This article is part of our Spring Training Job Battles series.
Opening Day is less than three weeks away. Most job battles around the league will go down to the wire, but a few have seemingly been decided already based on manager comments. This update will highlight those situations and will check on those battles which still appear to be up in the air.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Rotation
Luke Weaver hasn't looked good through his first two spring starts, serving up three homers in five innings, though there's been little indication that he's at serious risk of opening the year in the bullpen. That leaves four likely candidates battling for the fifth starter spot. The lone veteran, Merrill Kelly, has had a similar spring to Weaver, giving up three homers in five frames, but he's at least struck out seven batters. Both Weaver and Kelly have appeared exclusively as starters, however, which suggests they're ahead of Alex Young, Taylor Clarke and Corbin Martin. Young has looked good in two relief appearances, allowing just three hits in five scoreless innings. Clarke has made a pair of relief appearances as well, striking out six in five innings but allowing three runs on seven hits. Martin has looked shaky in four innings, giving up four runs while striking out just two batters, but it's perhaps no surprise he's struggled as he gets back on the mound following Tommy John surgery.
Closer
The Diamondbacks still haven't offered any clarity on their closing role, but Joakim Soria and Stefan Crichton still appear to be the primary candidates. Soria has made just a single appearance thus far, walking one batter in a scoreless inning. Crichton has struck out three and walked one across 1.1 scoreless frames.
Atlanta Braves
Closer
As with Arizona, Atlanta hasn't given fantasy players any clear indication of who's in line to close games. Top candidate Will Smith has struck out three and allowed zero baserunners in a pair of scoreless innings. Chris Martin hasn't pitched in a game yet, but there's been no suggestion that he's dealing with an injury. Among the secondary options, A.J. Minter has struck out four in two innings but also allowed two runs on five hits, while Tyler Matzek has struck out eight batters in 4.2 frames, allowing one run.
Baltimore Orioles
Catcher
Pedro Severino has struggled at the plate thus far, grabbing one hit in 13 at-bats. Chance Sisco has gone 3-for-9. Meanwhile, Adley Rutschman, who will likely open the year in the minors even with an incredible spring, has done fine but isn't demanding a spot, grabbing two hits and three walks in 11 trips to the plate.
Second Base/Third Base
Rio Ruiz has missed time due to an illness, which perhaps sets him back slightly in this particular battle, though the illness isn't expected to be a serious one so he should still get the chance to make his case. None of the alternatives have done much to impress in his absence. Yolmer Sanchez owns a .661 OPS, while Pat Valaika's sits at .715. Jahmai Jones owns a .437 mark.
The Orioles have also been linked to Maikel Franco recently, a player who would potentially be the favorite to earn most of the starts at the hot corner. Franco doesn't have much of a resume, but he's at least posted a wRC+ north of 100 in two of the last three years and could hit for a respectable amount of power should he get the chance to call Camden Yards home. It's not clear that he'd have the chance to ramp up by Opening Day even if he signs quite soon, however.
Outfield
DJ Stewart may have already been the most likely member of this group to wind up as the fourth outfielder, and the mild hamstring strain he suffered last Friday certainly didn't help his chances of winning a starting role, although he's not expected to miss too much more time. It's unfortunate timing for Stewart, as he's grabbed two homers in his first three games prior to suffering the injury.
Anthony Santander, who seems to have the safest spot among this group, is seeing the ball well, walking in six of his 14 plate appearances while grabbing two hits. Cedric Mullins is having a strong camp, going 8-for-21 with three doubles and a triple. Austin Hays has looked good as well, going 5-for-16 with a homer and a steal.
Rotation
This remains a mess of players battling for starts behind John Means. Of the eight candidates mentioned in the previous edition of this column as battling for the final four spots, all but Bruce Zimmermann have received at least one start. Zimmermann has thrown five scoreless innings, striking out six while allowing just one hit and one walk, but his usage suggests he's near the bottom of the pile.
None of the rest of the candidates have been all that impressive. Wade LeBlanc owns the best ERA (0.00) and WHIP (0.50) of the group, but he's thrown just two innings. On the opposite end of the scale, Matt Harvey gave up three runs on four hits in two innings in his lone start, while Felix Hernandez has given up six runs (five earned) in 4.2 frames. Keegan Akin has given up three runs and walked five batters in 3.2 innings, though he's at least also struck out six batters. Dean Kremer owns a 4:3 K:BB and a 5.79 ERA in 4.2 frames, while Tom Eshelman gave up two runs (one earned) and walked two batters in his lone inning. Jorge Lopez has thrown eight innings across one start and two relief appearances, striking out six while giving up three runs.
Closer
The Orioles have yet to clarify their closer situation. Hunter Harvey left Friday's game against the Phillies in pain, and while his diagnosis hasn't been released as of writing, there's little reason for optimism given his history. Tanner Scott has also thrown two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and zero walks while striking out three batters. There had been talks of stretching out Cesar Valdez this spring, but he's thrown just a single inning. It was a good inning though, as he struck out the side. Shawn Armstrong has allowed two runs on one hit and a walk in two innings, striking out a pair.
