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 morning 10am-12pm ET at playback.tv/pitcherlist as I watch all of the starts with y’all and answer all your fantasy baseball questions.
Major SP News To Know
There’s no major news this morning and I’m leaving the first two items from yesterday as they were made public in the mid-to-late afternoon.
Dustin May was announced as the official SP #5 for the Dodgers. Tony Gonsolin endured a small injury during weight lifting and has been delayed. With Bobby Miller slowed down after taking a comebacker to the head, Justin Wrobleski could be the SP #6 for the time being. We live in strange times.
Brayan Bello could missing just one or two starts to begin the year. The Red Sox could do a six-man with Fitts or Priester if he’s ready to go, so don’t count them out just yet for April value.
Yes, Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John Surgery. Will Warren has the roster spot and is a 15-teamer option, not quite 12-teamer draft target yet.
Site News
We’re launching PL 11 in the upcoming days and we’ve outlined everything we’re working on and improved on the site inside this Twitter thread and this Bluesky thread.
Check out all the apps, a tease of the PL Fantasy Baseball Pro Dashboard, our new Live Draft Assistant, and so much more.
Now it’s super easy to see velo changes, movement changes (extra vert from Rodón!), extension, usage changes, locations, etc. It’s incredible, y’all. Get access via PL Pro at 15% off with code SPRINGISHERE
Expected Rotations By Team
Statcast Games – TV
NYY vs. DET
TOR vs. HOU
LAD vs. AZ
SD vs. CIN
PIT vs. BAL
NYM vs. STL
Will Warren (NYY) – 3.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K. So Will, you have a secure rotation spot and what do you do? Throw fastballs down the pipe. Not exactly how I’d celebrate, but you do you. For one start. Please.
Kenta Maeda (DET) – 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 5 K. He allowed a trio of HRs, though Evan Petzold pointed out that each would have been HRs in just 2 parks or fewer. I still don’t love this at 91 mph, though given his routine starts, it seems as though the Tigers are trying to make Maeda a starter out of the gate. It could mean he and Jobe are piggybacking starts (and Jobe is going second…?) until Maeda is worn down, which is honestly great in my view. You get the Win potential with Jobe and the expected innings restriction will be granted while Wins are still on the table.
Kevin Gausman (TOR) – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K. I know there’s a lot of talk about Gausman as of late, but he’s the same guy in my book. Sure, there’s a new slider…at 85 mph. 3/9 whiffs is cool on it, but is this really the glue he needs to make his declining splitter work again? You know, the signature pitch that returned 1/19 whiffs in this game?
Jake Bloss (TOR) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K. Ayyyy way to get back on the horse! Last time was a rough day at the park and to see him place sliders beautifully to RHB for 9/15 whiffs is bonkers. The four-seamer is at 94/95 (not 93/94) with just under seven feet of extension at 17-18″ of vert and 1.2 HAVAA (past the middle line of 1.0! It’s somewhat flat!). These are all great things, but there is one last question. What is the third pitch? Is the curve + change enough to stave off LHB? Maybe the four-seamer up is enough? That heater has a fair amount of cut action, after all. We’re going to get a chance to see this year before too long as I see Bloss as the SP #6 in Toronto (sorry Yariel, you may get the first shot as a temporary measure, but let’s be real) and you should be aware when it happens.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K. Aces gonna ace. With 1/27 four-seamer whiffs and three total heaters in the upper third of the zone and higher. And guess what? It got hit hard. How long must we play this game? And yes, I know, I know, it was a great outing. It’s why I still have him ranked high, it’s just…it could be better.
Michael King (SD) – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 K. Not his best day, but generally precise. Needs more accuracy and to pull his pitches slightly this way and that way as a group. In my head, I’m slightly lowering King in my ranks, but with Cole and Kirby getting hurt, maybe he doesn’t move at all..?
Hunter Greene (CIN) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 K. Greene sat 97.7 last year and jumped that to 99.3 mph in this one because why not. Absurd. He’s added more vert too, going from 14.5″ in 2023 to 16.5″ in 2024, and now 17.1″ in camp. I’m too low on Greene, aren’t I.
