Michael Trzinski

Haha, not, just a catchy title. Did you enjoy the history?

Technically, you are correct. But generally, each of the three iterations of Yankee Stadium (I, II, III) use (or used) the moniker, 'The House That Ruth Built.' But other than that, did you enjoy the trip down late 1970s AL East memory lane?

On Thursday afternoon, the Milwaukee Brewers open their 2025 season, facing the defending American League champion New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. This will be the third time that the Brewers have made their season debut in the Bronx, the other two coming back in 1977 and 1979, respectively, when the Brewers were still fierce competitors with the Yankees in the AL East. Image courtesy of © Brad Penner-Imagn Images 1977 (Catfish, Reggie, and the Toy Cannon lead Yanks to victory) The Yankees were coming off the losing end of a World Series sweep at the hands of ‘The Big Red Machine’ the previous October and had something to prove. The Brewers, on the other hand, finished dead last in the AL East with a record of 66-95, 32 games behind New York. Von Joshua led off the first with a single but never moved as Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, and Sal Bando all flied out to left fielder Roy White. In the bottom of the second, Jim Wynn slammed his first and only AL home run (in his first AL at-bat), a blast that carried some 430 feet to dead center to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Reggie Jackson scored the final two runs on a fielder’s choice and a wild pitch by Milwaukee starter Bill Travers. Joshua led the Brewers with a double and two singles while Cooper and Don Money each had base hits. For the Yanks, Mickey Rivers, Jackson, and Wynn each had two hits. Catfish Hunter got the win, going seven innings and allowing just three hits while striking out five. Sparky Lyle allowed two hits in two innings for the save, the first of 26 in his AL Cy Young season. Travers went 7.2 innings and gave up 11 hits and three runs. After the game Bando said, “When we didn’t get to ‘Cat’ in the first inning, I knew he’d be tough.” 1979 (‘Yankee killer’ Caldwell tosses complete game gem) The Brewers came into the season after their first 90-win season (93 wins), facing the two-time defending World Series champions on April 5 at Yankee Stadium. Fans that were expecting a pitcher’s duel weren’t disappointed as Yankee starter Ron Guidry set down the first 16 batters he faced, while Brewers lefty Mike Caldwell scattered five hits and one run as the Brewers trailed 1-0 going into the sixth. Guidry got the first out and then imploded, as the next seven Brewers that came to the plate had four singles, two walks, and scored four runs, knocking ‘Louisiana Lightning’ out of the game in favor of reliever Dick Tidrow. The Brewers added their final run on an RBI single by Charlie Moore in the seventh inning. Caldwell — who had three complete game shutouts against New York in 1978 — allowed seven hits total. Guidry took the loss after looking invincible the first five frames. Don Money had a hit and two RBI, while Cecil Cooper, Sixto Lezcano, and Moore all had RBI singles. “It’s a tremendous thrill to beat the two-time World Series champs,” Caldwell said. “I got psyched up when they ran up the World Series flag [up the flagpole]. I’d sure like to see that thing go up in Milwaukee next year.” 2025 For the third time (and first in 46 years), the Brewers will take on the defending AL champion New York Yankees in an Opening Day contest at Yankee Stadium. How will it turn out? View full article