Boston Red Sox
Second Base/Left Field
The healthy primary contestants for these spots have all gotten off to hot starts this spring. Enrique Hernandez owns a 1.555 OPS in 19 plate appearances, walking five times against just two strikeouts. Marwin Gonzalez trails him only slightly with a 1.304 OPS in 16 trips to the plate, homering twice. Michael Chavis, who isn't being considered for an outfield spot, has a similarly strong 1.122 OPS and two homers in 20 plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Franchy Cordero's readiness for Opening Day is at some risk, as he was only just cleared Thursday through COVID-19 protocols and allowed to join his teammates. The Red Sox also signed Danny Santana to a minor-league deal in early March, giving them another utility option in the same vein as Hernandez and Gonzalez, though he might not be ready for Opening Day as he's still working his way back from the elbow surgery which wiped out most of his 2020 season.
Fifth Starter
Nick Pivetta and Matt Andriese are lined up as the top contestants here, as both have made a pair of starts. Pivetta owns a 4:0 K:BB in five innings, allowing two runs, while Andriese has allowed three runs in the same amount of work while striking out two and walking one. Tanner Houck doesn't look likely to win the job, as he's been a reliever in both his appearances so far, walking six batters and giving up three runs in 3.2 innings.
Closer
It looks like the Red Sox will use a dedicated closer, but they've yet to announce who that will be. Matt Barnes has made a strong case thus far, posting a 4:1 K:BB over 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings. Adam Ottavino has thrown just a single frame, striking out two while allowing one hit and no runs. Darwinzon Hernandez likely isn't in the mix yet and has been limited to sim-game action.
Chicago Cubs
Second Base
If this job is purely decided based on spring numbers, Nico Hoerner is the clear choice thus far. He's hit .563/.588/.938 with a homer, three doubles and two steals in six games. He also hasn't struck out. David Bote has struggled to a .188/.316/.375 line, striking out six times in 19 plate appearances.
Fifth Starter
Manager David Ross mentioned Tuesday that the Cubs expect to have a group of pitchers who slide between the rotation and bullpen in an effort to manage workloads, so whoever wins this battle to start the season may not be locked into a job all season. Among the group of players vying for the final spot, only Trevor Williams has been used exclusively as a starter. He's thrown five innings across a pair of starts, striking out six and walking one while giving up one run. Adbert Alzolay has made one start and one relief appearance, giving up five runs in 2.1 innings while walking two and striking out just one. Non-roster invitee Shelby Miller started in one of his three outings, giving up two runs (one earned) in five frames while striking out five. Kohl Stewart and Tyson Miller have both been sent to minor-league camp. Brailyn Marquez, who was always a long shot at best to break camp with the team, saw his arrival delayed due to the intake process and has yet to get into a game.
Chicago White Sox
Designated Hitter
Andrew Vaughn is staking his claim as best as he can, hitting .350/.500/.550 with a homer and, surprisingly, a steal. He's walked five times to go with just three strikeouts. The job really should be his unless the White Sox elect to manipulate his service time, though backup catcher Zack Collins has looked good as well, hitting .333/.467/.583. Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger have also been mentioned as candidates but look to be clearly behind Vaughn, combining for four hits and 13 strikeouts in 26 at-bats.
Fifth starter
Carlos Rodon seemed like the favorite here after it was announced that Michael Kopech would begin the year in the bullpen, but he's appeared just once, throwing two innings of scoreless relief. He's being brought along slowly after battling elbow and shoulder issues over the past two years. Reynaldo Lopez has made a pair of starts but has looked no better than expected, giving up five runs in five innings while striking out only three. The battle is likely between just those two, as non-roster invitee Mike Wright is the only other option who's made multiple starts. He's done nothing to help his case, giving up six runs in 3.1 innings while posting a 2:3 K:BB.
Cincinnati Reds
Shortstop
Of the primary competitors for this spot, only Dee Strange-Gordon has looked anything close to good, posting a .745 OPS and stealing two bases. Kyle Farmer's OPS sits at .650, while Kyle Holder's comes in at .557, but both of those look excellent next to Jose Garcia's .091 mark. He's gone 0-for-9 with a walk, doing nothing to suggest he's any closer to big-league ready than he was last season. The Reds acquired Mike Freeman from Cleveland on Friday, but he's a lifetime .232/.315/.330 hitter and isn't likely to suddenly improve in his age-33 season.
Outfield
The Reds have actually offered some clarity with this one, with manager David Bell saying Nick Senzel would be the starting center fielder. He won't play quite everyday, as Shogo Akiyama is still expected to earn some at-bats at all three spots, but he appears to be lined up for a true starting role rather than some sort of platoon. He'll be flanked by Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos on most days. Senzel has had the strongest camp of the group, posting a 1.161 OPS, while Akiyama has gone 0-for-6 with three strikeouts, so the presumed hierarchy seems correct. Aristides Aquino is doing what he can to push for at-bats, hitting .250/.400/.500, but he's still probably stuck in a bench role.
Fifth Starter
Michael Lorenzen is reportedly the favorite here, but Tejay Antone has been the more impressive option in camp. Antone dazzled with a fastball that sat between 97 and 99 mph in his first spring outing, striking out five of the seven batters he faced. He followed that with three scoreless innings Monday. It's hard to be much more impressive than that, but it remains possible Antone opens in the bullpen to manage his workload. Meanwhile, Lorenzen is deliberately dropping his velocity in hopes of holding up better over longer outings after spending most of his career as a reliever. The results haven't been great so far, as he's allowed six runs on seven hits in four innings of work. Wade Miley's hamstring issue could allow both Antone and Lorenzen to start, though Miley seems confident the injury is a minor one.
