MLB Baseball 8-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 18, 2026, 9:30 PM ET

Spring Training Pitching & Injury Notes

Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani made his highly anticipated spring mound debut, showcasing his two-way capabilities by striking out four batters while allowing just one hit and two walks across 4⅓ scoreless innings, with his fastball touching 99 mph in the outing. Conversely, the Brewers rotation outlook suffered a minor setback when left-hander Kyle Harrison was forced to exit his start prematurely due to the emergence of a blister on his left index finger, creating uncertainty for Milwaukee's final rotation spot. Meanwhile, the Mariners face concern over shortstop J.P. Crawford's readiness for Opening Day as he continues to receive treatment for a lingering shoulder issue, necessitating a recent cortisone injection.

Infield Roster Finalizations

Boston sets third base as Caleb Durbin, acquired just before camp opened from the Brewers, has officially secured the starting role at the hot corner for the Red Sox. This decision solidifies one corner of the infield, leaving the second base job likely to go to prospect Tommy Mayer, as the team begins to finalize its lineup structure ahead of the regular season opener.