Spring Training Job Battles: Past the Halfway Point

All stats updated through 3/11.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Catcher

Carson Kelly has gotten the most playing time this spring and has gone 5-for-19 with three doubles. The Diamondbacks likely want Kelly to be their catcher of the future, so he should have a chance to earn an expanded role if his numbers suggest he deserves one. Caleb Joseph is doing what he can to claim a roster spot, hitting 5-for-16 with a pair of homers. Alex Avila and John Ryan Murphy have struggled in limited at-bats.

Outfield

A new battle has opened up in Arizona following the signing of Adam Jones. Jones isn't the player he once was, but his .281/.313/.419 line last season was still good for a roughly average 98 wRC+. That's not a great number for a corner outfielder but is perfectly playable in center, though the 33-year-old's glove has graded out quite poorly in recent years. The Diamondbacks had been planning on shifting Ketel Marte to center field, though Jones' arrival could shift him into a super utility role, potentially to the detriment of middle infielders Wilmer Flores and Nick Ahmed. Jones probably fits better in right field, where he'd be in a direct competition with Steven Souza, who struggled to a .220/.309/.369 line in an injury-riddled season last year. Both Jones and Souza hit right-handed, so there's no obvious platoon situation in right field.

Fifth starter

Merrill Kelly had a rough start to the spring, allowing five earned runs on five hits with a 1:4 K:BB in his first two outings (2.0 innings). However, Kelly was better in his most recent outing March 10, throwing four hitless innings against Cincinnati with four strikeouts against two walks. Matt Koch was scratched from his first spring start with arm fatigue but has since thrown seven scoreless innings. Matt Andriese has allowed four runs in 7.1 innings, starting once and entering out of the bullpen twice.

Closer

Archie Bradley continues to look like the favorite, with five strikeouts in two innings of spring work. Greg Holland has so far failed to make a good case for the role, allowing five earned runs in 2.2 innings. More concerning than that small sample of poor results is the fact that his fastball was sitting in the high 80s, well off the 93.0 mph he averaged last season. Velocity is typically down a bit for most pitchers early in spring, but that kind of drop is worrisome. Yoshihisa Hirano hasn't done anything to hurt his chances thus far, throwing a pair of scoreless innings.

Atlanta Braves

Fifth starter

Mike Soroka is no longer in contention for an Opening Day roster spot, as the Braves are being very cautious with him after his previously troublesome shoulder acted up early in camp. Mike Foltynewicz is battling elbow soreness and has been ruled out for the start of the season, opening up a second spot in the rotation, at least temporarily. Touki Toussaint seems to have a good shot at one of those spots, as he rebounded from a pair of ugly outings with three scoreless innings last Wednesday against the Tigers. Luiz Gohara is no longer in the picture, if he ever was, as he's been battling shoulder issues and was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Kyle Wright is doing his best to claim a spot, striking out 11 while allowing just two runs in eight innings. Max Fried has eight strikeouts and a 3.68 ERA in 7.1 spring innings, though he was used in relief in his most recent appearance, a potential hint at the Braves' plan for him. Kolby Allard has been optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett and is no longer involved in the Opening Day picture.

Baltimore Orioles

Catcher

If the Orioles make their decision purely based on spring numbers, Chance Sisco has this one locked up. He's hit .438/.609/1.188 with four homers in eight spring games. Add in the fact that he was much more highly regarded as a prospect than Austin Wynns, and the Orioles are probably happy for him to take the job and run with it. Wynns has been battling an oblique issue, hurting his chances to make his own case for the role. If the injuries lingers, his backup job could become up for grabs, with non-roster invitees Jesus Sucre and Carlos Perez hoping for a roster spot.

Shortstop

All three of the primary competitors for the Orioles' shortstop job have gotten off to strong starts. Alcides Escobar is hitting .304, Richie Martin .346 and Drew Jackson .393. Jackson is also spending some time in center field, indicating that his best shot at making the roster is in a utility role.

Right field

DJ Stewart has already been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, so he won't be an option until later in the year. Joey Rickard is staking a claim for the starting job, hitting .357 with an .936 OPS, though he's been outdone by Austin Hays, who has a 1.095 OPS and three homers. Dwight Smith was acquired from Toronto in exchange for international bonus pool money and could be in the mix as well. As the only left-hander of the trio, Smith could potentially have an advantage should Baltimore elect to go with a platoon.

Boston Red Sox

Catcher

The Red Sox are reportedly looking to deal one of their three catchers before Opening Day. As things stand now, Christian Vazquez, Sandy Leon and Blake Swihart are still fighting for what will probably be just two jobs in Boston. Vazquez presumably has the edge based on his usage last season, though he's had the worst camp so far, posting a .318 OPS compared to .793 for Leon and .718 for Swihart.

