Overview
- Team USA names rookie Nolan McLean to start against Venezuela’s Eduardo Rodríguez in Miami, with U.S. bullpen availability uncertain as reports indicate David Bednar is likely out and Mason Miller’s status is unclear.
- The championship game follows strict tournament workload rules, and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza says he will be closely watching McLean’s outing with an eye on the pitcher’s rapid return to club camp.
- Padres manager Craig Stammen said Joe Musgrove is likely to open the season on the injured list after difficulty bouncing back from a recent outing, intensifying San Diego’s rotation questions.
- Yankees right-hander Luis Gil was hit hard in his latest spring start, though Aaron Boone still considers him in the rotation mix as New York maps early off-days and plans a managed, ~70-pitch Opening Day workload for Cam Schlittler.
- Mets reliever Huascar Brazobán has effectively secured an Opening Day bullpen spot after a dominant WBC, as Mark Vientos continues to struggle at the plate in camp and the Dodgers tab Yoshinobu Yamamoto for their Opening Day start, with MLB testing a new minor-league Check-Swing Challenge beginning May 5.