Closer
Things aren't looking too pretty in this corner of the Reds' roster. Amir Garrett, the presumed favorite for the role, has yet to pitch in a game this spring due to forearm soreness, though he's at least been able to throw off flat ground, so he may still have time to get up to speed by Opening Day. Lucas Sims came into camp with an elbow issue and has likewise not gotten into any game action, but he's at least advanced to mound work. Meanwhile, Sean Doolittle hasn't done anything to suggest he's back to closer-level form, getting rocked for seven runs on six hits (including four homers) in two innings. He's walked four and struck out zero. It's possible the loser of the fifth starter battle ends up in this conversation if none of the aforementioned options stand out, as Lorenzen has spent most of his career as a reliever and Antone certainly seems to have closer stuff.
Cleveland Indians
First Base
Josh Naylor was thought to be in the lead here, but he's now reportedly the primary option in right field. That leaves Jake Bauers and Bobby Bradley battling it out for time at first base. It's not the most inspiring pair. Bauers is a career .214/.314/.377 hitter who never cracked the active roster last season. Bradley also didn't get a single MLB opportunity last season and hit just .178 with a 40.8 percent strikeout rate during his 15-game debut in 2019. So far this spring, Bradley looks like the clear winner, hitting .375 with a pair of homers. Bauers is hitting just .167, though he does at least have more walks (five) than strikeouts (four).
Middle Infield
An official winner of this particular battle hasn't been announced, but it's looking quite likely that Amed Rosario is the loser. He's expected to start working out in the outfield soon, which seems to imply that the team intends to use him in a utility role. That would leave Andres Gimenez as the primary shortstop and Cesar Hernandez as the primary second baseman, though Rosario will still likely earn the occasional start at both spots. Gimenez has made a strong case for an everyday role through his first six spring games, posting a 1.242 OPS with a pair of homers. Hernandez owns a strong .932 OPS, while Rosario's sits as a respectable .745.
Center Field
It now looks like a group of players are battling for just one outfield spot in Cleveland, with Josh Naylor favored to start in right and Eddie Rosario locked into the left field job. Amed Rosario is apparently now part of the mix in center, though his career .268/.302/.403 slash line doesn't exactly stand out from the large group of uninspiring alternatives. This group did at least shrink by one member, with Billy Hamilton being told he wasn't going to make the team. Daniel Johnson is having the best spring, hitting .308 with a pair of homers, but he's mostly a corner outfielder. Bradley Zimmer has looked good, going 6-for-14 at the plate. Oscar Mercado is hitting a modest 4-for-16 but does at least have one steal, while Ben Gamel has just two hits in 14 at-bats. Jordan Luplow is dealing with a foot injury and has yet to get into a game.
Rotation
Cal Quantrill and Triston McKenzie may be ahead of Logan Allen in the battle for the final two rotation spots, as they've both made starts while Allen hasn't. Allen has had the best camp of the trio, however, posting an 8:0 K:BB while allowing just one run on two hits in five innings of relief. Quantrill owns a poor 4:5 K:BB and a 7.11 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance, while McKenzie hasn't been much better, posting a 5:5 K:BB and a 5.40 ERA through one start and a pair of relief appearances. Adam Plutko and Scott Moss have also made starts, but neither has looked all that impressive.
Closer
Cleveland hasn't offered any more clarity regarding the ninth inning, though James Karinchak continues to look like himself, striking out eight batters in four innings but also issuing four walks. He's given up just one earned run. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Clase owns a 4:0 K:BB and a 3.00 ERA in three innings of work, while Nick Wittgren has thrown three scoreless innings but has struck out just one.
Colorado Rockies
First Base
This job always appeared to be C.J. Cron's to lose as long as he proved healthy and effective after missing most of last season due to knee surgery. The health does seem to be there, and his performances are coming around following a slow 1-for-13 start. After grabbing five hits and a homer in his next six at-bats, he now owns a .929 OPS, so the job appears to be all but his despite the fact that he's merely on a minor-league deal. If the Rockies for some reason elect not to clear a 40-man roster spot for him, they could turn to Josh Fuentes, who has had a strong spring as well, posting a .955 OPS. Greg Bird has done nothing to make a case for himself, going 1-for-16 at the plate.
Closer
Scott Oberg has been brought along slowly this spring as he works his way back from thoracic outlet surgery. He hasn't yet made his Cactus League debut, though he's expected to do so soon. His slow buildup may mean Daniel Bard keeps the job by default. He hasn't done anything to lose it yet, throwing a pair of scoreless innings, though his 2:2 K:BB isn't anything special. Mychal Givens has so far failed to pitch himself into the mix, giving up three runs in two frames.
Detroit Tigers
Corner Infield
Renato Nunez was only just cleared to join his teammates Tuesday, having been delayed by visa issues, which could be especially damaging to his chances of winning a job given that he's merely a non-roster invitee. He could still have enough time to make his case if he gets into game action soon however, especially given his solid .256/.324/.492 line last season. Jeimer Candelario has done nothing to dispel the idea that he's locked into starting at one of these two spots, posting a .944 OPS. Isaac Paredes has looked good as well, going 3-for-9 with a homer after missing the start of camp with visa issues. Niko Goodrum has gone 4-for-12, while Harold Castro has just two hits in 15 at-bats.