If my math skills are still up to par, the Milwaukee Brewers Players Project now has 105 player bios with the most recent additions! This week’s additions to the Players Project are J.J. Hardy, Mike Cameron, and Jhoulys Chacín. Each week, I try to come up with a trio of players that have something in common. Hardy, Cameron, and Chacín all had great Opening Day games. The performances were not necessarily the best Opening Day stat lines in Brewers history, but they were notable nonetheless. J.J. Hardy Hardy was entering his third major league season in 2007, coming off his sophomore campaign in which he had played only 35 games before undergoing season-ending surgery in July to repair a tendon in his right ankle. Hardy came to camp in 2007 healthy and ready to show the Brewers what he could do. He started quickly. On Opening Day against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hardy batted second and collected three singles and a walk in five trips to the plate. He also scored a run and had an RBI. The Brewers scored a 7-1 victory due in part to Hardy’s heroics. J.J. was red-hot the first five weeks, batting .341/.395/.622 with 11 doubles and nine homers in just 135 at-bats. The Brewers were 23-10 in early May and led the Chicago Cubs by 6.5 games. Milwaukee relinquished their stranglehold on first place in mid-August and finished the season with a mark of 83-79, two games behind the Cubs. Hardy played 151 games and had career-bests with 89 runs scored, 164 hits, 80 RBI, and 274 total bases. He also added 30 doubles and 26 home runs. Hardy was named to the NL All-Star team for the only time while wearing the Milwaukee jersey, which lasted five seasons. Hardy was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Carlos Gómez and after one year in the Twin Cities, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, where he spent the final seven years of his big-league career. Mike Cameron Cameron came to Milwaukee as a free agent at age 35 in 2008. He missed the first 25 games of the season due to testing positive for a banned stimulant the year before. Playing 120 games, Cameron posted a 111 OPS+, along with 25 doubles, 25 homers, and 17 stolen bases. Although he had won three Gold Gloves in his career, critics talked about his defense, even though he had a DRS of four in his first year in Milwaukee. The Brewers re-upped Cameron for $10 million in 2009. “Why in the world would the Milwaukee Brewers pay Mike Cameron $10 million for one season to have a lousy average, strike out a lot, and be very average in the field,” grumbled sportswriter Chuck Delsman. Cameron had a very interesting Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants. Batting sixth and playing center field at AT&T Park, Cameron walked in the second inning and added an RBI single in the third off starter Tim Lincecum. He drew free passes off relievers Joe Martinez, Jeremy Affeldt, and Alex Hinshaw. Cameron also scored two runs and pilfered a pair of bases, all to no avail as the Brewers lost 10-6. Like Hardy two years before, Cameron started off well and was batting .321/.408/.655 with 10 two-baggers and six home runs across 84 at-bats in the first four weeks of the year. He finished with a batting line that was very nearly his career average: .250/.342/.452 with 32 doubles, 24 home runs, and an OPS+ of 110. After the season he signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. After the 2011 season, Cameron ended his 17-year career. Jhoulys Chacín Chacín came to the Brewers as a free agent after nine seasons with five different clubs. At that point, he had a 112 OPS+ and a FIP of 4.08. His two-year deal with the Brewers put a cool $15.5 million in the pitcher’s bank account. Chacín’s first season (2018) with Milwaukee showed solid numbers traditionally and analytically. He went 15-8 with an ERA of 3.50, and his 35 starts led the National League. Chacín had a 116 OPS+ and a FIP of 4.03. Big things were expected of him in 2019. Chacín took the mound against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day. He struck out the side in the first but didn’t fare so well in the second. Chacín got the first two outs before walking Dexter Fowler. Kolten Wong then hit the first pitch he saw to the Toyota Tundra Territory to make it 2-0. The very next pitch to Harrison Bader cleared the fence in left field and the Cards had a three-run lead. A home run by Mike Moustakas cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the second. In the third, Chacín and Lorenzo Cain both singled before Christian Yelich hit a three-run bomb to give the home team a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the fifth with the Brewers still up by one, Chacín hit a solo shot to left center to make it 5-3. He had one man on with one out in the top of the sixth when he was relieved by Junior Guerra. Wong hit a solo home run in the seventh to cut the lead to 5-4. Josh Hader took over in the eighth to close it out, but it took a leaping catch by Cain in front of the right center field wall in the top of the ninth to bring home the victory. Chacín pitched 5.1 innings, allowed three hits, three runs, and two walks while striking out seven. At the plate, he went two for two with the home run and RBI. All in all, it was a pretty good day for a starting pitcher. Unfortunately, he was released in August after 19 starts and an OPS+ of just 77. He was out of the big leagues after the 2022 season. You can check out some of our past Milwaukee Brewers Player Project bios below. Early 2000s Catching Crew Unsung Brewers Heroes of 2015 Honoring Bob With Badger State Products Learn about the Milwaukee Brewers Players Project here. View full article

And if Capra and Dunn both hit, it's a double bonus 🙂

Michael Terrance Cameron was born in January 1973 in LaGrange, Georgia. He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the 1991 MLB Amateur Draft. That late round produced players like outfielder Bobby Higginson (23.1 career bWAR), pitchers Kirk Rueter (16.4), Ron Mahay (7.9), and outfielder Cameron (46.7), who all had significant MLB careers. Cameron eased his way up the chain in the White Sox minor league system and in his fifth year, made his major league debut in 1995, playing in 28 games and slashing .188/.244/.316. The right-handed center fielder made it to the majors for good in 1997 with the White Sox, slashing .259/.356/.433 with 14 homers and 23 stolen bases, showing his power and speed tools almost immediately while finishing sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. After the 1998 season, he was traded to Cincinnati and played for one year for them before moving to Seattle in the Ken Griffey, Jr. trade. Cameron was a Mariner for four seasons, making the AL All-Star team in 2001 and earning two Gold Gloves. He averaged 22 HRs and 27 steals and posted a 112 OPS+. After the 2003 season, Cameron signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. During his second season with the Mets Cameron was plagued by a wrist injury and had also voiced his displeasure with being moved to right field in favor of Carlos Beltrán. The Mets traded Cameron to the San Diego Padres after the 2005 campaign. Cameron played for two years with the Padres, winning his third Gold Glove in 2007 before signing a one year, seven-million-dollar contract as a free agent with the Brewers in early 2008. He missed the first 25 games of the season due to a suspension related to testing positive for a banned stimulant. Cameron helped lead the Brewers to their first postseason appearance since 1982, finishing third (for hitters) in bWAR (3.1), homers (25), and steals (17). Despite significant amounts of squawking in the media, the Brewers re-upped the 36-year-old Cameron for $10 million for 2009. Cameron finished in the top three for Milwaukee in almost every offensive category in 2009, slashing .250/.342/.452 with 32 doubles and 24 home runs across 544 at-bats. After the season, “Cammy” signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. He played 81 games for Boston over the next two seasons before being purchased by the Florida Marlins in July 2011. Cameron was released after the season and signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. At the beginning of the 2012 spring training, Cameron announced his retirement. View full player

