Spring Training: 2/24

Spring Player Outlook: Stephen Strasburg

Stat line: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP in one start.

Stephen Strasburg made his first pitches since being shut down in early September, but he didn't pitch well.  This is ok, because we are very early in the spring.  In his start, he tossed two innings (which was the plan), giving up two earned runs on a Ruben Tejada home run.  He is looking forward to a full season in which he will be the ace of the best rotation in baseball.  I look forward to see him blowing away hitters this year (which he did not do in his spring start; Lucas Duda was Stras' only strikeout in the game).  This season, 2013, may be the year he wins 20 games and even a Cy Young.

News

Padres top prospect Rymer Liriano needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2013 season.

Indians outfielder Ryan Raburn is 3-3 with three home runs this spring training.

Pirates signed Jose Contreras (1-0, 5.27 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2013 age: 41) to a minor league deal.

Game Scores

Mets (1-0) beat the Nationals (0-1) 5-3.

Rays (split squad, 1-1) beat the Red Sox (0-1) 4-3.

Yankees (1-0) beat the Braves (0-2) 8-3.

Astros (1-0) beat the Phillies (0-1) 8-3.

White Sox (1-0) beat the Dodgers (0-1) 9-0.

Pirates (1-0) beat the Rays (split squad, 1-1) 3-2.

Cubs (1-0) beat the Angels (split squad, 0-2) 4-1.

Rockies (1-0) beat the Diamondbacks (0-1) 11-2.

Top Scorer: Indians (2-0) beat the Reds (0-2) 13-10.

Standings

Grapefruit (Florida) League: Top: 7 tied at 1-0, 1.000 WPCT.  Bottom: Braves (0-2, .000 WPCT).

Cactus (Arizona) League: Top: Indians (2-0, 1.000 WPCT).  Bottom: Reds and Angels (0-2, .000 WPCT).

Nationals: 0-1, .000 WPCT, t-10th in Grapefruit League.

Spring Leaders

Offensive: AVG: Michael Brantley (Indians), 1.000 (4-4).  Home runs: Ryan Raburn (Indians), 3.  RBI: Jedd Gyorko (Padres), 6.  Stolen bases: 29 tied with 1.

Pitching: Wins: 19 tied with 1.  K's: Dylan Axelrod (White Sox), 4.  ERA: Dylan Axelrod and Jeff Locke (Pirates), 0.00 (3 shutout innings).  Saves: 8 tied with 1.

Top Performers

Offensive: Ryan Raburn (Tigers): 2-2, 2 home runs (3), 4 RBI, 2 runs, AVG up .000 from 1.000 to 1.000.

Pitching: Dylan Axelrod (White Sox): Win (1-0), 3 shutout innings, 1 hit, no walks, 4 K's (4), ERA drop: -.-- runs from -.-- to 0.00.

Worst Pitching Performance: Matt Albers (Indians): 1 inning, 4 earned runs, 4 hits, 1 walk, 0 K's, ERA jump: -.-- runs from -.-- to 36.00.

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Teams followed in this update: Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies

If your team is not included, please leave a comment.

HR: home runs.  RBI: runs batted in.  AVG: batting average.  SB: stolen bases.  ERA: earned run average. WHIP: walks/hits per innings pitched.  K's: strikeouts. WPCT: winning percentage

Zack Silverman