Predicting MLB’s biggest turnarounds in 2024: Yankees, Cardinals playoff bound?
These teams might not win their respective divisions, but they figure to make playoff pushes after watching from home last October.MARCH 27
White Sox host the Tigers in the season opener
The Chicago White Sox host the Detroit Tigers in the season openerMARCH 27•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays and Blue Jays face off in season opener
The Tampa Bay Rays host the Toronto Blue Jays in the season openerMARCH 27•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jake Odorizzi - Headed to Triple-ARays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Odorizzi has been reassigned to Triple-A Durham to begin the season, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
ImpactOdorizzi signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on March 15 and didn't have sufficient time to make a case for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but the organization isn't closing the door on him filling a starting role with the big club once he's fully stretched out. According to Cash, Odorizzi will make his first start with Durham on Tuesday, and the Rays will go "start-to-start" with him in the minors before deciding if or when he'll be called up. The 34-year-old Odorizzi owns a lifetime 3.99 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 1,253.1 innings in the majors, but his outlook is murky after he missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.
MARCH 27•ROTOWIRE
Alex Jackson - Misses out on Opening Day rosterThe Rays will reassign Jackson to the minors prior to Thursday's season opener versus the Blue Jays, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
ImpactAmong the internal options the Rays had at spring training, Jackson appeared well positioned to make the Opening Day roster as the No. 2 catcher behind Rene Pinto, but Jackson dropped a spot on the organizational depth chart after Tampa Bay acquired Ben Rortvedt from the Yankees on Wednesday. Unless he opts out of his minor-league deal, Jackson is expected to open the season as the primary backstop for Triple-A Durham.
MARCH 27•ROTOWIRE
Niko Goodrum - Headed to Tampa BayThe Rays acquired Goodrum from the Twins on Wednesday for cash considerations and selected his contract from Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ImpactGoodrum had an assignment clause in his minor-league contract which allowed him to leave for a major-league deal elsewhere. The 32-year-old switch-hitter is a good fit for a Rays club that likes to take advantage of versatility.
MARCH 27•ROTOWIRE
2024 MLB predictions by Ben Verlander: Standings, playoffs, World Series
It's MLB opening week, which means it's time for predictions. Ben Verlander forecasts the 162-game record for every team, as well as the pos...MARCH 27