Closer

None of the in-house options are having a particularly clean spring. Matt Barnes' spring debut was delayed and not pretty, as he gave up three runs in one inning Sunday against the Mets. Ryan Brasier has yet to make an appearance as he deals with a toe infection. Tyler Thornburg has allowed seven runs in four innings, and it doesn't even sound as though he's a lock for a roster spot. Steven Wright, always a long shot at best, is no longer involved in the competition as he'll miss the first 80 games of the season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Chicago Cubs

Second base

The Cubs' veteran options at the keystone have gotten off to slow starts this spring. Ben Zobrist has hit just .200 with a .627 OPS, and Daniel Descalso has done even worse, hitting .125 with a .410 OPS. David Bote has done what he can, hitting .438/.625/.563, though the Cubs won't decide playing time based on just small-sample spring stats.

Outfield

Jason Heyward has had a disrupted spring, missing time for personal reasons and due to illness. He's gone just 3-for-14 when available. Ian Happ has done even worse, hitting just 3-for-28, but he's at least cut down on the whiffs so far, striking out just four times in 30 plate appearances. Kyle Schwarber, on the other hand, has started spring on a tear, hitting .438 with a 1.372 OPS. Albert Almora is also hitting well, going 8-for-24 with a homer.

Chicago White Sox

Outfield

Eloy Jimenez has struggled to start camp, hitting just 3-for-26, though he was never likely to open the year on the roster regardless of his performance. Adam Engel, who adjusted his swing mechanics after a very poor first two seasons at the plate, has an 1.040 OPS through 11 games. Leury Garcia has been nearly as effective, posting a .949 OPS in the same number of contests. He's been spending some time at second base and could compete for at-bats with Yolmer Sanchez at that position. Daniel Palka missed time with a hamstring injury but has since returned to the lineup. Nicky Delmonico has an OPS of 1.004 in eight games but is battling a concussion. His return date is not clear. Veteran Jon Jay has a .971 OPS of his own in 10 games.

Fifth starter

Dylan Covey has thrown 6.2 scoreless innings so far this spring. He hasn't walked a batter, though he also has just two strikeouts. Manny Banuelos has struck out nine batters in 6.1 innings, but he's also walked five and allowed four runs. Ervin Santana is still battling the finger issue which limited him to just five starts last season. He's thrown a simulated game, though his readiness for Opening Day remains unclear.

Closer

Alex Colome has pitched four times, allowing three runs in 3.2 innings and striking out just a single batter. He reportedly has an edge over Kelvin Herrera, who didn't make his spring debut until Saturday as he worked his way back from September foot surgery. Herrera has allowed two runs in 2.2 innings of work so far.

Cincinnati Reds

Center field

Nick Senzel battled a minor hamstring injury but has since returned to the lineup. He's gone 8-for-21 with three doubles so far and is reportedly handling center field well, but it remains to be seen whether the Reds will truly open the year with their best 25 players on the roster. Scott Schebler is doing what he can to hold Senzel off, posting a 1.252 OPS, though the Reds' decision will be based on their impressions of Senzel's ability to handle center field and service-time considerations rather than Schebler's small-sample success.

Cleveland Indians

Catcher

Going just by spring training stats, Kevin Plawecki would have the edge over Roberto Perez. Plawecki has hit .278 in nine games. Perez has hit just .174 over the same period, six points better than his anemic .168 average from last season.

Outfield

Leonys Martin is looking good after missing the end of last season with a serious illness, hitting .400 with a pair of homers. Greg Allen is hitting .409, adding a homer and a pair of steals. The rest of Cleveland's outfielders aren't having nearly as good a time. Jordan Luplow is just 2-for-21 while Tyler Naquin is 4-for-27. Bradley Zimmer is yet to get into a game, as he's still recovering from the shoulder injury which ended his 2018 campaign in June.

Colorado Rockies

Catcher

Tom Murphy has hit the best of the Rockies' trio of catchers so far, going 5-for-22 with two homers. His two competitors for playing time have been quite poor, with Chris Iannetta hitting .105 and Tony Wolters hitting .118. It's unclear if that gap will be enough for Murphy to make the roster, however, as he seemed to be the team's third option heading into camp.

Second base

In contrast to the Rockies' catchers, the team's second basemen have been swinging hot bats. Garrett Hampson is hitting .308/.379/.654 with three homers and five steals. Ryan McMahon has gone .406/.472/.781 with two homers and seven total extra-base hits.

