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
Yankee manager Aaron Boone provided a surprising update on Carlos Rodón, stating that he expects Rodón back “before the end of April.” Let’s hope he’s right and Luis Gil would be the one to go if the Yankee rotation is a healthy quintet.
Joe Musgrove is expected to start the season on the IL. Not a huge surprise, though it’s hard to expect him to dominate when he does return.
The next step for Zack Wheeler is 35 pitches of live BP on Wednesday. After that, the hope is to get on the field for a spring training game, where we can actually get some data…that will likely be lower velocity than ramped up, of course. Still, it’ll be progress.
We had a Chase Burns scare after tossing just two frames on Friday due to concerns that Burns was pitching hurt without his full range of motion. He threw a bullpen on Sunday and passed with flying colors, which suggests he should be in the Reds rotation to begin the year. Phew.
Expected Rotations By Team
Sunday’s Games
SDP vs. ARI
ATH vs. CLE
ATL vs. PHI
NYY vs. BAL
MIN vs. BOS
LAD vs. CHC
CWS vs. KCR
CIN vs. SEA
COL vs. LAA
DET vs. NYY
USA vs. DOM
MIA vs. HOU
TEX vs. LAD
MIL vs. SFG
TOR vs. NYM
PIT vs. TBR
WSH vs. STL
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 6 K. Strong outing from Pfaadt, who faced a terrible lineup and was able to work on his arsenal. Just two fastballs to LHB, favoring cutters, changeups, and curves instead + the four-seamer saved exclusively for two-strike counts with the intent to elevate against RHB. We even saw a pair of changeup strikeouts against RHB and I love his approach. He didn’t get the sinker inside or the sweeper totally away or four-seamer upstairs to RHB, nor the cutter inside to LHB, but the mentality is there. Maybe the TV has been struck perfectly…Sorry, that’s for those who listen to Eno and me on our The Craft Podcast.
Jack Perkins (ATH) – 2.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 K. He didn’t even start and tossed just 46 pitches. That said, his cutter was up a tick as he sat 96/97 mph on his four-seamer. I’m still not interested, sadly. The four-seamer is Empty Velocity and I can’t sign up for 60% usage.
José Suarez (ATL) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K. I’m not sure why Suarez started this one instead of Ritchie, but of course Atlanta has signed yet another “Ohhh, I remember that guy!” guy. This performance should also help you digest the great outing from Richie – if Suarez can perform this well, imagine the difficulty of facing the bottom of the lineup (There were a few legit names, though). To be completely fair, Suarez is an old-school SWATCH and executed some nice changeups here with high heaters.
JR Ritchie (ATL) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 6 K. Ritchie faced Adolis, Stott, De La Cruz, and Turner in this, so I’ll give him more credit than I expected for pitching the final four frames. The changeup is the money pitch with absurd drop and 4/13 whiffs, thrown without fear to RHB. Thing is, I don’t love his sinker and four-seamer much at all, he has poor extension, and the rest is interesting, but nothing is pulling me in. The 91 mph cutter sounds cool, but it has poor movement, and there’s a two-plane curve at 81 mph, but it’s more like an 0-1 curve than a consistent weapon. The sweeper is below average, too, and it’s not quite enough for me to match the hype in Atlanta. I need to see more and I hope he makes the rotation over the other options. It doesn’t make sense in my book to pass on veterans who are there with an NRI – found money! – but I don’t care. Let the kid grow in the majors.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) – 3.1 IP, 10 ER, 8 H, 4 BB, 2 K. Man, I really feel for Taillon. He’s lost the cut on his fastball and despite his goals of gaining velocity this off-season, he’s not there at just 91/92 mph. The cutter is still a cool cut pitch, but he was rouuuugh here. I hope he figures it out soon or he’ll lose that rotation spot. They didn’t have a clear backup following him in this one, and I imagine he has one more game to sort things out, at least. You got this.
Hagen Smith (CWS) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 5 K. He started and suddenly sat 96+ mph across his 30 pitches (maybe he knew of the short pitch count and aired it out), and flexed a new cutter at 89 mph with solid cut, but poor depth. However, the slider bumped to 84 mph with great two-plane action and that’s the good stuff. Hopefully the changeup can come into form in the minors as games like these are a showcase that the White Sox favor Smith over other minor league starters once they require reinforcements.
Erick Fedde (CWS) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Fedde followed Hagen and there’s nothing of note, save for the cutter sitting 89+ mph with more depth and legit cut. He sure loves the sinker/sweeper for RHB and cutter/change/sweeper for LHB, and while that’s not wrong, it’s not enough.