Jhoulys Jose Chacín was born in January 1988 in Maracaibo, Venezuela and was signed as an international free agent by the Colorado Rockies in 2004. In his third professional season, Chacín won 18 games with an ERA of 2.03 at two lower-level stops in 2008 and then made his MLB debut a year later. The right-hander made nine appearances (one start) and posted a 99 OPS+ and a 4.92 FIP in 11 innings. In 2010, Chacín made seven starts at Triple-A Colorado Springs before getting moved up to the Rockies, where he made 28 appearances (21 starts), posted a 142 OPS+ and a FIP of 3.55. That led to a full-time rotation job the next season and he posted Rockies' bests in wins (11), qualifying ERA (3.62), starts (31), innings pitched (194), strikeouts (150), and tied for first with two complete games and one shutout. He posted a 126 OPS+ and a FIP of 4.23. Chacín had one good season (2013) but sandwiched that with two injury-riddled seasons. He was released before the 2015 campaign. Over the next three years, Chacín pitched for four teams (Diamondbacks, Braves, Angels, Padres) before signing on with the Brewers in December 2017 as a free agent in a two-year deal for $15.5 million. Chacín won 15 games in 2018, making 35 starts and posting a 116 OPS+. The following season he was put on the injured list with an oblique strain in late July and was DFA’d after discussions between the Brewers and Chacín. He made a few starts for Boston and was released once again. He pitched two games for Atlanta during the Covid season of 2020 and was released in August. Chacín became an American citizen in January 2021 and was signed to a minor league contract by the Yankees, but was released before the season. He signed with the Rockies for a second stint and made 81 appearances with only one start. After posting a 61 OPS+ in 35 relief appearances for the Rockies in 2022, he was let go. Since then, he spent time in the winter leagues and one season (2024) in the Mexican League. In 14 major league seasons, Chacín pitched for seven big league teams and had a 105 career OPS+ in 338 appearances, including 227 starts. View full player

James Jerry Hardy was born in Tucson, Arizona in August 1982. He was a three-time All-State player for Sabino (Tucson) HS and was also named to the USA Today All-American team as a senior. The Brewers chose Hardy in the second round of the 2001 MLB Amateur Draft, 56th overall. After prolonged contract talks, Hardy signed for $735,000 and made his professional debut in the Arizona Rookie League before finishing the year at Ogden (Utah) of the rookie Pioneer League. Hardy played in the All-Stars Futures Game in 2003, along with the US Olympic team in the qualifying tournament. The right-handed hitting shortstop started the 2004 season at Triple-A Indianapolis, only to see his campaign end with a torn labrum after 26 games. He won the starting SS job for the Brewers in 2005 and knocked in a pair of runs with his first major league hit in his first game of the year. He split time with Bill Hall, starting 104 games and slashing .247/.327/.384 with 22 doubles and nine home runs in 372 at-bats. Injury struck Hardy again in 2006, as he damaged a tendon in his right ankle in a play at home plate in mid-May and ended up having season-ending surgery in July. Hardy played in a career-low 35 games but started showing some power with five home runs in 128 at-bats. Hardy made the NL All-Star team in 2007, slashing .277/.323/.463 with an OPS+ of 101 and career-highs in runs scored, hits, and RBI. He also slammed 26 home runs in 592 at-bats. The following year was another solid year in which Hardy had career highs in OPS (.821) and OPS+ (115). He hit a career-high 31 doubles to go along with 24 homers. The 2009 season was not kind to Hardy as he was sent down to Triple-A Nashville in early August after a sub-par .229/.300/.367 batting line. He returned in September but played sparingly. After the season he was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Carlos Gómez. Hardy missed had two stints on the disabled list in May and June 2010 and played in only 101 games, although he slashed a respectable .268/.320/.394. Hardy was traded to Baltimore after the 2011 campaign and played the next seven years with the Orioles and enjoyed a career resurgence. He won three straight Gold Glove awards, a Silver Slugger award and made the AL All-Star team in 2013. Hardy ended his 13-year career after the 2017 season. His career slash line read .256/.305/.408 with 1,488 hits, 291 doubles, and 188 homers. He was inducted into the Milwaukee Brewers ‘Wall of Honor.’ View full player

I think the Cubs are the favorites and the other four will battle for runner-up. But, ya never know...

