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With the ultimate day of February upon us, listed below are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day at present:
1. Skenes vs. Holliday:
Prospect lovers gained’t wish to miss at present’s recreation between the Pirates and Orioles, the place the first-overall picks of the previous two seasons are set to conflict. Proper-hander Paul Skenes, the No. 1 decide of the 2023 draft and a consensus top-10 prospect within the recreation, is poised to face shortstop Jackson Holliday, the highest decide of the 2022 draft and the consensus high prospect in your complete sport. Followers fascinated about seeing the matchup gained’t have to attend very lengthy, as Holliday informed reporters this morning (together with MLB.com’s Jake Rill) that he’s set to open the highest of the primary inning at present as Baltimore’s lead off hitter, leaving him to be the very first batter Skenes faces at present. If that matchup isn’t engaging sufficient for you, Skenes will likely be taking the mound reverse newly-minted Orioles ace Corbin Burnes. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05pm CT this afternoon.
2. Muncy to bear testing:
Dodgers infielder Max Muncy was struck within the hand by a pitch from Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford throughout yesterday’s recreation, with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale relaying that the slugger has been identified with a contusion, in keeping with supervisor Dave Roberts. The Dodgers’ skipper added that Muncy is about to bear “precautionary” x-rays at present. A mainstay of the L.A. lineup since he broke out with the membership through the 2018 season, Muncy has slashed .230/.356/.486 in 751 video games whereas clubbing 175 homers in a Dodgers uniform. That features final yr’s .212/.333/.475 slash line, which was good for a wRC+ of 118. Ought to Muncy miss time because of the damage, the membership would seemingly be left to show to teen Miguel Vargas on the sizzling nook to open the season.
3. The place will Stanek land?
Whereas most dialogue of the free agent market has been centered on the “Boras 4” in latest weeks, right-hander Ryne Stanek stands out because the clear finest reliever remaining on the open market. Whereas his 4.09 ERA and 4.60 FIP final yr had been each quite pedestrian, he’s only one season faraway from dominating to a 1.15 ERA and three.05 FIP in 54 2/3 innings of labor and sports activities a robust 27.8% strikeout charge for his profession. These numbers would make him at the least a strong center reliever for any bullpen within the majors. The righty has been related to the Cubs, Red Sox, and Mets to date this winter, although different golf equipment are certainly additionally within the combine.
Stanek’s market has been quiet because the calendar flipped to February. Chicago has seemingly backed off its pursuit regardless of mutual curiosity, whereas the Mets added a distinct high-octane bullpen arm to their combine in Shintaro Fujinami. It’s doable that accidents across the recreation might spur a membership to shore up their bullpen combine with Stanek as Spring Coaching continues; yesterday alone noticed damage scares for the Guardians and Mariners (Trevor Stephan and Matt Brash, respectively). Will the veteran righty’s market start to choose up because the calendar flips to March?
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