Mitch Keller (PIT) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K. Yep, this is Keller. Womp womp.
Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K. He hurls 96 mph and that’s all cool, but it’s empty velocity without anything special on it, nor does he spot them well. The slider’s flirtation with 90 mph is great, though he didn’t locate those beautifully, either. He needs a little extra juice to be worth an aggressive add when he arrives.
Matt Bowman (BAL) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K. The high cutters at 90 mph did the trick. Four strikeouts in five outs made me take a look and sadly, I don’t buy it.
Griffin Canning (NYM) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 K. I know there are many who want to be stoked about Canning and I won’t say it’s not possible. The changeup was down with two inches extra vertical drop and the slider added 1-2 ticks of sweep, both small but helpful tweaks, but is he actually different from last year? He still featured 42% four-seamers (yuck), which earned 4/23 whiffs and that 17% SwStr is not going to hold in season at 92/93 mph. If Canning can actually locate those changeups down to LHB and dot down-and-away with his slider to RHB, then there’s a chance for sustainability in fantasy. Sadly, he’s just a streamer for now as I hold my skepticism.
Sonny Gray (STL) – 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 K. I’m not worried about Sonny. I’m likely not drafting him, either, but I think he’ll have moments in rhythm and out of it. Don’t worry about this.
Matthew Liberatore (STL) – 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Nooooo. This was your moment! You can’t be a tick down at 94.5 mph and going 1/22 whiffs on cutters + sliders. Ugh.
Statcast Games – No TV
MIN vs. PHI
MIA vs. WSH
CLE vs. CHC
KC vs. CLE
COL vs. SF
Pablo López (MIN) – 3.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 2 K. Blegh. PabLó has moved on the rubber toward third and he hasn’t quite gotta locked into it yet. Hopefully he can get it sorted out soon.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) – 2.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K. I looked at the data and said “this is not a good Sandy start.” lol.
Mitchell Parker (WSH) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K. He got 5/10 slider whiffs! He’s doing what I wanted him to do – feature the slider to RHB! Suitman whispers in my ear. He didn’t throw a single slider to a RHB?! WHAT IS THIS. His splitter worked well to RHB, but I still believe he should embrace the breaker down-and-in to RHB, too. He’s had success with it in the past. Welp, at least he’s finding the feel against LHB.
Triston McKenzie (CLE) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 3 K. Well THERE you are. McKenzie sat 93.6 on his heater (+2.5), which is not 94.5, but this was over 60 total pitches this time around, making it far more believable. His four-seamer control was better, too, at a near 70% strike rate, and while I’ll continue to get frustrated watching him fail to get his slider down to RHB, it went 4/12 whiffs while the curve did its job to LHB at 4/15 whiffs. This looks a lot more like the old Tmac and I’m suddenly getting a bit more interested in 15-teamers. Not 12-teamers yet – too risky and he didn’t explode for strikeouts in the spring despite these marks – but he’s getting closer.
Shota Imanaga (CHC) – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K. The heater was down 2-3 ticks (yikes) and without the same vert we normally see at 16-17″, but the command against RHB with generally good with a few too many hung splitters, while sweepers and heaters could also have been spotted to LHB. I’m not freaking out quite yet, though I was planning on lowering Imanaga a touch in my Top 100 SP update on Wednesday afternoon regardless. Don’t plan on starting him for his game in Japan next week (don’t start any of those starters, it’s still spring for them) and I’m looking forward to the spring game after.
Jordan Wicks (CHC) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Vert is way down to roughly 15″ with some cut action, but the velo is a little up to 93/94 mph and with some good spots above low changeups, the combo returned 12/44 whiffs. Not too jazzed about anything else here, though, making me still tepid on Wicks. With this start, he may be the favorite over Rea and Brown for the SP #5 start, but that will likely be decided at the end of March.
Kris Bubic (KC) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K. Not a great day for Bubic’s feel. Velocity is still at 93+ mph (yay!) and 1.5 HAVAA, but the slider and changeup were chaotic while the four-seamer was leaned upon upstairs as we want to see. He failed against LHB with his sinker and cutter, too, and it’s not the polished Bubic we’ve seen before.