Historically speaking, the St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most successful teams in major league history, having won 11 World Series in 19 tries, second only to the 27 titles of the New York Yankees. However, while the Cards played in the postseason each year from 2019-2022, they've come up short the last two seasons, finishing fifth in the NL Central in 2023 while grabbing a runner-up spot last year. What do they have in store in 2025? Image courtesy of Rick Scuteri/USA Today Last Year Although they weren’t terrible — playing above .500 ball in five of the six months of the 2024 season — the Cardinals just didn’t have enough horsepower to keep up in the division. St. Louis finished tied for second with the Chicago Cubs with an 83-79 record, 10 games behind Milwaukee for the NL Central title in 2024. However, closer Ryan Helsley not only led the National League with 49 saves, but he also posted an ERA+ of 206 and a 2.41 FIP. He was the only Cardinals All-Star and finished ninth in the NL Cy Young voting. Manager Oliver Marmol is beginning his fourth year at the helm at just 38 years old. Key Losses: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, INF Matt Carpenter, OF Dylan Carlson, OF Tommy Pham, and P’s Andrew Kittredge, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn. Key Signings: P Nick Anderson, UTIL Michael Helman, P Roddery Muñoz, IF-OF José Barrero. Starting Pitching The Cardinals appear to be set in their rotation with four righties and one southpaw. Erick Fedde came over from the White Sox and had an ERA+ of 126 and a FIP of 3.86. Miles Mikolas had perhaps his worst season since arriving in St. Louis with an ERA+ of 78 and FIP of 4.24. Sonny Gray dropped off a bit from his dominant 2023 but won a team-high 13 games with an ERA+ of 109 and FIP of 3.12. Andre Pallante is the only projected starter younger than 30 years old at 26, but in his first year as a full-time starter posted an ERA+ of 111 and FIP of 3.71. Left-hander Steven Matz was limited to 12 appearances (seven starts) in 2024 due to a back injury but is healthy this spring and will be a back-end starter in the rotation. Michael McGreevy will challenge for a spot but will most likely start the season in Triple-A. Lefty Zack Thompson has a left lat injury and will most likely not be ready until late April/early May. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name FIP fWAR K% BB% Erick Fedde 4.28 1.4 21.1 7.4 Miles Mikolas 4.47 1.1 16.1 4.7 Sonny Gray 3.48 2.9 25.5 6.7 Andre Pallante 3.98 1.4 17.0 9.2 Steven Matz (LH) 4.05 1.0 20.1 7.4 Michael McGreevy 4.13 1.8 16.7 6.3 Zack Thompson (LH) 4.33 0.8 22.3 10.8 Relief Pitching Ryan Helsley will once again be the closer after saving 49 games last season. Ryan Fernandez will see some high-leverage action after a 120 ERA+, 3.35 FIP season. Southpaws JoJo Romero (125 ERA+, 4.27 FIP), Matthew Liberatore (95, 4.11), and John King (148, 3.73) will all have prominent roles in the bullpen. Newcomer Nick Anderson (106, 5.07) should take over the role held by Kittredge last year, while Riley O’Brien (39, 7.04) and Kyle Leahy (104, 3.56) have a leg up for the final spots. Roddery Muñoz and Gordon Graceffo can start or relieve and will challenge for either spot, while Chris Roycroft and Ryan Loutos will fight for relief spots in the bullpen. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name FIP fWAR K% BB% Ryan Helsley 2.86 1.0 30.6 9.0 Ryan Fernandez 3.66 0.4 23.3 8.9 JoJo Romero (LH) 3.73 0.3 23.9 7.8 Matthew Liberatore (LH) 4.17 0.8 21.2 8.7 Nick Anderson 4.33 0.0 20.4 8.6 John King (LH) 3.80 0.4 15.2 5.8 Riley O’Brien 4.59 0.1 22.6 11.9 Kyle Leahy 4.44 0.2 17.5 8.7 Roddery Muñoz 5.11 0.0 19.3 10.2 Gordon Graceffo 4.54 0.8 16.1 7.7 Ryan Loutos 4.10 0.1 19.1 8.9 Chris Roycroft 4.40 -0.1 18.8 10.6 Catcher Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés will most likely split the time behind the dish, once the domain of Yadier Molina. Herrera is better with the bat (.301/.372/.428), but Pagés (.238/.281/.376) is better at throwing out runners (19% compared