Last updated: March 20, 2026, 1:30 AM ET
MLB Injury & Strategy Updates
The Arizona season outlook darkened considerably Thursday as manager Joe Espada confirmed that Astros left-hander Bennett Sousa will start the injured list due to an oblique issue, sidelining him for the immediate future. Separately, the Giants received worse news regarding their pitching depth, as rookie Hayden Birdsong requires Tommy John surgery and is ruled out for the entire 2024 campaign, dealing a major blow to San Francisco's rotation plans. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are adapting tactics in Grapefruit League contests, experimenting with calling pitches directly from the dugout, mirroring the divisional strategy utilized by the rival Miami Marlins during their spring training schedule.
Baseball Global Viewership
Outside of domestic spring training developments, the international appeal of the sport continues to climb, evidenced by the recent ratings success of the World Baseball Classic championship game. The final contest between Venezuela and the United States drew 10,784,000 viewers across Fox and Fox Deportes, nearly doubling the viewership figures recorded for Japan's victory in the 2023 tournament final, suggesting growing mainstream interest in premier international baseball events.