MARCH 22, 2021•MLB.COM
Yadiel making case for OF with surge at plateAfter making his Major League debut last season at age 32, outfielder Yadiel Hernandez is putting up numbers in Spring Training reflective o...
Jared Walsh, Dominic Smith and what to expect from 2020's biggest surprisesWe asked our MLB beat writers for the 2020 surprise on their team (good or bad) — and what we can expect from them in 2021
MARCH 22, 2021•THEATHLETIC.COM
Velocity creeping upHand topped out at 93 mph with his fastball over the weekend, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports. "I think by the end of spring training, the adrenaline will start pumping a litt...
ImpactDeclining velocity was a concern for Hand last season and may have played into Cleveland's decision to part ways with him, as he averaged 91.5 mph with his fastball in 2020 -- over two miles per hour slower than in 2018. The southpaw still got excellent results though, going 16-for-16 on save chances and posting career lows in ERA (2.05) and WHIP (0.77). With Hand not showing any signs of further decline this spring, there seems to be little danger of him losing his grip on the closer role for Washington.
MARCH 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
All but set for rotationRoss was acknowledged as a member of the Nationals' rotation by manager Dave Martinez on Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Impact"So Corbin will pitch; Joe [Ross] will be back out there in the rotation," Martinez said Sunday when discussing the team's pitching plans for the final week of spring training. "And then Lester will pitch again. Then we'll get Stephen [Strasburg] out there again. We'll try to have more about how we will line this up in the next day or so, because it has been confusing. We're just trying to get guys working. With [Strasburg's] calf strain, with Jonny Lester, we're trying to make sure those guys are healthy." Ross could end up slotting in between lefties Patrick Corbin and Jon Lester rather than simply starting the fifth game of the season, but the Nats' full rotation plans after Opening Day starter Max Scherzer should become clearer this week.
MARCH 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Gets first spring startTovar will start at shortstop and will bat eighth in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
ImpactTovar had previously appeared off the bench in eight of the Mets' spring games, going a collective 0-for-6 at the dish. He'll get the chance to pick up his first start of the Grapefruit League slate Monday, but the 29-year-old doesn't look to be warranting any legitimate consideration for a spot on the Mets' Opening Day roster. Expect him to be reassigned to minor-league camp within the next few days.
MARCH 22, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Defensive issues, Carter Kieboom's future, prospect to watch, Brad Hand's velocity and more: Nationals mailbagManager Dave Martinez doesn't think the Nationals will be plagued by the same defensive issues that haunted them last season.
MARCH 22, 2021•THEATHLETIC.COM
Max Scherzer will start Opening Day for the Nationals. Then what?Max Scherzer has led the Nationals into five of the past six seasons, and Manager Dave Martinez confirmed he would do so this year.
MARCH 22, 2021•WASHINGTONPOST.COM