to seven percent). Willson Contreras will play mostly at first base but could catch if needed. Chance Sisco and Jimmy Crooks (the Cardinals' #4 prospect) are also in camp. First Base Alec Burleson will see plenty of time at first, as will Contreras. Burleson (.269/.314/.420) will also take turns as the designated hitter, along with Contreras and Luken Baker, who has nothing left to prove after hitting 112 home runs over the last four seasons at Double-A and Triple-A. Second Base Nolan Gorman is in his fourth year, and although he has had a negative DRS each year, he will be given every opportunity to get 600 at-bats this season. If Nolan Arenado is traded, Gorman would probably move to third. Brendan Donovan made 49 starts at second last year but will get most of his playing time in left field. Thomas Saggese and José Fermín can play second and short but are probably going back to the minors to start the campaign. Third Base Right now, the spot is Arenado’s, despite the desire of the Cardinals to trade him. Last year was the first time in 12 years that Arenado (.275/.325/.394) didn’t win a Gold Glove or make the All-Star team. Fermín and Donovan each played more than 50 innings at the hot corner last year. Shortstop Masyn Winn’s DRS of 14 was the best in the majors at short, and he also had 52 extra-base hits along with his slash line of .267/.314/.416 and 102 OPS+. He is a superstar in the making. José Barrero can play short and all three outfield spots and will be one of the last players on the bench. Left Field For now, Donovan (.278/.342/.417) is expected to get most of the starts in left, with Barrero serving as a back-up. Donovan is a solid defender and won a Gold Glove as a utility player in 2022. Center Field Lars Nootbaar is slated to play in center but will also play a few games in left field. The versatile Barrero can play all three spots but needs to regain his batting eye. Michael Siani slashed only .228/.285/.285 last year and led the team with 20 steals but will be relegated to defensive replacement and pinch-runner status. Right Field Jordan Walker was the #4 prospect in the game in 2023 but just hasn’t put it all together yet. He had a fine rookie season but regressed last year, playing only 51 games for the Cardinals, slashing .201/.253/.366. Expected to take over in right field this year, Walker has been slowed by a knee injury this spring but should be back in the lineup by the start of the season. Victor Scott II and Matt Koperniak are on the borderline of making the big league team. The London-born Koperniak has a career .834 OPS in the minors. Designated Hitter Ten returning players spent at least one game at DH last year. Expect more of the same as manager Marmol plays mix-and-match with whoever isn’t playing in the field. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name (L)= Lefthanded wRC+ OPS wOBA fWAR Iván Herrera 107 .724 .321 2.2 Pedro Pagés 76 .621 .275 1.3 Willson Contreras 117 .764 .336 2.9 Alec Burleson (L) 112 .759 .329 2.2 Nolan Gorman (L) 108 .748 .323 2.1 Brendan Donovan (L) 119 .769 .339 2.7 Luken Baker 94 .692 .301 0.2 Nolan Arenado 107 .744 .321 3.1 Masyn Winn 96 .699 .304 3.1 José Barrero 74 .617 .272 0.6 Lars Nootbaar (L) 118 .776 .337 2.5 Michael Siani (L) 65 .572 .258 0.3 Jordan Walker 101 .718 .312 0.8 Matt Koperniak 93 .681 .299 1.2 Victor Scott II (L) 70 .599 .266 0.9 Summary The Baseball Prospectus PECOTA projections have the Cardinals winning 77.8 games, which ranks fourth in the NL Central. The Brewers, Pirates, and Cardinals are rated less than two games apart, so it is just a matter of which team has their youngsters come through, which team can stay injury free, and which team has all the pieces come together. If you believe PECOTA (I don’t), the Cubs are the elite team in the Central with a projected win total of 91.5 games. Time will tell how this tightly bunched division will shake out come October. How do you think the Cardinals and the rest of the teams in the NL Central will fare this year? Please add your comments below. View full article

