MLB Baseball 8-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 18, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Spring Training Pitching & Roster Moves

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made a highly anticipated return to the mound in his spring mound debut, delivering 4⅓ scoreless innings where he struck out four while allowing only one hit and two walks, showcasing velocity touching 99 mph. Roster news continued across the American League, as the Red Sox finalized their infield alignment, naming Caleb Durbin the starting third baseman for Opening Day following his acquisition from the Brewers before camp began; Mayer is expected to handle second base duties.

Injury Updates Cause Concern

The outlook for several key players remains murky following mid-week setbacks, notably for the Seattle shortstop; J.P. Crawford is dealing with a persistent shoulder issue requiring a cortisone injection, leaving his availability uncertain for the season's start. In Milwaukee, Brewers starter Kyle Harrison was forced to exit his Wednesday start prematurely, citing discomfort from a blister that developed on his left index finger, compounding pressure on the team's rotation competition.