Outfield
There hasn't been much to like in the Tigers' outfield thus far. Robbie Grossman and JaCoby Jones will probably be in the lineup for most games, but both are hitting below the Mendoza Line. Both Victor Reyes and Nomar Mazara were delayed by visa issues and didn't arrive in camp until early March. Reyes has yet to get into a game, while Mazara has gone hitless in four at-bats. Meanwhile, Daz Cameron, who was always an underdog to open the season with a starting role, has been dealing with the lingering effects of an elbow injury he suffered over the offseason and has yet to be cleared to play. It's possible the struggles of everyone around him open up playing time for Rule 5 pick Akil Baddoo, who's hitting .357/.550/.500 through 20 plate appearances. He doesn't have any experience above High-A however, and posted a mediocre 103 wRC+ in 29 games at that level in 2019.
Rotation
A large group of options remain in the mix for the three spots behind apparent locks Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull. Most of the candidates have looked unconvincing thus far, with the exception of Tarik Skubal, who owns a 6:0 K:BB and has allowed just two hits across five innings. All of those have come in relief, however. Casey Mize has thrown four scoreless, hitless innings across one start and one relief appearance, but he's also walked six batters. Michael Fulmer has made two starts but has struggled significantly, giving up seven runs one six hits (including three homers) in four innings of work. Tyler Alexander owns a 4:0 K:BB in five innings, giving up three runs, while Daniel Norris has four strikeouts and three walks in 3.1 frames, allowing a pair of runs. Veterans Jose Urena and Julio Teheran have both made just a single appearance, with Urena striking out none and walking three while giving up a run in a 1.2-inning start while Teheran struck out two and gave up zero baserunners in a two-inning relief appearance.
Closer
No clarity has been offered regarding the Tigers' closer role. Joe Jimenez, Bryan Garcia and Jose Cisnero have all thrown two scoreless innings, with Jimenez and Cisnero each striking out two and allowing just a single baserunner. Garcia's scoreless frames have been less convincing, as he's struck out none while allowing three hits and a walk. Gregory Soto owns a 4:3 K:BB in 2.2 frames, allowing one run.
Houston Astros
Leadoff hitter
The Astros have a clear hierarchy around the diamond, as well as in the rotation and at closer. Their leadoff battle is worth tracking, however. Myles Straw and Carlos Correa are reportedly the top two candidates. Correa is the much stronger hitter, posting a career .276/.353/.480 slash line, though he's coming off a down year in which he hit a modest .264/.326/.383. He's also stolen just a single base over the last two years and hasn't stolen more than three since 2016. Straw, on the other hand, isn't much of a hitter but does have traditional leadoff speed. His career .246/.327/.322 line doesn't belong anywhere near the top of the order, but he's stolen 16 bases in just 224 plate appearances, which could appeal to manager Dusty Baker if he wants to go with an old-school option for the role.
Kansas City Royals
Center Field
Michael Taylor was scratched Thursday with back tightness, though the injury doesn't yet sound like something likely to knock him out past Opening Day. He looked great prior to the injury, posting a 1.467 OPS and hitting a pair of homers in six games. Edward Olivares, who appeared to be his top competition, owns a strong .974 OPS in nine games but was optioned to Triple-A on Thursday. Jarrod Dyson joined the team on a major-league deal in early March, but he's unlikely to earn a starting role given that he owns a .584 OPS over the last three seasons.
Fifth Starter
Jakob Junis looks to be clearly ahead of Kris Bubic in this battle thus far. Both of Junis' appearances have come as starts, and he owns an excellent 7:0 K:BB in five innings, allowing just one run on two hits. Meanwhile, all three of Bubic's outings have come in relief. He's given up five runs (four earned) on nine hits, striking out just two batters in five innings. Non-roster invitee Ervin Santana isn't doing much to claim a spot, allowing four runs in six innings, starting once and appearing twice out of the 'pen.
Closer
This job is likely Greg Holland's by virtue of seniority until he pitches his way out of it. He hasn't done so thus far, striking out five and walking none across three hitless, scoreless frames. Scott Barlow has looked good as well, posting a 4:1 K:BB in three innings while also allowing zero hits and zero runs. Meanwhile, Josh Staumont was delayed arriving to camp and has been limited to sim-game action.
Los Angeles Angels
Catcher
Max Stassi has had a slow start to camp as he works his way back from October hip surgery. He's made some appearances as a designated hitter but has yet to start behind the plate, though he's expected to do so soon and should still have time to get ready for Opening Day. Kurt Suzuki hasn't done much to claim anything larger than a 50/50 role in his absence, going 1-for-7 at the plate.
Los Angeles Dodgers
First Base/Second Base/Left Field
The Dodgers have offered at least a little bit of clarity on their crowded roster, with manager Dave Roberts saying last week that Gavin Lux should play regularly, and that the team wasn't afraid to use him against southpaws. That suggests that Lux could be in line for something larger than a platoon role, though it's hard to see exactly how that fits into the Dodgers' plans, as Chris Taylor should play frequently at the keystone when AJ Pollock starts in left field, while Max Muncy may spend time there as well when Edwin Rios starts at first base. We can seemingly adjust Lux's projected playing time up slightly but it still seems risky to pencil him in for 150 starts.
Rotation
This section read "fifth starter" in the first edition of this column, but the Dodgers have since made things more confusing by indicating that David Price wasn't locked into a rotation role. He's been almost exclusively a starter throughout his career, but he didn't pitch at all last season due to an opt-out and had a spotty injury track record over the previous three seasons, so managing his innings by moving him between the rotation and bullpen makes some sense. It's quite likely that Price, Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May all spend time in both roles this season, though it's still worth keeping an eye on updates this spring to see who's more likely to open the year as a starter.