Tough crowd...lol

The Pittsburgh Pirates have not had a .500 season since 2018 and haven’t made a playoff appearance since 2015. The 1979 ‘We Are Family’ Pirates, led by Willie “Pops” Stargell, Dave “Cobra” Parker, and John “Candy Man” Candelaria won their last World Series. Can new stars like Paul Skenes, Bryan Reynolds, and Oneil Cruz do the heavy lifting along with old pro Andrew McCutcheon to get this team across the finish line in a ‘up for grabs’ NL Central in 2025, or will they once again walk the plank? Image courtesy of Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Last Year The Bucs finished dead last in the NL Central in 2024 with a mark of 76-86 under skipper Derek Shelton, 17 games behind the division-winning Brewers. They climbed as high as second in the standings on July 30, but lost 12 of 13 games to drop them out of the race. Their team OPS+ was 87, which ranked second-to-last in the NL, as did their 1,506 strikeouts. They have lots of work to do, but on the bright side, Paul Skenes won the NL Rookie of the Year award last year and Reynolds was an All-Star, so there is some potential there. Key Losses: Pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Luis Ortiz, 1B/OF Connor Joe, 1B Rowdy Tellez, OF Bryan De La Cruz, C Yasmani Grandal, OF Michael A. Taylor. Key Signings: Outfielders Tommy Pham and DJ Stewart, 1B Spencer Horwitz, IF-OF Adam Frazier, 2B Enmanuel Valdéz , pitchers Tim Mayza, Caleb Ferguson, and Tanner Rainey. Starting Pitching Any discussion of pitching in Pittsburgh starts with Skenes. Last year’s rookie season earned him the NL ROY award and a third-place finish in the NL Cy Young voting. His stat line showed an ERA+ of 214, 2.44 FIP, a strikeout rate of 33.1% and a walk rate of 6.2%. He will be the staff ace. Two pitchers that are certain to be in the rotation are right-handers Mitch Keller and Jared Jones. Keller was an All-Star in 2023, and Jones is said to have a fastball comparable to that of Skenes. Southpaw Bailey Falter rounds out the top four. Right-handers Mike Burrows, Bubba Chandler, and Johan Oviedo will compete for the final spot in the rotation. Burrows has some impressive minor league power numbers, while Chandler is #15 on the MLB Top Prospects list. Oviedo missed all of 2024 after Tommy John surgery. Right-handers Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington have potential as well. Update: Southpaw Andrew Heaney was signed to a free agent contract and will compete for a rotation spot. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name FIP fWAR K% BB% Paul Skenes 3.17 3.7 28.9 6.9 Jared Jones 3.79 2.1 24.3 7.2 Mitch Keller 3.99 2.3 21.2 6.8 Bailey Falter 4.42 1.1 16.9 6.8 Mike Burrows 4.57 0.5 19.1 8.9 Bubba Chandler 4.58 0.8 19.8 9.0 Johan Oviedo 4.31 1.1 21.1 9.3 Braxton Ashcraft 3.88 1.2 19.2 5.2 Thomas Harrington 4.39 1.0 18.4 6.3 Relief Pitching Seven pitchers appear to have a spot in the bullpen when the Pirates’ season starts on March 27 in Miami. Right-handers David Bednar, Colin Holderman, Dennis Santana, Kyle Nicolas, and Carmen Mlodzinski should start the season as part of the relief crew, with Bednar and Santana handling the late-inning duties. Nicolas has perhaps the best pure stuff on the staff and will pitch in high-leverage situations. Lefties Tim Mayza and Caleb Ferguson will join in the mix. Five others that have a shot of making the Opening Day roster are righties Carson Fulmer, Peter Strzelecki, Hunter Stratton, and Chase Shugart. Southpaw Ryan Borucki hopes to rebound from an injury-plagued 2024. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name FIP fWAR K% BB% David Bednar 3.48 0.6 25.7 8.4 Colin Holderman 3.82 0.4 23.4 9.8 Dennis Santana 3.59 0.6 23.1 9.2 Kyle Nicolas 4.53 0.2 21.8 11.5 Carmen Mlodzinski 4.01 0.6 20.8 9.2 Tim Mayza 4.19 0.1 16.8 7.9 Caleb Ferguson 3.18 0.8 24.3 8.8 Carson Fulmer 4.60 0.2 18.7 11.2 Peter Strzelecki 4.32 0.0 21.1 9.4 Hunter Stratton 3.93 0.3 22.3 9.1 Chase Shugart 4.60 0.1 17.1 8.4 Ryan Borucki 4.58 -0.1 23.4 11.2 Catcher Joey Bart is the presumptive starter with the departure of Yasmani Grandal. In his first season in Pittsburgh, Bart hit 13 HRs in 253 ABs while leading the team with an OPS+ of 120. Henry Davis and Endy Rodríguez will also see playing time. First Base The recently acquired Spencer Horwitz was expected to be the starter but is out for 6-8 weeks after surgery on his right thumb. Utility player Jared Triolo might be next in line. Slick fielding Billy Cook should get some starts, along with outfielder Bryan Reynolds. Second Base Nick Gonzales slashed .270/.311/.398 over 359 ABs last year and is penciled in as the starter at the keystone. Triolo will get playing time at second, as will Adam Frazier and Enmanuel Valdéz. Third Base After missing the last seven weeks of 2024 with a back injury, Ke’Bryan Hayes appears to be healthy this spring and should start at the hot corner. Frazier and Valdéz will fill in as needed. Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa will be the everyday shortstop. Gonzales, Triolo, and Nick Yorke will be the back-ups. Outfield The only thing we know for sure is that Oneil Cruz will play center field. The 6-foot-7 shortstop-turned-outfielder has 30/30 potential and will be one of the next Pirates superstars. Tommy Pham might play left while Reynolds plays right. Others that will in the starting mix are Jack Suwinski, DJ Stewart, Yorke, Cook, Joshua Palacios, and Frazier. Designated Hitter Most likely, Pittsburgh fan favorite Andrew McCutcheon will be the DH… unless he is needed in the outfield, which would spell doom for the Pirates.. Then, it could be anyone. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name wRC+ OPS wOBA fWAR Joey Bart 98 .709 .313 1.3 Endy Rodríguez 91 .694 .303 1.9 Henry Davis 101 .725 .318 1.5 Spencer Horwitz 119 .783 .344 2.5 Jared Triolo 89 .675 .301 1.8 Nick Gonzales 105 .746 .323 2.6 Enmanuel Valdéz 91 .695 .302 0.9 Adam Frazier 82 .650 .289 0.5 Ke’Bryan Hayes 85 .670 .294 1.9 Isiah Kiner-Falefa 81 .654 .288 1.0 Tommy Pham 95 .699 .307 0.4 Bryan Reynolds 114 .779 .337 2.5 Oneil Cruz 112 .779 .334 3.0 Jack Suwinski 109 .765 .330 1.7 Nick Yorke 84 .665 .293 1.3 Billy Cook 87 .681 .297 0.9 Joshua Palacios 104 .739 .322 1.0 Andrew McCutcheon 95 .695 .309 0.0 DJ Stewart 84 .653 .292 -0.3 Summary The Pirates aren't anyone's definition of a favorite, and the PECOTA projections have them set to finish fourth in the division with a 78-84 record. A climb back to .500 would be a success for the downtrodden Buccos, who have lots of young talent percolating through the system but have done little to supplement it at the major league level. Expect Pittsburgh to be a thorn in everyone's side in 2025 while ultimately falling shy of a playoff spot. View full article

