Issue 002 • Spring Training Edition
Monday, March 2, 2026
Opening Day
Countdown
23 Days
March 25, 2026
Regular Season Opens
Return of a Legend
Max Scherzer Is Back in Toronto. And He Means It.

Max Scherzer did not show up to Blue Jays camp to ease in. He threw a bullpen session Monday, and according to pitching coach Pete Walker, he will throw again Wednesday. The three-time Cy Young winner, now 41, is back with the franchise he helped nearly a decade ago, and the arm velocity in Monday's session, per reports from Dunedin, was not the arm of a man in decline.

Toronto needs this. Their rotation entering 2026 has questions at the back end, and a healthy Scherzer even at diminished stuff is a different profile than what most teams trot out as a No. 3 or 4 starter. He eats innings, he competes, and frankly he raises the floor of every clubhouse he walks into. Watch Wednesday's session for more clarity on his Opening Day roster status.

Spring Training Live
26
CIN + CHC Combined Runs
11
Games Played Today
23
Days to Opening Day
Matchup Score
CIN
CHC
17
9
GAME OF THE DAY
ATL
DET
5
2
FINAL
BOS
TOR
7
6
FINAL
LAD
COL
7
5
FINAL
PIT
TB
4
1
FINAL
OAK
SD
7
2
FINAL
STL
MIA
3
2
FINAL
SF
CHW
6
5
FINAL
TEX
CLE
3
1
FINAL
LAA
KC
5
4
FINAL
HOU
WSH
3
3
FINAL
DEBUT
Framber Valdez, Tigers — 3 scoreless innings. New Detroit left-hander threw 30 of his 43 pitches for strikes in his spring debut against the Braves. The southpaw, who moved to Motown this offseason, showed sharp command and life on the sinker. If that holds, the Tigers rotation just became a lot more interesting.
BUZZ
Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh on Team USA. The two headlined "The Pat McAfee Show" Monday discussing team chemistry and what it was like to face Japan as part of Team USA. Skenes, who looked every bit the ace he is in international play, said the experience "changed how I think about competing." Raleigh was typically blunt: "We just wanted to win." These two are must-watches when the season starts.
POWER
Pirates go back-to-back in the 7th. Pittsburgh went yard twice in consecutive at-bats in the 7th inning vs Tampa Bay, capping a 4-1 win. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. also launched a two-run shot for the Braves in the win over Detroit. The long ball is alive and well in Grapefruit League play.
TECH
A's leading the ABS challenge leaderboard. The Athletics posted the highest success rate using the automated ball-strike system to overturn calls this spring. The new challenge system, in its second year of full adoption, is becoming a genuine in-game strategy. Oakland's staff clearly came in prepared.
MEDIA
Tommy Hutton retiring after this season. The Marlins television analyst announced Monday he will step away after the 2026 season, closing out 60 years in and around the game. Hutton, who played 10 seasons in the majors, has been a fixture in the Miami booth for years. A proper send-off is owed.
Jar Jar's Take
Cincinnati scoring 17 runs in a Spring Training game tells you nothing. And everything.
Yes, it's March 2. Yes, pitchers are working on feel, not results. Yes, CIN 17, CHC 9 is meaningless in the standings. But here is what it does tell you: the Reds lineup has hitters who can run up a number, and this Cubs pitching staff, which has real questions heading into Opening Day, still has real questions heading into Opening Day. Spring Training doesn't prove anything. But it reveals things. Twenty-six combined runs in one game is the universe whispering that Cincinnati might be more dangerous than the projections suggest.
Dodgers 7, Rockies 5: Los Angeles looked sharp in Cactus League play Monday. No one cares what the Dodgers do in spring — they're going to be great — but at some point you have to acknowledge that watching them operate is almost unsettling.
Red Sox edge Blue Jays 7-6: Competitive Grapefruit League game the day Scherzer threw his bullpen down the street. Boston's bats look lively early.
Ilitch Sports creates regional sports network: The owners of the Tigers and Red Wings announced a new regional sports network Monday. Detroit fans have been in broadcast limbo since Bally Sports collapsed. This is the fix they've been waiting for.
Opening Day is 23 days away. March 25. Start making plans.

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