Out of that group, it's only Urias who has appeared as a starter thus far. He's only struck out one batter in his four innings of work but has also allowed just three baserunners and one run. Price has thrown four scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing a hit and a walk. Gonsolin has looked excellent, posting a 7:0 K:BB while allowing just a single hit and no runs in six innings of work. Meanwhile, May has thrown just two innings, but they've also been scoreless. He's struck out two, walked one and allowed one hit.
Miami Marlins
First Base
Both Garrett Cooper and Jesus Aguilar have done everything they can to claim the starting nod so far in camp. Both first basemen have homered once in six games, with Cooper's 1.308 OPS edging out Aguilar's 1.133 mark. Both bat right-handed, so there's little to separate the pair. There's little reason to suspect anything but a fairly even split here at the moment, although Cooper could also see action on occasion in an outfield corner.
Second Base
Youngsters Jazz Chisholm and Isan Diaz are the leading candidates to handle the majority of starts at second base, though they'll both have to show considerably more than what they've shown at the highest level thus far to keep the job. Diaz owns a 48 wRC+ in 56 big-league games, while Chisholm owns a wRC+ of 56 through 21 contests. Neither has shown signs of taking the necessary step forward so far this spring, with Diaz going 2-for-14 at the plate and Chisholm going 2-for-16. Veteran Jon Berti is expected to fill more of a utility role, but the Marlins could wind up being forced to turn to him at the keystone should both Diaz and Chisholm fail to claim the job. He's hit a solid .269/.362/.388 over the last two seasons and has opened camp going 4-for-10 with a pair of doubles and four walks.
Closer
Dylan Floro, who was potentially in the mix for saves, has yet to get into game action due to soreness, though he's at least been able to throw live batting practice. The top candidates are healthy, and it's Anthony Bass who's looked the best so far. His 3:2 K:BB in four innings is nothing to write home about, but he's allowed just two hits and no runs. Meanwhile, Yimi Garcia owns a 3:0 K:BB but has allowed four runs in three innings. Richard Bleier has giving up seven hits in 3.1 innings but has limited the damage to two runs.
Milwaukee Brewers
Catcher
Both Omar Narvaez and Manny Pina have done everything they can to claim this job. Pina has gone 6-for-11 with a pair of homers, slightly edging out Narvaez's 5-for-11 mark and one homer. Jacob Nottingham, who always appeared to be third on the depth chart, has yet to get into Cactus League action as he works his way back from thumb surgery. That can't help his chances, though he's at least advanced to intrasquad action.
Third Base
The Brewers still have a mess of mediocre options battling for playing time at third base, though the group has thinned out a bit due to injury. Tim Lopes is out of the picture entirely after landing on the 60-day injured list with a strained right oblique. Mark Mathias injured his shoulder Tuesday, and an MRI revealed the injury to be a serious one, which should take him out of the running as well. Luis Urias, who could also factor into the picture at shortstop, has missed a bit of time with a hamstring issue but is expected to return soon. He wasn't making a great case before suffering the injury, going 1-for-8 with four strikeouts. Non-roster invitee Jace Peterson has appeared in just three games due to a thumb injury but has since returned to action.
Among the healthy options, Travis Shaw has had the most success, hitting just .214 but posted an .889 OPS thanks to a homer and four walks. Daniel Robertson's OPS sits at a modest .729, driven almost entirely by his six walks, while Mark Mathias owns a .615 OPS. Zach Green, another non-roster invitee, could be playing himself into the mix, as he's gone 3-for-11 with a double, a triple and a homer.
Minnesota Twins
Catcher
Both Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers have appeared in four games, and there's little to separate them thus far. Garver has gone 2-for-8 with a homer, while Ryan Jeffers has three hits in 10 at-bats.
Fifth Starter
Matt Shoemaker, the likely favorite, has struck out just three batters in 6.1 innings across two starts, but he's also allowed only one run on three hits and no walks. Lewis Thorpe has also made a pair of starts, striking out five and walking one across three hitless, scoreless innings. Devin Smeltzer has made one start and one relief appearance, giving up a pair of homers and five runs in total across 3.1 frames. Randy Dobnak has pitched just once, striking out two and allowing three hits in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Closer
Manager Rocco Baldelli indicated in early March that he didn't have any plans to name an official closer this year, with both Taylor Rogers and Alex Colome set to earn a fair number of saves. Playing the matchups makes sense for the Twins, as Rogers is a lefty and Colome a righty. Colome, who typically doesn't strike out many batters for a closer, has struck out six in three innings thus far, but he's also given up four runs on six hits. Rogers hasn't been great yet either, posting a 4:2 K:BB while allowing two runs in three frames.
New York Mets
Rotation
What looked like a battle for one open rotation spot could be a battle for two now that Carlos Carrasco is dealing with elbow soreness. Both he and the team are downplaying the issue, but he hadn't made his spring debut before coming down with the injury, so he might wind up missing a turn or two in the rotation even if it is indeed not a particularly big deal. David Peterson threw a pair of scoreless innings in his lone start but didn't record a strikeout. Joey Lucchesi owns a 3:1 K:BB in two scoreless, hitless innings of relief. Jordan Yamamoto hasn't allowed an earned run through five innings of work (one start and one relief appearance), though he's allowed two unearned runs and has struck out a modest three batters. Sean Reid-Foley only pitched out of the bullpen, throwing two scoreless innings before being optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday.