The Reds come into the 2025 season with high hopes and a new manager. Terry Francona takes over the reins and brings with him two World Series titles and a career winning record of .538 during a 23-year managing resume. Pitcher Brent Suter said of Francona, “Where’s the wall? I’ll run through it.” Enough said. Image courtesy of Albert Cesare/Cincinnati Enquirer Last Year The Reds have finished over .500 only three times in the last ten years, including last season’s 77-85 mark which ranked fourth in the NL Central, 16 games behind the Brewers. Cincinnati had four winning months during the year, but that was offset by a combined 21-35 in May and August. The good news is that the Reds placed third in the NL with 207 stolen bases. The bad news is they were third-to-last with an OPS+ of 88. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz led the NL with 67 stolen bases, but on the negative side, also led the league with 16 caught steals and 218 strikeouts. Pitcher Hunter Greene led all NL pitchers with a 6.3 bWAR, which also placed fifth overall in the league. Both De La Cruz and Greene made the All-Star team. The Baseball Prospectus PECOTA projection has the Reds finishing last in the division and winning 74 games in 2025, three games worse than last year. Key Losses: 2B Jonathan India, pitchers Ty France, Fernando Cruz, Buck Farmer, Justin Wilson. Key Signings: 2B Gavin Lux, P Taylor Rogers, OF Austin Hays, C Jose Trevino, P Brady Singer. Starting Pitching Greene is the ace of the staff and as good as he has been, the righty not come close to his ceiling. His ERA+ of 160 led the team and his FIP of 3.47 was second among starters. Could this be the year Greene breaks through and competes for the Cy Young award? Right-handers Nick Martinez (142 ERA+, 3.21 FIP) and Brady Singer (114, 3.93) will be in the rotation as well as left-hander Nick Lodolo (92, 3.95). The fifth spot is up for grabs with left-hander Andrew Abbott (118, 5.04) and righty Rhett Lowder (six starts) as the current favorites. Both Abbott and Lowder are rehabbing injuries and might be a bit behind the curve. Also competing for a spot are right-handers Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers. Veteran southpaw Wade Miley was signed as a free agent but won’t return from injury until late April/early May. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name FIP fWAR K% BB% Hunter Greene 3.75 3.0 27.6 8.5 Nick Martinez 3.47 2.4 20.7 5.8 Brady Singer 4.33 2.1 22.5 7.1 Nick Lodolo (LH) 4.12 1.6 25.1 7.8 Andrew Abbott (LH) 4.50 1.6 22.1 8.6 Rhett Lowder 4.52 1.5 17.9 7.1 Graham Ashcraft 4.27 1.5 18.2 7.7 Carson Spiers 4.91 0.7 19.4 8.0 Wade Miley (LH) 5.00 0.5 14.0 8.5 Relief Pitching Seven of the projected eight bullpen spots are most likely locked up. Ex-Brewer funny man Brent Suter (140 OPS+, 4.31 FIP), Sam Moll (132, 3.46), and Taylor Rogers (161, 3.75) are the three left-handers in the mix. Emilio Pagán (98, 3.77), Tony Santillan (148, 2.73), and Scott Barlow (96, 4.02) are the right-handers that will man the ‘pen. The closer is expected to be Alexis Díaz, who was an All-Star in 2023 and has 65 saves the last two seasons. Fighting for the last spot will be Ashcraft and Spiers, if they do not make the starting rotation. Others include Yosver Zulueta, Connor Phillips, Lyon Richardson, and NRI Reds fan-favorite Ian Gibaut, all of whom are right-handers. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name FIP fWAR K% BB% Brent Suter (LH) 4.36 0.3 17.9 7.0 Sam Moll (LH) 4.14 0.2 23.4 10.2 Taylor Rogers (LH) 4.39 0.1 26.9 9.6 Emilio Pagán 4.60 0.1 24.2 7.6 Tony Santillan 4.26 0.3 26.7 11.1 Scott Barlow 3.68 0.4 27.9 10.9 Alexis Díaz 3.85 0.5 25.4 11.5 Yosver Zulueta 4.74 0.1 22.5 11.4 Connor Phillips 4.82 0.8 21.9 11.6 Lyon Richardson 5.22 0.3 19.8 11.5 Ian Gibaut 4.25 0.3 21.6 9.2 Catcher Tyler Stephenson started 112 games at catcher last year and will get the majority of the starts this year. Stephenson had an OPS of .782 and an OPS+ of 112. Newly acquired Jose Trevino brings a Gold Glove pedigree and is a solid backup. First Base One of many positions that will be a toss-up. The front-runners will be Spencer Steer or Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Steer played 158 games between LF and 1B last year but has a bum shoulder that might restrict him to the DH role. Encarnacion-Strand should see playing time when the season begins. Second Base Matt McLain missed all last year with a torn labrum in his left shoulder but is healthy this year. Newcomer Gavin Lux can play second and possibly left field and will be a utility guy. Santiago Espinal can play all over the infield. Third Base The hot corner is another spot where you can flip a coin to see who plays there. Jeimer Candelario will start if needed but he struggles defensively at third. Espinal can fill in but is not a full-time player at one position. If Noelvi Marte proves he can play at the big-league level, he might get a shot as well. Shortstop This is an easy one. Elly De La Cruz will be the everyday ‘6.’ The speedy, electric player should only get better as he matures. Espinal and McLain will be the back-ups. Left Field Austin Hays will for sure play against LHP, and has a career OPS of .719 against righties, which isn’t terrible. Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild, and Lux could get some playing time as well. Center Field TJ Friedl will be the main man in center field, part of the team's solid up-the-middle defense. Hays, Benson, and Fairchild can all play CF if needed. Right Field Another toss-up position, although Jake Fraley will probably get most starts against right-handers (career .786 OPS). Hays, Benson, and Fairchild could all slot in as reserves. Designated Hitter Get out that coin again! If Steer can’t throw, he will be at DH. If Candelario can’t play defense, he will get starts there as well. Add Lux and Encarnacion-Strand to the mix. 2025 FanGraphs ZiPS Projections Name wRC+ OPS wOBA fWAR Tyler Stephenson 107 .765 .333 2.6 Jose Trevino 83 .675 .297 2.0 Spencer Steer 109 .770 .336 1.9 C. Encarnacion-Strand 107 .774 .332 1.1 Matt McLain 114 .789 .342 3.6 Gavin Lux 100 .734 .322 1.6 Santiago Espinal 82 .670 .295 1.0 Jeimer Candelario 103 .757 .326 1.6 Noelvi Marte 78 .658 .289 -0.1 Elly De La Cruz 117 .807 .347 5.0 Austin Hays 102 .756 .326 1.1 Will Benson 92 .708 .311 0.7 Stuart Fairchild 94 .714 .313 0.7 TJ Friedl 97 .721 .317 1.6 Jake Fraley 95 .715 .314 0.7 Summary The Reds have two players that could (should) be All-Stars again this year: De La Cruz and Greene. If Tyler Stephenson, Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, or Nick Lodolo can replicate past success, one or more of them could join De La Cruz and Greene on the grass on July 15 at Atlanta’s Truist Park. Prognosticators have the Reds finishing fourth or last in the NL Central. But if the Pirates or Cardinals stumble, the Reds could climb into that third spot, with an eye on the final NL wild card. View full article