Brandon Williamson (CIN) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K. This is pretty dang cool and I see a better pitcher than Rhett Lowder, now stretched out to 60+ pitches, making way for 80+ by his first potential start. It’s a high arm angle, but he can get 19″+ of vert on his four-seamer (sat 17″) at 94/95 mph, with a solid changeup spotted down-and-away to RHB and cutters inside at 89/90 mph with legit separation from his fastballs. I’m not as much of a fan of his approach of middle-away cutters to LHB (he struggled to get the sinker in), but the sweeper and curve and decent enough to make it all work. If he can hold that velocity and feel for the cutter and changeup, he’ll find his outs in Cincy and turn into a Toby.
Tanner Bibee (CLE) – 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 13 H, 0 BB, 5 K. Oh jeeeeez. The command was all over the place, save for some solid cutters and changeups, the cutter was down in velocity, and I regret moving him up last time out. I know, I know. It feels wrong to be changing opinions of a guy from the spring, right? And yet, THIRTEEN HITS. You don’t do that unless you’re, you know, hittable. Sure, he could be working on this and that, but there’s a point in every start where a pitcher throws away the game plan just to get some dang outs and Bibee couldn’t. I don’t feel like we need to draft Bibee, so why add on the risk?
Tanner Gordon (COL) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K. He’s a Colorado SP.
Framber Valdez (DET) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K. He did…NOT have his curveball. He’s also still down in extension by a ton (3-4 ticks is wild), and featuring far less run on his curve, change, and slider. What a weird spring. The change was fine, though, and the sinker did its thing, and maybe it’s Framber just chilling and ramping up after signing the deal he’s been waiting for.
Drew Anderson (DET) – 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K. He’s in relief now and we’ll chat about him if he ever starts.
Luis Severino (DOM) – 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K. He was AMPED for this one and was looking so good with his 96 mph cutter and 98+ mph fastballs, and 89 mph sweepers at times. He also won’t have that same velocity and intensity pitching for the Athletics, especially in the home park he absolutely hates.
Cristian Javier (HOU) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K. His vert is down almost two inches and his sweeper is just 79 mph, but props to Javier for throwing 70%+ strikes on all three of his main offerings – four-seamer, sweeper, changeup. I’m not ready to buy into that in the slightest, especially with worse movement across the board, but if he can maintain that (somehow), sure, I’d be in.
Cole Ragans (KCR) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K. No sinkers to LHB, a handful of changeups with just a trio going where he wanted them to, and 50/50 slider execution to LHB. But the heater is still dope and makes us feel dope, so that’s cool. I wish I were more excited.
River Ryan (LAD) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K. He’s dope and I wish he were starting. Wait, he did start this game, but he only tossed 48 pitches and is highly unlikely to be in this rotation at the start of the year. Why not let him save bullets in the minors before you inevitably need him at the start of May? His slider is still Filth McGee at 92 mph, and he sat 97/98 mph on Empty Velocity four-seamer while keeping it away from the heart of the plate. His changeup is 92 mph and legit, too. Oh, and the two-plane 83/84 mph curve is still there + a 93/94 mph cutter with similar movement to the slider. He’s just so disgusting and seeing just 21% four-seamer usage is PERFECT. That said, it’s the spring where he’s fighting for a job and tossing fewer than 50 pitches. That velocity will come down at least a tick when he’s properly starting. And that’s still dope. Yeah, it is.
Emmet Sheehan (LAD) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K. This one didn’t go his way, but he’s still—oh no. Oh no no no. Sheehan started the game at 93.5 mph (not 95/96 mph), sat that mark for the game, and his second-to-last fastball was 91.8 mph, with 92.5 mph to start the at-bat. That’s not good. No, it is not. It may be why River was throwing in the other split-squad game – he’s the replacement if Sheehan has to miss time. Monitor this.
Eury Pérez (MIA) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 5 K. Aces gonna ace. That changeup just won’t work, but the slider and curve are still filthy.
Shane Drohan (MIL) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K. WHO?!.gif. The Brewers are double-checking their options if they need arms and this 94/95 mph southpaw appeared and impressed me. Yeah, there was a terrible second frame, rooted in the first two batters getting on + a cutter that looks good up-and-in, but followed a fastball in the same spot and fouled off. Why does that matter? Because he sped up his bat and launched for a 115 EV HR. Ohhhhh. Anyway, he’s a SWATCH and looked great outside of the start of the second, tossing 81 pitches. 81! Meanwhile, Hall tossed one frame and called it a day. Hey you, in your deep NL-Only leagues. Know this fella. He could shock ya’ll.
