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
We launched Pitcher List Stats yesterday! Our first launch was @PitcherListPLV, which posts all of our new Pitcher Cards from recent games. We’ll be granting free access to generate these cards in the near future. Check out the tutorial pinned to the Twitter account.
Terrible news for Reds fans: Hunter Greene felt pain in his right elbow and will undergo an MRI. I would be shocked if he was fine and missed the IL. Consider him out, with a battle between Lowder, Aguiar, and Williamson to replace him.
The Brewers may be without Quinn Priester early in the season due to a wrist issue from the end of last season. With both him and Woodruff in question, Gasser and Sproat are in contention for the fifth spot.
Gavin Stone had a setback during his shoulder recovery and has been “paused” from throwing. Remove any hope of him entering the Dodgers rotation out of camp.
The Padres are planning for Griffin Canning to be ready around May/June. He’s a mid-season pick-up at best, who overperformed last season. I’m not monitoring this closely.
The Marlins reassigned Thomas White to minor league camp. Not a surprise here, after he suffered a Grade 1 oblique strain.
Expected Rotations By Team
On TV
TOR vs. CAN
CLE vs. LAD
SF vs. USA
SEA vs. LAA
AZ vs. MEX
DOM vs. DET
BOS vs. PUR
HOU vs. VEN
Kevin Gausman (TOR) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Yep, this was Gausman, with his 83 mph gyro slide n all. His ability to keep his splitter movement consistent is incredible.
Logan Allen (CAN) – 1.0 IP, 5 ER, 2 H, 5 BB, 0 K. Oh jeez. I can feel him like a 16-year-old, wondering if his parents will find out. Do you think Cleveland will know about these walks? Do I still have my starting job?! We weren’t in before, and we definitely aren’t changing that until he shows something to chase.
Joey Cantillo (CLE) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K. He didn’t get enough out of his changeup – it was rarely away – and his fastball wasn’t spotted well. That’s the issue with Cantillo, after all. He has to dominate RHB with the changeup or it just doesn’t work.
Roki Sasaki (LAD) – 2.0 IP, 4 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K. I really don’t believe he should be in the rotation. The cutter is fine at 86/87 mph, but the four-seamer is Empty Velocity at 98 mph and the splitter is far too inconsistent. He’s also sub-7 feet of extension now. Give other guys a chance, like Wrobleski or Casparius or Ryan or whoever.
River Ryan (LAD) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K. I wish I had nicer things to say about River. The extension is average and his 98 mph four-seamer is Empty Velocity, without getting spotted to LHB. I sure do love the slider and cutter, though. Absurd 91 mph velocity on the above-average gyro movement slider, plus a 93 mph cutter right above it. The kick-change is lively, too, and even the 84 mph curveball has ridiculous two-plane movement. If only his four-seamer wasn’t so deadzone…Nah, I still dig the guy. Those secondaries are just so good and it’s still 98 mph. It’s good to see him at two frames and 28 pitches, and let’s hope he gets pushed more next time out. I’m guessing he’ll be in the minors to begin the year and seen as one of the first options to enter the rotation.
Adrian Houser (SF) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K. Velocity is still up at 96/97 mph on his four-seamer, but the command was off. He’s still a fun NL-Only sleeper.
Blade Tidwell (SF) – 2.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K. I’m happy he’s reducing four-seamer usage, but the secondary feel needs to be far better.
Paul Skenes (USA) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Aces gonna ace. He added some vert on the four-seamer to 15″, which is pretty cool. Cause he needs it.
Matthew Boyd (USA) – 2.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Ayyyy he’s up to 94 mph! Three ticks up on the slider too, but with worse movement and I’m not sure I love it. Probably a suggestion from Zombro, though, and I’ll put my faith into it.
Bryan Woo (SEA) – 2.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Aces gonna ace. He’s really working on the sweeper and slider to both LHB and RHB and I love that he’s working on them. He’s really good.
George Klassen (LAA) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K. It’s an Empty Velocity 97/98 mph four-seamer with a good changeup and strong breakers. After throwing three frames with 51 pitches, don’t be shocked if Klassen forces his way into the Angels’ rotation, especially if there’s an injury. I think he’s a HIPSTER at best, though. The command needs to be there – 0/11 on sliders and curveballs, despite good stuff.
Zac Gallen (ARI) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K. Yep, this was Gallen, BUT he did try to inside with his four-seamer to LHB and that’s cool. He didn’t nail it, but he’s trying! A little behind in his ramp-up at 22 pitches, which could mean a short first start of the year.
Taijuan Walker (MEX) – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K. He’s 1-2 ticks down and is still abandoning the cutter. Just two thrown. I don’t get it and I think the Phillies are in for a rude awakening if Walker is starting for them again.