Michael Lorenzen (KC) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Ugh. You’re such a Toby.
Ben Lively (CLE) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K. This is your standard Lively. Feel free to run with it at his near seven feet of extension and two fastballs moving different directions inside the zone. I think people are calling it all luck last year and while I’m not saying that’s entirely wrong, there is a chance he repeats. A good draft-and-hold target.
Kolby Allard (CLE) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K. DRALLA. You always find a way to appear, don’t you. Only at night. YOU WOULD.
Germán Márquez (COL) – 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K. He didn’t have his slider and curve cooking and the fastball was left alone. It’s a terrible dish when you’re just served one part of a three-part dish. Ma, why does my plate contain one clove of garlic? Eat up, child.
Logan Webb (SF) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K. Strange to see him use his changeup so little (sub 30% to LHB?! Barely touched to RHB?) but I dig that he’s messing with the cutter to LHB and I’m cool with him for the year ahead. He’s figuring out how to be more than just “here’s my changeup.”
Hayden Birdsong (SF) – 3.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K. OH BABY. WE FINALLY GOT DATA. AND LOOK AT THAT LINE! Data says….meh. The control has been great, but the command to get there? Same ole Birdsong. He’s super north-south and can’t figure out the right timing, while the slider is backing up on RHB to land inside on all but one of his eight thrown. The changeup and curve are just as inconsistent as the heater and I don’t see a refined pitcher with a foundation of strikes despite the gorgeous spring performances. Sigh. I was really hoping. REALLY.
No Statcast – TV
ATL vs. TB
LAA vs. COL
Chris Sale (ATL) – 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K. Aces gonna…OY. Get it together, yeah? I want Chris Sale, not Garage Sale.
Joe Boyle (TB) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K. Hmmmmmm. 27/49 strikes as he looked legit through two frames before imploding with his control in the third. He was sitting 99 mph with some dastardly changeups (94/95 mph) and cutters (90 mph) + sliders that don’t look all too pretty. The cutter looks like the glue pitch for him and I hope he continues to lean on it. His mechanics also looked a little more compact than what we saw last here, too, which made him look much better than what we saw last year. Even his misses were more competitive than the entropy of last year and I’m kinda in…? Wow. The Rays haven’t done a whole lot with Littell and Rasmussen this spring, and I have to wonder if Boyle tossing nearly 50 pitches here and going three frames at a spring start is an indication that he is in the rotation. Don’t count it out. Does this mean you have to stop comparing poor command guys to Boyle? Sure does. I think. I hope so.
Chase Silseth (LAA) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K. I’m glad he’s getting four frames in spring. Maybe he finds the feel once again.
Reid Detmers (LAA) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Fool me quadrice, shame on me.
Antonio Senzatela (COL) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K. Senz-A. Look at you.
No Statcast – No TV
ATH vs. CWS
MIL vs. SEA
WSH vs. MIA
Luis Severino (ATH) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K. Sure, that’s Sevy.
J.T. Ginn (ATH) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K. Blegh. I have a soft spot for Ginn for whatever reason and maybe the command is too good to pass up at some point this year.
Martín Pérez (CWS) – 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K. Sure, that’s Pérez.
Bryse Wilson (CWS) – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K. Is Wilson going to keep the #5 over Shane Smith? I’m not sure he will.
Tobias Myers (MIL) – 2.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 K. Not great. I wonder how the changeup is developing. Likely not at all, sadly.
Shinnosuke Ogasawara (WSH) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K. Oh dear. He’s fighting Michael Soroka for the fifth spot and it’s sure looking like Ogasawara is on the outs right now.
Cal Quantrill (MIA) – 3.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 K. You forgot he was a Marlin, didn’t you.
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.ROKI SASAKI IS PITCHING ON TVHunter Brown – Anything new?Grant Holmes – WE GONNA SELL SOME HOUSESErick Fedde – Ok.
— Nick Pollack (@nickpollack.pitcherlist.com) 2025-03-11T14:27:48.325Z