Zebby Matthews (MIN) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Coming through in the CLUTCH! It’s going down to the wire with Abel vs. Matthews, and Zebby needed to impress. He certainly did with the ERA, but one strikeout and velocity down to 94/95 mph…? Down 2-3 ticks on his signature slider? And what was that changeup?! I’m not encouraged by this one, though it may be enough to keep him in the rotation. One start left…
Luis Gil (NYY) – 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Oh jeez. For what it’s worth, he did throw strikes, but not where he wanted to. The slider was just chilling over the plate with less sweep than last year, and Gil’s massive drop in extension of four points (6.8 to 6.4!) is not helping the fact that he isn’t hurling 96/97 mph these days. He also lost cut-action on his four-seamer, which made him harder to hit, and just 2/38 four-seamer whiffs makes me anxious. I’m not in.
Taijuan Walker (PHI) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K. He’s back from the WBC and still holding back on the cutter…but for more sliders. Okay, fine. As long as it’s not a ton of fastballs and its 30% usage matches last year. Wait, you sound like you’re in. Oh, I’m not. I just didn’t understand his fastball focus before. It’s easily his worst skill.
José Urquidy (PIT) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Yeaaaah, I don’t think he’s getting this job. It simply hasn’t been an impressive spring and he’s getting hit around a ton. Maybe Barco, maybe Moldzinski? I dunno. I’d move on from Urquidy.
Randy Vásquez (SDP) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K. I’m thrilled to see him lean more into the cutter, and the four-seamer is still up two ticks at 95 mph (not 96, but that’s alright), but he’s lost extension in the process and the four-seamer was so easily hit by LHB here. Just lean more in the curve, change, cutter to LHB and things will be fine.
Robbie Ray (SFG) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 8 K. Jeeeeez, that’s nice to see. He simply threw the four-seamer in the zone a ton to LHB with his slider and they took the heater and whiffed at the slider. That’s about it. Wish he had a little more practice with his secondaries (63% four-seamer, 5% sinker), but can you blame him? Wait, sinker? Oh, right! He threw three to LHB, two getting inside for an out and foul ball. I’M A FAN OF THAT.
George Kirby (SEA) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Wow. Save for the McLain HR that was on a gorgeous 0-1 slider (which was nearly the same 0-1 slider he threw him in the first…), the ERA is fine, but I’m still in shock that the slider isn’t destroying more batters. I’m getting the sense that it simply isn’t deceptive enough, despite the movement and velocity being peak. I wonder if there’s a tell or if it’s quickly picked up out of his hand. OH. They’re laning him! Kirby doesn’t throw his fastballs inside to RHB, instead sitting away and up. His slider is landing consistently down-and-away, but with so much horizontal movement, it means batters see the pitch starting inside and know it’s not the fastball (they start away and off the plate), which becomes the slider and know where it’s headed. It’s such an easy fix. THROW. SINKERS. INSIDE.
Richard Fitts (STL) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 K. This is better – 96/97 mph with a bit more vert – but I’m not totally in on everything, nor the idea that Fitts can hold this velocity in-season. And, you know, if he actually has a rotation spot.
Shane McClanahan (TBR) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 7 K. It’s interesting to see the reaction based on just McShane’s line. That was a product of 19 changeups dominating for eight whiffs, while his four-seamer was yikes. Just a 41% strike rate on 27 thrown at just 94.8 mph. Unlike Strider during his struggles, McShane has a more reliable #2 pitch in his changeup that can succeed without the electric velo, and 94/95 mph as a southpaw is far more acceptable. Throw in a slider and curve that are still effective, and even if McClanahan lives around 95 mph this year, he’ll still be an effective starter. I’m still hoping he has another gear to sit 96+.
Miles Mikolas (WSH) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 1 K. Yep, that’s Mikolas.
Paul Skenes (USA) – 4.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Aces gonna ace. He’s really good, y’all.
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.WBC FINAL:Nolan McLean vs. Eduardo Rodriguez – DOPEShota Imanaga – FB still up at 92/93 mph?Chris Bassitt – Just be normal.Justin Verlander – Slider command on point?
— Nick Pollack (@nickpollack.pitcherlist.com) 2026-03-17T14:22:54.056Z