The Brewers front office probably wishes they could use Mr. Peabody’s Wayback Machine or travel back in time with Doc Brown and Marty McFly and head to March 28, 2018. That was the beginning of the best season of Rhys Hoskins' career, which included a career-best 38 doubles and 34 home runs. They could sure use those numbers in 2025. Hoskins came into his first season in Milwaukee as a question mark, as he had missed the entire 2023 campaign after surgery to repair the ACL in his right knee. Hoskins started out slowly in 2024 and had a hamstring injury in late May that cost him some playing time. He hit nine home runs and had an OPS of .813 before he went on the shelf. His final numbers showed a hitting line of .214/.303/.419 with 26 jacks and an OPS+ of 98 over 449 at-bats. Hoskins played 53% of the innings at first, while Jake Bauers covered 38%. Five others filled in the remaining time. BREWERS FIRST BASEMEN AT A GLANCE Starter: Rhys Hoskins Backup: Jake Bauers Depth: Mark Canha, Tyler Black, Oliver Dunn Prospects: Ernesto Martinez, Wes Clarke, Mike Boeve, Luke Adams, Blake Burke Brewers fWAR Ranking Last Year: 24th out of 30 Brewers fWAR Projection This Year: 27th out of 30 THE GOOD Hoskins is one more season removed from his knee surgery and hopefully he is fully (or close to it) recovered. A typical Hoskins season looks like this: .240/.350/.490 with 28-30 home runs and about 30 doubles. If he can stay on the field and make 120 starts at first base and another 20-30 games as the designated hitter, Brewers fans will probably be happy with the production coming from the 18-million-dollar man. The next wave of ‘First Baseman of the Future’ is a couple years away but for now, Hoskins is the best everyday option for manager Pat Murphy. So far this spring, Hoskins is hitting .500/.667/1.625 through eight at-bats with three homers and four walks. Yes, it IS a small sample size, but that is a heck of a lot better than an 0-for-8 start. Hopefully Hoskins can stay healthy and carry his early success through the season. He’ll never hit .300, but 30 HRs and 90-100 RBIs from one player at first base would be something Milwaukee fans haven’t seen for a few years. Bauers doesn’t hit for average, but he does draw walks (11.1% career BB rate), steals bases, and hits home runs. Other than the fact that he is only a .200 hitter, he does some things right. Speed and power are always pluses. That’s why the Brewers brought him back. Canha could get promoted from the ‘depth’ status to ‘back-up’ if Bauers falters. At age 36, Canha is a solid twice-a-week starter and hits LHP or RHP about the same (.762 OPS vs. LHP, .763 vs. RHP). The 10-year veteran can play in left or right field if needed, so that versatility is always a plus. Black and Dunn are both fighting for a roster spot and can fill in at first in a pinch, but for now, they are a bit farther down on the depth chart. The prospects are a couple years off, but the hope in the Milwaukee organization is that one (or more) of these guys can take their games to the major league level and give the Brewers a player that can be penciled in at the ‘3’ spot for the next 8-10 years. Right now, it appears that Boeve is the closest, possibly making an appearance in Milwaukee this year. Adams is perhaps a year behind that, and Burke maybe two years down the road. The good news is that Adams is only 20, Burke is 21, and Boeve is 22. Martinez has opened some eyes but at 25, is a little too old to be a ‘prospect.’ As is Clarke, who is also 25. THE BAD Hoskins’ health and his declining production in the ‘dog days’ last year are a definite concern. Can his surgically repaired knee stand up to the strain of playing in the field 4-5 times per week? Hoskins turns 32 on St. Patrick’s Day so he’s not getting any younger, but on the other hand he could be playing for his next contract and a nice season would go far in padding his bank account. Bauers’ batting line is not strong enough to make him a full-time starter, so the Brewers are hoping and praying that ‘Rhys Lightning’ stays healthy and performs as the Brewers expect him to. The bad news for Boeve, Adams, and Burke is that they are still playing in the minors and not at Am Fam Field (Uecker Park). They will be here soon enough, but that doesn’t help the Brewers in the short term. Martinez could help out and he might make the roster, but he has no big-league experience, so you never know what to expect. THE BOTTOM LINE All bets are on Hoskins, but my feeling is that if he stays healthy, he will produce as he has done in the past. Milwaukee fans were spoiled with Cecil Cooper and Prince Fielder, but will have to wait until one of the ‘kids’ comes up to see a first sacker who (hopefully) has a long tenure. But in Hoskins’ defense, Milwaukee did not expect a 35-homer guy with a .900 OPS. If Rhys can duplicate his Philadelphia performance and stay on the field, first base will be just fine. Share your thoughts on the first base outlook below and check out the rest of our Position Analysis series. View full article

I like Turang at 2B and Ortiz at SS. It would be nice to see someone 'win' the 3B job, head and shoulders above the other challengers...