Closer
This should still be Edwin Diaz's job, but there's no guarantee there's any true closer job to be won in Queens, as the Mets haven't changed their tune since manager Luis Rojas expressed some uncertainty regarding his plans for the ninth inning back in late February. Diaz has done nothing to lose the job so far, striking out three in two innings of work without allowing a baserunner. Meanwhile, the alternative options are struggling. Trevor May has allowed two runs on four hits in three innings, while Dellin Betances has given up five runs (three earned) in three innings of work, striking out one while walking three. Jeurys Familia hasn't given up a hit or a run in two innings, but his 1:3 K:BB is poor. Seth Lugo continues to make progress in his recovery from elbow surgery but will open the season on the injured list.
New York Yankees
Fifth Starter
Deivi Garcia and Domingo German look like the two favorites for this job. Both have started in both of their spring outings, and both have looked quite good. Garcia owns an 8:0 K:BB in five innings, giving up two runs on four hits (including two homers). German owns a very similar 7:0 K:BB but has yet to give up a run and has only allowed two hits, making him the slight favorite if this battle is decided by performance alone. Neither Jhoulys Chacin nor Asher Wojciechowski has started a game. Chacin has allowed four runs in four innings, while Wojciechowksi has given up six (five earned) in 2.1 innings.
Oakland Athletics
Second Base
Jed Lowrie appears to be getting a legitimate chance to win a roster spot despite missing almost the entirety of the last two seasons with a long list of injuries. Who knows how long he'll remain healthy, but he's made his spring debut without incident. He should remain in the mix for at least a part-time role if he can make it to Opening Day healthy. Tony Kemp, on the other hand, is battling an injury, though he merely has a bruised hip after getting hit by a pitch, so he should have plenty of time to get up to speed. He looked good prior to the injury, going 4-for-10 with a homer, four walks and a steal. Chad Pinder has gotten off to a slow start, grabbing one hit in 13 at-bats.
Philadelphia Phillies
Center Field
Adam Haseley was perhaps at the front of a relatively even quintet in this particular battle, but he's expected to miss the start of the season due to a groin strain. In his absence, Odubel Herrera and Mickey Moniak have impressed the most, but both players come with significant caveats. Herrera has gone 4-for-14 with a homer and a steal, but he carries the baggage of a 2019 suspension for domestic violence and is no longer on the 40-man roster, so he'll have to convince the Phillies that it's worth clearing a spot in order to add him to the active roster. Moniak, the 2016 first overall pick, has gone 5-for-11 with four extra-base hits, including two homers, but he's never played a Triple-A game and didn't show much in his eight-game MLB debut last season. The Phillies don't want to stunt his development by keeping him stuck on the bench, but with the Triple-A season not starting until May they could decide that the best place for him to get at-bats is in the majors. The simpler choice for the Phillies may be to give the job to some combination of Roman Quinn and Scott Kingery. Quinn has gone 5-for-12 with a steal this spring but has also struck out five times. Kingery has struggled, grabbing three hits in 16 at-bats while striking out seven times.
Rotation
Veterans Matt Moore and Chase Anderson, who both signed big-league deals over the winter, appear to be in the lead for this battle. Both have thrown four scoreless innings (one start and one relief appearance) while only allowing three baserunners. Spencer Howard has impressed, with his velocity and conditioning rebounding from where they were last season, but he may start the year in the bullpen or minors to manage his innings. He's allowed two runs in three innings (also one start and one relief appearance), but his 6:0 K:BB is very promising. Vince Velasquez also appears more likely to wind up in the bullpen or on another team. He's struck out six batters in 3.2 frames, giving up two runs (one earned). Non-roster invitee Ivan Nova doesn't seem to be getting serious consideration for the job, and his 4:6 K:BB and 10.38 ERA in 4.1 innings aren't helping his case.
Closer
The Phillies still haven't offered much clarity in their closer battle. Hector Neris hasn't started the spring particularly well, allowing two runs in 1.2 innings while striking out a pair. Archie Bradley has thrown a pair of scoreless frames, but he also has a 1:1 K:BB while giving up three hits. Jose Alvarado has thrown a pair of clean innings, striking out two without allowing a baserunner. Brandon Kintzler appears to be a lock for at least a middle-relief role despite his minor-league deal. He's thrown four scoreless frames, allowing just one hit with a 4:1 K:BB.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Shortstop
Cole Tucker has played just one game this spring due to a bruised hand, though he's recently resumed hitting. He'll have a chance to be ready for Opening Day if he gets into game action soon, though he already didn't look like a favorite to win a starting job, and the lost time certainly doesn't help. Kevin Newman has been on the shelf for a few days with a hamstring issue, but it doesn't appear to be particularly significant. He's gone an impressive 6-for-8 at the plate with three walks this spring. Erik Gonzalez has also looked good at the plate, going 7-for-15 with a homer.
Outfield
Gregory Polanco remains locked into the starting role in right field and has looked good so far, going 5-for-11 with two homers. He's away from the team at the moment for the birth of his son, but that shouldn't significantly impact his readiness for Opening Day. Bryan Reynolds remains locked into a starting role in either center or left, but the identity of the third starting outfielder is still undecided. Anthony Alford has been the best of the bunch, posting a 1.462 OPS with a pair of homers in five games, while Jared Oliva has a 1.089 OPS and one homer through four contests. Brian Goodwin (.702 OPS) and Phillip Evans (.642 OPS) have been poor. Cole Tucker could factor into this mix as well if healthy.
