Andre Ethier will have an MRI on his back today after suffering lower back stiffness for two weeks
Sonny Gray is suffering from a lat strain and expects to miss the first few weeks of the season due to a lat strain. He is on his way to a specialist today to have it looked at further.
The Cardinals have Michael Wacha penciled in as their fifth starter
Not much of a surprise, but Matheny makes it official: Michael Wacha will open the season in the #STLCards rotation.
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) March 19, 2017
St. Louis optioned Luke Weaver to Triple-A on Saturday. Wacha has a 2.65 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over five spring starts along with a 15:4 K:BB over 17 innings. Wacha has thrown his fastball, changeup and curve effectively.
Cody Anderson will miss 2017 to undergo Tommy John surgery
Some good news and bad on health front for Tribe. Brantley to make spring debut Monday. Kipnis out 4-5 weeks. Anderson to have TJ surgery. pic.twitter.com/GNENBxmkRL
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 19, 2017
Denard Span is not hitting or moving well in center field this spring. He is coming off of back-to-back below average seasons defensively,, during which he combined for minus-17 Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-13 Ultimate Zone Rating.
Jharel Cotton threw his fastball almost half the time over five September starts last season, the rest of the time was an arsenal of pitch types including an 88.7 mph slider, a 77.1 mph changeup, and a 77.7 mph cutter. The 15 mph difference between his fastball and cutter has led to a swinging strike percentage of 12.5 and a chase rate at 38%.
Jarrett Parker has pretty much owned Mac Williamson in the competition for the left field job in San Francisco. He has an AVG/OBP of .316/.435 and four homers in 38 at bats this spring, while Williamson is not even playing due to a tight left quad
Starling Marte suffered after the center fielder injured himself during the World Baseball Classic, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. “It’s going to be something that takes time,” GM Neal Huntington said.
Gerrit Cole touched 97 mph during on Sunday and will get the start in Boston on April 3 in the season opener.
Including Sunday’s strong performance at Goodyear Ballpark against the Indians, Corbin has pitched through a string that has seen him, during one stretch, retire 23 of 24 batters faced. He retired the past 15 hitters he saw a week ago during a rout of the Rangers and this time out, pitched three, 1-2-3 innings against Cleveland.
Jason Heyward went hitless again yesterday and now sits at 5-for-38 hitting .132 on the spring.
Yandy Diaz and his short, compact swing went 3-for-4 yesterday after missing ten days with a groin injury. He’s hitting .381 this spring.
He is a very advanced hitter with a good idea of the strike zone Terry Francona on Diaz
Matt Boyd he has a 3.24 ERA in his last 16⅔ innings, creating some distance between
himself and his competition for the final rotation spot in Detroit. (Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey.)
Luis Severino allowed eight runners on base in 3 ¹/₃ innings, on six hits and two walks, leading to three earned runs. He admits he must find a way to deal with the “pressure’’ so he can command his fastball.
Michael Wacha has pitched 17 innings and allowed 17 hits over five starts this spring. He struck out 15 and walked four, showing good command of his fastball and because he can do that he’ll have access to his changeup and curveball.
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