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
Tobias Myers will be out for many weeks with an oblique injury. It may speed up the timeline on Brandon Woodruff as they don’t have a clear SP #5 (Logan Henderson isn’t quite ready). Don’t expect to get volume from Woodruff until the end of April.
The Padres are giving Yu Darvish extra rest as he’s going through “fatigue”. It is being announced as precautionary, though it does put his start to the season in question as he could end up on the IL for the first two weeks without a proper ramp up.
Zebby Matthews was demoted to the minor leagues, making the Twins rotation set with Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richards at the backend.
Clarke Schmidt was scratched from his Sunday start with a “minor” shoulder issue. It may not be much outside of normal shoulder inflammation we see in the spring, but it could delay his first start of the season.
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
HAN vs. CHC
YOM vs. LAD
PIT vs. BAL
STL vs. TOR
PHI vs. DET
KC vs. CLE
SEA vs. SD
Jordan Wicks (CHC) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K. The was an exhibition game in Japan and it’s clear we shouldn’t expect Wicks to start either game. Obviously.
Justin Wrobleski (LAD) – 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. More Wrobleski, flexing how he’s the clear SP #6. Cool cool cool.
Thaddeus Ward (BAL) – 2.2 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K. The Orioles are searching for some SP depth. Ward ain’t it.
Andre Pallante (STL) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K. Velocity was slightly back to just one tick down, not two,
Bowden Francis (TOR) – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 5 K. I really don’t think Francis’ four-seamer + splitter is all that good. You can do better in your drafts.
Zack Wheeler (PHI) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K. Yes, he’s dope. He’s even trying out more cutters to LHB, which were his biggest weakness last year. He’s such a sturdy ace.
Kris Bubic (KC) – 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K. 93 mph heaters with 7/17 changeup whiffs across 64 pitches. WE’RE DOING THIS Y’ALL.
Triston McKenzie (CLE) – 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Whoa, Triston is back to 94+ mph! 19″ of vert! 60% slider strikes! Wait, that’s okay…and just under 60% curveball strikes…and just 2/42 whiffs on the four-seamer…Okay I’m fine skipping this one still.
Luis Castillo (SEA) – 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K. The slider was legit against LHB and that’s a lovely thing. Sadly, he’s at 93/94 mph on the fastball, though, and I’m still pretty tepid here.
Michael King (SD) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K. He’s slightly down in velocity (totally fine) and record 12/65 whiffs overall with generally good command. I’m cool with it.
Statcast Games – No TV
CIN vs. KC
CWS vs. COL
AZ vs. CWS
Hunter Greene (CIN) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K. He’s still throwing harder and casually throwing a ton of slider strikes. I’m surprised to finally be in on Greene for once.
Michael Lorenzen (KC) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Yep, this was Lorenzen. I still get the feeling this is going to fizzle out massively in Kansas City.
Martín Pérez (CWS) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K. Two ticks down ain’t fun but eight changeup whiffs? That’s cool. He’s not the OD starter for the White Sox (that’s Burke!) and keep that in mind.
Antonio Senzatela (COL) – 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Sup Senz-A. Hope your small-nod-of-acknowledgment game has gotten better.
Corbin Burnes (AZ) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Annnnd the cutter is back to 11-12″ of vert, when we want that number at 9″ or lower. Sigh. I just can’t do it C’apn!
Sean Burke (CWS) – 3.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K. He’s the opening day starter now and that’s pretty cool.
No Statcast – TV
BOS vs. ATL
TB vs. NYY
LAA vs. MIL
ATL vs. MIN
Quinn Priester (BOS) – 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K. Yeaaaah, that’s Fitts’ job. Sorry Priester. There’s another spot! Uhhh, that’s Criswell’s. Nooooo.
Chris Sale (ATL) – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K. Aces gonna ace.
Drew Rasmussen (TB) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K. The reports were solid and he looks like the clear SP #5 for the Rays. Yes, it’s a worse home park. Yes, they’ll take it slow at first with just under 60 pitches here. No, that doesn’t concern me. I’m
Will Warren (NYY) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K. Not bad, but is it enough for the Yankees to deny Carlos Carrasco a few starts? Probably not?
Jack Kochanowicz (LAA) – 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K. How do you sppel Kochanowcz? With one K. Sad to see him return three walks as he usually spots his arsenal well.
Tobias Myers (MIL) – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K. He left this one with an oblique strain and will out for a long while. It’s too bad, poor fella.
AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL) – 4.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 8 K. Ohhhhhhh, this may be enough for Atlanta to give him the SP #5 spot. It’s him and Elder and Ian Anderson, with the latter pair doing little to impress.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K. Looks like SWR has won the fifth spot for the Twins. Congrats, I wonder how long you’ll hold it for.
No Statcast – No TV
HOU vs. MIA
SF vs. SEA
ATH vs. TEX
MIL vs. ATH
WSH vs. NYM
Framber Valdez (HOU) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K. Dope, good to see the low walk rate.
Sandy Alcantara (MIA) – 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K. Yep, that’s Sandy.
Logan Webb (SF) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K. Love to see it.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K. Welp, so it goes.
Luis Severino (ATH) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K. That’s kinda normal?
J.T. Ginn (ATH) – 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 K. Whoa, seven strikeouts?! Huh, that’s not really your game, Ginn. You’re sinker/slider, right? I wonder what we get when he inevitably starts later this year.
Freddy Peralta (MIL) – 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K. That’s cool, I hope the extension is back.
Mitch Spence (ATH) – 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K. HA. Just after I took him in TGFBI. His cutter has been harder this spring and this line looks horrific. I’m curious if this was just one of those days or actually something worrisome here. Either way, it may mean Spence loses the rotation spot. I’m not for that at all, but it may come to pass.
Mitchell Parker (WSH) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 K. Oh my. I’m guessing everything isn’t clicking, is it.
Clay Holmes (NYM) – 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K. He’s the opening day starter and I’m a little concerned The Adobe is too inefficient to be the reliable QS arm we want him to be. That sinker is so dang unruly!
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.Pablo López – Able to spot away to RHB?Clarke Schmidt – Good cutters?José Berríos – Curveball feeling good?Tylor Megill – Spot FB upstairs?
— Nick Pollack (@nickpollack.pitcherlist.com) 2025-03-16T13:53:54.764Z