San Diego Padres
Second Base/Left Field
There's been no clarification of the hierarchy between the four players competing for time at these two spots. Tommy Pham has been involved from the start of Cactus League action after undergoing three surgeries since mid-August, but he's struggled significantly at the plate, going 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts. Jurickson Profar has had a disrupted spring, missing the start due to visa issues and then battling groin tightness, but he returned to game action Thursday. He's also struggled, however, going 1-for-11. Ha-seong Kim has struggled in his first look at major-league pitching, grabbing just a pair of hits in 16 at-bats. Jake Cronenworth is the only member of this group who has hit well so far, posting an .849 OPS.
Closer
The Padres haven't made an effort to clarify their closer battle. Drew Pomeranz is having the best spring among the favorites, posting a 4:1 K:BB across two scoreless innings. Emilio Pagan has matched that K:BB but has allowed three runs on four hits in his two innings. Mark Melancon has given up one run in three frames but owns a poor 1:4 K:BB. Keone Kela, who has closer experience in the past, has looked quite good, striking out four and walking none while allowing just one hit in two scoreless innings.
San Francisco Giants
Left Field
Alex Dickerson looked like the leader here heading into camp, though he hasn't excelled in five spring games, going 2-for-9 with three walks. Austin Slater entered camp with a flexor strain and then injured his hamstring in the Cactus League opener, but he's expected to return to the field soon and could get back into the mix. Darin Ruf has gone 4-for-20 with a homer but has struck out seven times.
Rotation
Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Aaron Sanchez and Logan Webb all appeared to be in the mix for the final three rotation spots heading into camp. Sanchez, who's coming off a year he missed entirely due to shoulder surgery, has yet to make a spring appearance, which could indicate that the other three are all in line to break camp in the rotation. All three have been used exclusively as a starter thus far. Webb has been the best, posting a 4:0 K:BB while allowing one hit in three scoreless innings. Wood has given up one run in three frames, though his 2:2 K:BB is mediocre. DeSclafani has thrown just two innings, striking out one and allowing one run on one hit. Conner Menez and Nick Tropeano have both made starts as well, though neither appears favored to win a role.
Closer
The Giants haven't done anything to suggest they'll use a traditional closer this season. Jake McGee hasn't allowed a baserunner in his three innings, striking out two. Tyler Rogers has struggled through his three frames, giving up two runs on four hits. Reyes Moronta, who missed all of last year while recovering from shoulder surgery, has yet to appear in game action.
Seattle Mariners
Second Base
Shed Long has been brought along slowly as he works his way back from September shin surgery, but he may not have gone slowly enough. He was limited to back-field action but still suffered a setback, experiencing some inflammation in his shin in early March. Unless he's ready to play soon, he might be out of the mix for this spot, at least to start the year. That would leave Dylan Moore as the clear favorite. He's looked good enough through seven games, posting a .786 OPS with a homer and a steal.
Sixth Starter
Justin Dunn, Nick Margevicius and Logan Gilbert have all pitched just once, and it's perhaps notable that Margevicius is the lone member of the trio whose outing came in relief. Dunn and Margevicius both threw two scoreless innings, while Gilbert allowed a run on two hits in his two innings but also struck out four batters. Ljay Newsome could be in the mix as well, as he's made a pair of starts. He's given up two runs on five hits in five innings, striking out four while walking one.
St. Louis Cardinals
Rotation
What looked to be just one open spot now looks like it'll be two, at least, to start the year, with Miles Mikolas slowed by shoulder issues. He's currently shut down from throwing and seemingly doesn't have time to get up to speed by Opening Day. The pool of available options was reduced by one recently, with the team announcing Alex Reyes would be strictly a reliever this season. The goal is to build up his innings in longer relief stints so he can push for a rotation role in 2022.
That could leave both Carlos Martinez and Daniel Ponce de Leon in the rotation to start the year. Martinez hasn't looked anything close to good, giving up six runs in 4.2 innings while walking five and striking out just three. Meanwhile, Ponce de Leon hasn't been used as a starter in either of his appearances, though he's looked good overall, posting a 6:3 K:BB while allowing just one run in four innings. John Gant has one start and one relief appearance, but he's allowed four runs and walked four batters in 4.2 innings.
Closer
Jordan Hicks has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut, but he's impressed in batting practice sessions and a "B" game as he prepares to pitch for the first time since June of 2019. Even after Tommy John surgery and a season lost to an opt-out, his triple-digit heat is still there. Giovanny Gallegos has allowed three runs on four hits in three innings of work, but at least his 4:1 K:BB is strong. Andrew Miller allowed two runs while recording just two outs in his lone appearance. Ryan Helsley has thrown two hitless, scoreless innings, striking out three and walking two. Martinez could still theoretically feature here if he loses a starting spot, while it sounds like Reyes won't be pitching in the ninth inning as the team wants him to build up his innings in long relief.
Tampa Bay Rays
Catcher
If this battle is decided by early spring stats alone, Francisco Mejia would easily be the winner. He owns a 1.007 OPS in five games, while Mike Zunino owns a .476 mark in four. Kevan Smith, who's expected to be on the outside looking in as he isn't on the 40-man roster, missed a bit of time to a back injury but has since returned to the lineup.