Luis Severino (DOM) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K. 97/98 mph heaters is up from 96 mph last year and the data was on the FRITZ. There was a dope sweeper at 19-20″ of horizontal, a cutter in between, and a changeup/sinker also present. It was weird. I’m not a fan of drafting Sevy because of the home park n all, but if the velo is still up with that movement on the sweeper with the next start, I’d pay attention.
Ty Madden (DET) – 2.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K. He can’t have that kind of control. Nope.
Elmer Rodríguez (PUR) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K. I wish I liked his four-seamer and sinker more at 95 mph. He’s a low arm angle guy, which means the four-seamer could get some whiffs upstairs, but it makes him more of a sinker/slider arm (in this case, sinker/cutter) without the elite horizontal ride at just 15/16″ of iHB. The cutter is a lovely pitch at 89 mph, though, and Elmer commands it well to avoid hard contact, but is that enough? I’m not sold.
Cristian Javier (HOU) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 K. This isn’t what we wanted to see from Javier. Velocity at 91/92 mph with a drop in extension to a horrific 5.7 feet (was six feet), and he couldn’t find strikes with anything but his four-seamer. Hopefully it’s just a “get back on the mound once” scenario.
Ryan Weiss (HOU) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K. It’s 17/18″ of vert on a 94 mph heater he likes to keep upstairs with an 83 mph sweeper with decent -13″ sweeper + a big curve for show-me pitches and a changeup he threw once to a LHB and failed miserably far away from the zone. I’m interested here as a great value play for 15-teamers and deeper – he should be in the Astros rotation and that fastball/sweeper combo is good enough – but I need more in the arsenal to circle him as anything more than a streamer in 12-teamers.
Not on TV
MIN vs. TB
TB vs. PHI
PIT vs. COL
BAL vs. NED
NYY vs. PAN
MIA vs. ISR
NYM vs. NCA
CWS vs. SD
ATH vs. BRA
KC vs. CUB
CHC vs. ITA
MIL vs. GBR
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) – 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K. Dude got shelled. Velocity down to 91/92 mph and at the low end of his extension, around 6.5 feet. Yikes. That’s what happens when the splitter returns a 29% strike rate and velocity is down. It’s the spring n all, but for a guy demanding a roster spot, it’s not great.
Andrew Morris (MIN) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 3 K. Hmmmm. 94/95 mph with 17/18″ of vert and cut-action, which can work but he doesn’t spot it. There’s a changeup that floated over the zone to LHB and a cutter that seems too slow at 88/89 mph to carry 8/9″ of vert. I’m not seeing it.
Brody Hopkins (TB) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K. Daaaaang. He hurls 97/98 mph with a high 17″ of vert and a 92+ mph cutter with legit separation from the four-seamer. He’s only at 28 pitches, though, and this is a mid-season play. Circle him.
T.J. Nichols (TB) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K. He’s kinda interesting, but not quite enough juice to get me amped. The 96 mph heater is good, but not elite, and it’s a gyro slider with too much lift at 87/88 mph + a changeup that looks like a Vulcan given its sporadic movement. That’s not the most endearing pitch mix.
Shane McClanahan (TB) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K. HE RETURNED! We put out the player card for this and don’t fret – he said he was pitching around “80%” as it was his first game back on the mound in ages. They even turned off the scoreboard’s radar gun to help him just pitch and not try to do too much. This isn’t like Strider’s low velocity, it’s entirely different. I’m still very interested.
Alan Rangel (PHI) – 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K. Womp womp. He needs to do more if he’s going to snatch a rotation spot, BUT he could be considered the SP #6 given 43 pitches hurled in this one as the starter (probably around 40 limit, thus getting pulled early). For those unaware, Rangel throws 93/94 mph with 19″ of vert (high arm slot) with a great changeup off it at 9-10 mph slower. The breakers are a bit underwhelming with spotty command, though, and you know me – I don’t like fastball/changeup right-handers.
José Urquidy (PIT) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K. Is it terrible that I see him as a sleeper? The Pirates will feature Urquidy in the rotation (42 pitches here, three innings, and used as a starter), and his changeup is the glorious offering of old with his four-seamer sitting 93 mph at 18″+ of vert. Hey, that’s like Rangel! Huh, it is! I trust Urquidy’s command more + the cutter, sinker, curve, and new sweeper are all weapons Urquidy can mix-and-match to aid in the fast/slow approach.
Trevor Rogers (BAL) – 2.1 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K. He was given a rude awakening by the Netherlands, but still returned 10/58 whiffs and kept his secondaries down + heaters up. I still love him, especially with 1-2″ extra vert on the four-seamer, living at 16″+ now.
Dean Kremer (BAL) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Fewer four-seamers than usual (that’s a good thing) and a slower curve for more drop, but it’s not enough to get interested.
