The Opener: Tokyo Series, Yankees, Free Agents

With two regular season games now in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Tokyo Series wraps up:

The Dodgers topped the Cubs in Game 2 of the Tokyo Series by a score of 6-3. It was an eventful game, as rookie Roki Sasaki pitched effectively with just one earned run in three innings of work, despite a bout of wildness that saw him walk five while against three strikeouts. Aside from Sasaki’s debut, fellow rookie Matt Shaw recorded his first MLB hit, and fans in Japan got to enjoy a homer from Shohei Ohtani. With the Tokyo Series now in the books, the Cubs and Dodgers will return to Arizona to continue spring training as they wait with MLB’s 28 other clubs to continue the regular season next week. The Cubs are scheduled to face the Padres on Friday in their first game back, while the Dodgers will wait until Sunday to resume play against the Angels.

2. Yankees facing more rotation questions:

It’s been a difficult spring for the Yankees’ pitching staff. Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil is set to miss the early months of the 2025 season due to a lat strain, while veteran ace Gerrit Cole won’t pitch at all this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Things may be getting even more dire in the Bronx now, as right-hander Clarke Schmidt was scratched from his start earlier this week due to shoulder soreness.

While Schmidt has not been ruled out for the Opening Day roster to this point, Greg Joyce of the New York Post noted last night that the Yankees have yet to decide whether the right-hander should join the rotation to begin the season; he’s not fully built up and could open the year on the injured list so that he can continue to finish that process in extended spring training. Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco are presently locked in a competition for the fifth starter job in New York, but an IL stint for Schmidt would open a job for both hurlers for at least the season’s first couple of weeks.

3. Free agents lingering on the market:

With stateside Opening Day just over a week away, some notable veterans who have languished on the market are beginning to find deals. Veteran closer Craig Kimbrel returned to his roots with Atlanta on a minor league pact yesterday, while lefty Patrick Corbin signed a big league contract to join a beleaguered Rangers rotation that recently lost Jon Gray to the injured list. Catcher James McCann also signed on with the Braves on a minor league pact. A few free agents of note still linger on the market, including Alex Verdugo, who reportedly has not received a major league offer this winter. David Peralta, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and David Robertson are among the other names still available to sign.