MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 19, 2026, 1:30 AM ET
Spring Training Pitching & Injury Updates
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made a highly anticipated spring mound debut, demonstrating his two-way capabilities by retiring the side in the fifth inning, though he only threw 4⅓ scoreless frames while recording four strikeouts and issuing two walks against one hit in his first outing. Meanwhile, the Mariners face uncertainty regarding their Opening Day lineup as shortstop J.P. Crawford continues to manage a lingering shoulder issue, requiring him to receive a cortisone shot this week. The injury bug also struck the Brewers' rotation plans when left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison had to exit early during his start due to the discovery of a blister forming on his left index finger, complicating Milwaukee's search for its final rotation spot competing for a spot.
Roster Finalizations & Front Office Moves
The Boston Red Sox finalized their infield alignment, naming Caleb Durbin the starting third baseman for Opening Day after acquiring him from the Brewers right before camp began, with the expectation that highly-touted prospect Nick Mayer will secure the second base role. Across the league, the Colorado Rockies are attempting a strategic overhaul, with former Moneyball pioneer Paul DePodesta confirming his return to baseball specifically to tackle the unique challenges presented by Coors Field, stating he is "a sucker for a challenge" in his new role. In fantasy circles, managers preparing for the 2026 season should note that young sluggers like Jackson Chourio and Roman Anthony are being tabbed by analysts as must-draft options who may be undervalued in early drafts among must-draft players.
International Baseball & Team USA Disappointment
Team USA concluded its run in the World Baseball Classic after falling to Venezuela, whose victory symbolized the tournament's success despite the American squad's failure. Despite fielding one of the most talented offensive rosters ever assembled for the event, the U.S. team could not generate enough offense to overcome the eventual champions, leaving stars like Bryce Harper and others to lament the loss, even while acknowledging the overall positive impact the tournament had on global baseball a win for all of baseball.