MLB Baseball 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 17, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
MLB Pitching Updates & Setbacks
The National League West rivals prepare for highly anticipated returns as Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is slated to make his first spring training pitching appearance Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants. This marks a significant milestone for the two-way player as he integrates into the rotation, while on the American League side, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is preparing for his initial spring outing following his recovery from Tommy John elbow surgery, signaling the final stages of his rehabilitation process. Unfortunately, the White Sox organization faces an immediate roster setback, as right-hander Mike Vasil will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery after experiencing elbow soreness during a Saturday start, immediately erasing a potential rotation piece for the 2024 campaign.