Corner Infield
Mike Brosseau has homered twice, leading to a .978 OPS which ranks first among this crowded group. Ji-Man Choi comes in just behind him with a .954 mark, but the rest of this group has been unimpressive. Yandy Diaz owns a .718 OPS, while Yoshi Tsutsugo's comes in at just .358. Joey Wendle missed a bit of time after getting hit in the helmet by a pitch. He's gone hitless in six at-bats.
Rotation
Nine different Rays have started at least one game this spring, as the team auditions several players for the back of the rotation behind Tyler Glasnow and Ryan Yarbrough. Among the veteran options, Michael Wacha is having the best camp, throwing three scoreless innings while striking out two and allowing two baserunners. Chris Archer has been brought along slowly as he makes his way back from thoracic outlet surgery, though he retired all four batters he faced in his spring debut Friday. Rich Hill struggled in his lone outing, giving up four runs (three earned) while walking a pair and striking out none in his lone inning.
The younger options have looked good across the board. Shane McClanahan, Josh Fleming and Luis Patino have all made at least one start and all have yet to get up a run. McClanahan has perhaps been the most impressive, striking out four in two innings and touching triple digits. Patino matches him with just one hit and no walks allowed but has struck out just one in two frames. Fleming has allowed a single hit in three innings but has struck out just two batters. Brent Honeywell (elbow) and Brendan McKay (shoulder) are making progress in their respective recoveries, though neither has time to factor into the Opening Day rotation mix.
Closer
Unsurprisingly, the Rays haven't suddenly committed to using a traditional closer. Their top high-leverage options haven't done much yet this spring, with Nick Anderson and Pete Fairbanks throwing a single inning apiece. Anderson's inning was clean, while Fairbanks allowed a solo shot. Diego Castillo has made a pair of appearances, allowing three hits in two scoreless frames. He's yet to walk or strike out a batter.
Texas Rangers
Catcher
Jose Trevino, the likely favorite in this battle, has gone 2-for-8 with a homer. Jonah Heim has just one hit in 10 at-bats. Meanwhile, non-roster invitee Drew Butera has gone 1-for-4 with a double and two walks, while John Hicks has gone 2-for-7 with a homer. Sam Huff (hamstring) has been cleared to resume light activities but isn't ready for game action, so there doesn't seem to be enough time to make his case for the job.
First Base
By the numbers alone, Ronald Guzman is lapping Nate Lowe in this battle, posting a 1.274 OPS compared to Lowe's .471 mark. Guzman has also dabbled in both outfield corners however, which may indicate he's being primed for a bench role where he'll be expected to cover multiple spots.
Third Base
Rougned Odor is likely to win this battle, going 4-for-13 with a double and a homer. Brock Holt has gone just 3-for-14, while Charlie Culberson has gone 4-for-9. Josh Jung, who could feature at the hot corner at some point this year, was sent to minor-league camp Friday.
Designated Hitter
Willie Calhoun has been sidelined since Monday with a tight groin. The issue doesn't sound like one that's likely to shut him down for an extended period, but he needs all the time he can get to make the case for regular at-bats, especially as he started camp going 1-for-11 at the plate. Khris Davis has done even worse, however, grabbing a single hit in 16 trips to the plate.
Rotation
Mike Foltynewicz and Dane Dunning appear likely to win the final two rotation spots in Texas. Foltynewicz threw two clean innings in his lone start, striking out one batter, while Dunning has only appeared as a reliever, issuing one walk in two hitless, scoreless frames. Among the other options, Kolby Allard has been the most impressive, posting a 9:1 K:BB in six scoreless innings, though he's yet to be used as a starter. Neither have Kyle Cody or Hyeon-Jong Yang. Cody has allowed two runs on five hits in three innings, while Yang gave up a run on two hits in his long appearance. Tyson Ross and Brock Burke have yet to make an appearance, with Burke's shoulder issues expected to keep him out past Opening Day.
Closer
Jose Leclerc now looks like the clear favorite for this job after his apparent primary competition, Jonathan Hernandez, suffered a UCL sprain. Hernandez isn't expected to throw at all until early April and will then have to build back up to game shape. Leclerc needs time to get into game shape himself, as he missed the start of camp due to visa issues. He made his spring debut Thursday, allowing a run on three hits in one inning of work. The rest of the bullpen is almost completely devoid of proven options, making non-roster invitees Ian Kennedy and Matt Bush, who both have previous closing experience, potential dark horses. Bush struck out a batter and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of work, while Kennedy has yet to get into a game.
Toronto Blue Jays
Rotation
Nate Pearson is already battling another injury, suffering a Grade 1 groin strain in his spring debut. He was only shut down from throwing very briefly, but he's yet to get back into game action and isn't expected to be ready to start by Opening Day. That could potentially give each of Robbie Ray, Tanner Roark, Steven Matz and Ross Stripling a rotation spot to start the season. Matz is having a particularly strong spring, posting a 6:0 K:BB while allowing two hits in five scoreless innings. Roark has also thrown five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and posting a 4:0 K:BB. Stripling has appeared just once but also hasn't given up a run, striking out two in a pair of scoreless innings. Ray has struck out eight in 4.1 frames while allowing two runs on two hits and two walks.
Washington Nationals
Third Base
This looks like Carter Kieboom's job to lose, and that's probably still the case despite a slow start to camp which has seen him post a .596 OPS through seven games. If spring performance were all that matters, Josh Harrison would be in the clear lead, as he owns a 1.043 OPS with a homer and a steal in five contests.
