2 DAYS AGO•SPORTSKEEDA.COM
5 dark horses for 2025 MLB season ahead of Opening Day ft. Astros, MarinersHeading into the 2025 MLB season, many of the traditional 'powerhouses' look solid once again.
Josh Simpson - Making push for bullpen spotSimpson walked one and struck out five over 2.1 scoreless, no-hit innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
ImpactThe 27-year-old southpaw lost his spot on the 40-man roster during the offseason, but Simpson's performance in camp -- plus the Marlins' lack of established relief options from the left side -- has put him back on the radar. Simpson has a 12:4 K:BB through 9.1 Grapefruit League innings, and he's out-pitched Anthony Veneziano, who has an 8:7 K:BB in 9.2 spring frames. If Simpson does break camp on the 26-man roster, he may work in long relief behind an injury-ravaged rotation.
2 DAYS AGO•ROTOWIRE
Jesús Tinoco - Serves up two homers ThursdayTinoco gave up four runs on four hits, including two home runs, in one innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out one.
ImpactThe 29-year-old right-hander is projected to split closing duties with Calvin Faucher to begin the season, but Tinoco did himself no favors with Thursday's outing as the long balls didn't exactly come against Houston's most dangerous bats -- Jake Meyers and Zack Short did the honors in the seventh inning. Tinoco has a rough 9.72 ERA and 7:5 K:BB through 8.1 Grapefruit League innings, but Faucher hasn't been much better this spring with an 8.10 ERA and 6:4 K:BB through 6.2 frames. The Marlins' closing picture could remain muddled well into the summer.
2 DAYS AGO•ROTOWIRE
Max Meyer - Locked into rotation spotMeyer threw a simulated game on a back field Thursday as the Marlins prepare him for a role in the Opening Day rotation, Chuck King of MLB.com reports. "Max has been terrific," man...
ImpactThe young right-hander came into camp simply trying to win a rotation job, but since then Braxton Garrett (elbow), Edward Cabrera (finger) and Ryan Weathers (forearm) have all broken down, potentially positioning Meyer to start the second game of the season for the Marlins on March 28 against the Pirates. Meyer, the third overall pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft, has yet to put things together in the majors, posting a 5.86 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB in 63 IP, but he's looked good this spring with an 8:2 K:BB and zero homers allowed in nine Grapefruit League innings.
2 DAYS AGO•ROTOWIRE
Sandy Alcantara - Final tune-up on back field FridayAlcantara is expected to build up to 80-90 pitches while pitching in a minor-league game Friday, Chuck King of MLB.com reports.
ImpactIt should be Alcantara's last outing of the spring before he takes mound for the Marlins on Opening Day. The right-hander has been impressive in camp in his return from Tommy John surgery, posting a 0.00 ERA and 10:3 K:BB over 12.1 Grapefruit League innings, but if he shows he's back to something close to his Cy Young form, it might only increase the trade package Miami can get for him this summer.
2 DAYS AGO•ROTOWIRE
Janson Junk - Builds up to 55 pitches ThursdayJunk gave up one run on one hit and two walks over 3.2 innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out three.
ImpactThe 29-year-old right-hander appears to be the next man up in the Marlins' rotation with Ryan Weathers (forearm) set to begin the season on the IL, and Junk got stretched out to 55 pitches (35 strikes) as he prepares for the role. Miami will be Junk's fourth team in five years since making his big-league debut in 2021, and his name accurately reflects the lack of fantasy appeal in his arsenal -- he's got a 6.75 ERA and 34:11 K:BB over 40 career MLB innings.
2 DAYS AGO•ROTOWIRE
Alex Cora and Alex Bregman's friendship took a hit in the fallout from the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. Here's how they rebuilt it. - The Boston GlobeThe league gave Astros players, Bregman among them, immunity in return for cooperating with the sign-stealing investigation in 2017. The fal...
3 DAYS AGO•BOSTONGLOBE.COM