Grant Wolfram (BAL) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K. I just want him to be a dope SP so I can do a Wolfram Alpha SP Roundup. Or subvert it and go Wolfram Beta…or Delta if there was a change to note. The southpaw’s fastball is good enough at 96/97 mph with two-plane movement and an 85/86 mph curve with good drop, but not much else to report. He’s a reliever.
Max Fried (NYY) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K. Velo is down 1-2 ticks, but that’s totally fine for a vet like Fried. Otherwise, all normal here + more sinkers inside to LHB is great.
Braxton Garrett (MIA) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Ehhhh. It’s a whole lot of meh. I want him to be a SWATCH and the slowball certainly has depth, but just one was executed well and taken for a strike. The slider and cutter are fine, but just not so good to make up for the questionable 91/92 mph heaters. I’m not in right now.
Bradley Blalock (MIA) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K. He threw just eight pitches (i.e. not starting out of the gate), but it was a tick up with 17″ of vert and a cutter that was pretty dang good at 88 mph. I want to see more.
Jonah Tong (NYM) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 K. This cutter/slider whatever you want to call it at 88mph was great! Yes, 8.5″ of vert isn’t ideal, but when it’s coming off 19″+ on his four-seamer at just a six mph difference, that’s effective enough, especially if he’s consistently locating it down-and-gloveside. It carried a 52% CSW across 21 thrown, and that should get Mets fans excited. But he still has to figure out his four-seamer command. Yes. One thing at a time.
Sean Newcomb (CWS) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K. He’s making his case for the White Sox to put the brush down and try the Newcomb, but this wasn’t the outing he wanted. The cutter and curve are still intriguing + a few changeups here and there, and I generally do like his approach with fastball, curve, cutter to RHB. There could be moments if he gets the opportunity, but super low ceiling here.
Nick Pivetta (SD) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 1 K. He tried a few extra sinkers to RHB and that’s cool. It’s Pivetta otherwise and we like that.
Kyle Hart (SD) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K. Can he be a SWATCH? Probably not, when that slowball is a splitter. Too inconsistent for a guy so reliant on it…though he had solid feel for it here. Maybe this is decent enough for a deep league stream if he gets regular innings. Still too far away.
Aaron Civale (ATH) – 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 1 K. He’s Civale, just 2-3 ticks down at the moment, without anything interesting to report. No thanks.
Jack Perkins (ATH) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 K. I’m not seeing anything truly interesting here, but 85/86 mph sweepers with -14/15″ of sweep is cool, and so is a kick change at 90 mph that he keeps down. It’s not enough.
Ryan Bergert (KC) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K. That’s a lovely result, but PLV found this start to be atrocious. I don’t agree – he kept the four-seamer up, sinker down, slider gloveside with good movement at 88 mph – and this certainly puts him in contention for SP #6 as the first replacement ahead of Kolek.
Aaron Sanchez (KC) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 K. 27 pitches at 92 mph and 7.2 feet of extension is interesting… There’s a big sweeper and curveball + an 87/88 mph changeup with lively movement, too, and I’m still not interested for now. Lovely story and I’m happy they are pushing him in the spring a bit, at the very least.
Cade Horton (CHC) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K. He’s sitting 96 mph (nice) with negative cut action on his four-seamer, and nearly a foot of extra fade on his changeup. That’s kinda wild. The curveball and sweeper are both living at 84/85 mph with decent movement, and I’m still in here. He’s really hard to hit and I think we’ll see some growth in the secondaries this year.
Jacob Misiorowski (MIL) – 2.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K. I love that he dialed back the velocity to 97 mph (not 99/100). Take it easy, fella. His command is still an issue, but his stuff is just so hard to hit, especially for the Brits they sent to the plate against him.
Aaron Ashby (MIL) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K. They let him go 35 pitches and his slider + curve are two legit breakers with huge two-plane depth at 81-84 mph, but the sinker is just too meh and his command is highly suspect.
Kyle Harrison (MIL) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Lots of hype surrounding Harrison here after flexing a much improved changeup that carried a whopping -9″ of vert. Bonkers. This is different from the one we saw in Coors at the end of his SFG tenure and it sure looks like a pitch he should lean on to become a SWATCH with 33% usage to RHB. He didn’t spot it consistently down, leading to just 60% strikes, but it’s an exciting premise. And hey! Nearly two more inches of vert on the four-seamer, too, creating a lot of two-plane movement at 94/95 mph. This is cool.
DL Hall (GBR) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K. The Brits let Hall fly for 45 pitches against his own team and he sat 92/93 mph with seven feet of extension and nothing interesting in the movement department. I guess I’m back to granting Hall Passes once again.
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.Shane Baz – Cutter/slider good?Garrett Crochet – New splitter!Aaron Nola – Sinkers inside to RHB?Elieser Hernández – It's Been 84 Years…
— Nick Pollack (@nickpollack.pitcherlist.com) 2026-03-04T16:16:28.261Z
