MLB Player News

It was a three-true-outcome day for Benge, as he struck out in his other two at-bats. The homer to right-center came off Justin Lawrence in the sixth. Benge was able to make the Mets this spring without ever homering, finishing up at .366/.435/.439 in 46 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action. Especially with him being due to sit against a lot of lefties, it’s hard to say if the homers and steals will be there to make Benge a viable mixed-league outfielder as a rookie. However, he should be a solid major league contributor with his OBP skills.

Crochet got into trouble in a still scoreless game in the sixth, when Matt McLain walked and Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart both singled with one out, but he rebounded to fan both Eugenio Suárez and Spencer Steer to end his afternoon. Dating back to last September, Crochet has won five straight starts, pitching scoreless ball in three of those. He’ll face the Astros next.

Chapman averaged 96.9 mph with his six fastballs. That’s down 1.5 mph from last year, but it’s back up about 0.5 mph from where he was in his seven outings this spring. His 368th save moves him past Jeff Reardon and into a tie with Jonathan Papelbon for 11th place on the all-time list. He’s nine away from tying Joe Nathan and jumping into the top 10.

Abbott gave up two singles in each of the first two innings, but he also generated double-play balls both frames. He ended up striking out four batters, and he retired the final five guys he faced in the fifth and sixth innings. He didn’t surrender anything even close to a homer today after giving up six in 17 2/3 innings this spring. Abbott is slated to take on the Pirates next time out, and he’ll likely face off against a rather ticked off Paul Skenes.

To no one’s surprise, Anthony was one of the big ABS winners to start the year. He turned a strikeout into a walk with two outs in the top of the ninth, opening the door for the Red Sox to increase their lead from one run to three. Before that, he had the two hardest-hit balls of the game with his 112- and 110-mph singles. The latter nearly took Sal Stewart’s arm off at first base.

Mayer sat in favor of Isiah Kiner-Falefa against lefty Andrew Abbott, but he made a big impact with his pinch-hit double in the seventh. He then came around to score the first run of the game on a Ceddanne Rafaela single. He went on to single and score in the ninth to give the Red Sox some cushion. The Red Sox aren’t due to face another lefty for at least a week, so Mayer should be in the lineup for the next several games in a row.

Stewart had 75% of Cincinnati’s hits and 83% of their total bases today, with Elly De La Cruz’s single being the team’s only other knock. Stewart gave the Reds a big scare in the fifth when Roman Anthony’s 110-mph liner to first went off the wrist/forearm area of his glove hand. He immediately signaled for the trainer, but he was able to remain in after taking a couple of minutes to recover.

It’s kind of funny that after specifically taking issue with Marte’s troubles hitting against lefties last year, manager Terry Francona lifted him against a right-hander today. It was Will Benson stepping in, so that’s not a bad switch. Benson, though, should have been starting over Spencer Steer in the first place, and he went on to strike out anyway. Marte’s strikeouts today both came against Garrett Crochet, so they probably shouldn’t be held against him. Sal Stewart excepted, no one else in the Reds lineup did anything, either.

The 34-year-old outfielder turned back the clock in this one. He drew a one-out walk in the opening inning and deftly swiped second base, but the Halos were unable to cash him in. Trout then clubbed a 403-foot (108.5 mph EV) solo shot off of AJ Blubaugh in the seventh inning that gave the Angels a 1-0 lead they would never relinquish. There’s no denying that Trout can be a viable fantasy asset if he’s able to stay healthy, he just hasn’t been able to stay off the injured list in recent years.

Schanuel had been 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the ballgame heading to the ninth inning, but he ended his day on a high note as he swatted a 383-foot (103.6 mph EV) solo shot off of Christian Roa that increased the Angels’ advantage to 3-0. Schanuel hit third for the Halos in this one — behind Zach Neto and Mike Trout — which could lead to ample RBI chances this season if that alignment becomes the norm.

With Kirby Yates, Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce opening the season on the injured list, Romano was given the first shot to step up as the team’s closer. He ran with the opportunity on Thursday, getting a strikeout, a comebacker and a pop out to second base around a two-out walk that he issued to Yainer Diaz. Drew Pomeranz may be a factor if the opposition has strong left-handed hitters due up in the ninth inning, but for the time being it looks like Romano is the pitcher to roster in the Angels’ bullpen if scouring for saves.