cut, with 3/3 weak contact in play, I’M INTERESTED. He still has the slow 85 mph slider with 7″ of more depth, which is a lovely pitch to intertwine with the cutter, and oh, the sinker is now 95.7 mph, not 93/94 mph. This was over 67 pitches, mind you, and assuming Cecconi is the #3 SP, he’s starting in Seattle opening weekend. This has ALL the signs of a fantastic late 15-teamer flier. Wow. So many fun names this week throwing over 95 mph with a rotation spot and barely taken in drafts. May, Kay, Cecconi, Vásquez and I’m sure there are more I’m forgetting off the top of my head. I’m so curious which one pops.
Will Warren (NYY) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Hot dang! Our first six inning venture of the spring! In just 64 pitches, too! The sweeper got a whole lot more action and it had the legit sweeper we know and love, save for a few that slipped out of his hand. He did a phenomenal job getting his four-seamer upstairs to take advantage of his flat attack angle, returning 10/30 whiffs on the pitch alone. Yes, ten whiffs. I wish the sinker was inner half and not outer half to RHB and the curve/change were anything to report against LHB, but the four-seamer and sweeper command has me feeling okay about this. His first start should also be in Seattle, just not the opening weekend, which has me more interested in Slade, but I’d still be happy taking a shot on Warren.
Sean Sullivan (COL) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K. He’s a Rockies SP. With 7.4 feet of extension! And an 89 mph fastball. From the left side! With a changeup! Please stop.
Justin Verlander (DET) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K. I just love that he’s a Tiger now. And that he’s added even more two-plane action to his heater. That’s cool too. The slider isn’t quite where he wants it (down nearly 4″ of cut), but he’s spotting all his breakers, helping mask the rest of his arsenal looking a little spotty, especially the slow ball. I keep trying to figure out where I’m supposed to rank him. I’d rather go for the more interesting spring names.
DL Hall (MIL) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Will the Brewers have to turn to Hall as a starter? Probably not and they don’t seem to think so with just 34 pitches in this one. I wouldn’t get hyped about it.
Emerson Hancock (SEA) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K. He found a few whiffs on four-seamers and sweepers, and I’m not buying that this is real. The stuff just isn’t good enough.
Jack Leiter (TEX) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K. I still love that he’s trying to make the cutter work and it’s solid 8″ vert for 94/95 mph of velocity, but the command isn’t there and he was hyper reliant on the slider + sinker to get his outs. Speaking of which, he had three straight sinkers inside to the other Max Muncy that were all 19-21″ of horizontal ride, striking him out on the third. The rest of his sinkers? 15″ of less. WHAT WAS THAT BLACK MAGIC AND HOW DO YOU GET IT BACK?! I’m not too confident in drafting Leiter – I see the same HIPSTER – but man, if he can harness that 19″+ ride sinker and save the four-seamer up…my word.
Who To Monitor Today
SPs on the mound today #SpringSPnotesGet morning updates to EVERY SP via my daily SP Roundup article on the Pitcher List site. (I'm putting out three of these today to catchup!)Drew Rasmussen – 95 mph? Breakers for whiffs?Johan Oviedo – Throw. Strikes.Cade Povich – #SWATCHWATCH2026
— Nick Pollack (@nickpollack.pitcherlist.com) 2026-03-13T17:14:04.042Z