Fifth starter

Chad Bettis has done fairly well so far, recording a 3.86 ERA and an 11:3 K:BB in 11.2 innings. It's worth noting that he's started in all four of his appearances. Jeff Hoffman has started just once, but he has a 3.60 ERA and an 8:3 K:BB in 10 innings. Antonio Senzatela has started in all three of his appearances, recording a 2:1 K:BB and a 5.14 ERA in seven innings.

Detroit Tigers

Rotation

Tyson Ross had been having a terrible camp, but salvaged it somewhat with four shutout innings Monday against the Twins. His ERA still sits at 8.44 in 10.2 innings, however. Daniel Norris hasn't done well either, struggling to a 5.79 ERA and a 4:4 K:BB in 4.2 frames. That pair makes Matt Moore look good with his 3.97 ERA and 10:4 K:BB.

Closer

Both Shane Greene and Joe Jimenez have allowed one run in five innings, but Jimenez's six strikeouts dwarf Greene's one. Jimenez has been successful despite missing a brief period with arm soreness, though there haven't been any suggestions that he's about to dethrone Greene.

Houston Astros

Right field

Josh Reddick was hit in the hand by a pitch earlier in camp but returned after just one day. He's hit very well in nine games, recording a .438/.526/.688 line. He's also been taking grounders at first base, seemingly in preparation for the eventual arrival of Kyle Tucker. Tucker won't be fighting for a job at the start of the season, as he's been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock already. Tony Kemp and Jake Marisnick have each hit well but remain likely bench options at best.

Kansas City Royals

Fifth starter

One open spot could turn into two if Danny Duffy isn't able to return from shoulder tightness in time for Opening Day. Of the contestants, Jorge Lopez has done the best so far, allowing just two runs in 9.1 innings in a trio of starts. Heath Fillmyer has started twice, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings. Chris Ellis, a Rule 5 draft pick, has thus far failed to impress, allowing nine runs on 13 hits in just six innings.

Closer

Brad Boxberger's ERA sits at a comical 36.00, the product of a two-out appearance in which he allowed three runs. He returned after a two-week absence due to a leg injury Monday, and his one earned run in one-third of an inning actually brought his ERA down. Wily Peralta, on the other hand, has allowed just one run in 4.2 innings of work, while Tim Hill has allowed one run in 5.1 innings.

Los Angeles Angels

Setup man

Ty Buttrey, the presumptive favorite for the eighth-inning role, has a decent 3.86 ERA through 4.2 innings, with a strong 7:2 K:BB. Justin Anderson has a 5:2 K:BB and has allowed just one run in four innings of work. Two long shots, Hansel Robles and Cam Bedrosian, have gotten off to poor starts, with Robles allowing four runs in 4.2 frames and Bedrosian letting five runners cross the plate in just 3.1 innings.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Outfield

Joc Pederson isn't doing a great job holding onto his starting role, going just 4-for-25, though two of his four hits have been homers. Alex Verdugo isn't exactly pushing him, posting a .680 OPS in 25 turns at the plate. Enrique Hernandez, on the other hand, is making a strong case for regular at-bats somewhere, hitting .379 with a pair of homers of his own.

Miami Marlins

Outfield corners

Curtis Granderson battled a minor calf issue earlier in camp and hasn't been effective in a small sample thus far, managing just a single hit in 11 plate appearances. Peter O'Brien is hardly doing any better, going 4-for-26. Austin Dean is at least performing respectably, hitting .286 in 10 games.

Closer

Sergio Romo has been the best of the group of candidates, allowing one run in four innings while posting a 6:1 K:BB. Adam Conley has been fine as well, giving up a pair of runs with a 4:1 K:BB in 4.2 frames. Drew Steckenrider has struggled, letting seven runners cross the plate in his 5.1 innings, walking four while striking out just three. Tayron Guerrero, perhaps a long shot to close early in the year, has thrown 3.2 scoreless innings.

Milwaukee Brewers

Rotation

Jimmy Nelson dealt with a forearm tweak, delaying his return from a major shoulder injury. He finally made his spring debut Monday, striking out three batters in one inning but allowing two runs. It's likely that, after his long layoff, his workload remains limited early in the year, assuming he's able to show enough this spring to even make the Opening Day roster. His absence would leave a second rotation spot up for grabs, or perhaps a third, depending on whether or not Zach Davies is locked into a job. Davies has been fine, allowing four runs in 9.2 innings, though his 4:3 K:BB isn't great. Corbin Burnes, working with a new five-pitch mix as he attempts to transition back to the rotation, had one ugly outing, inflating his ERA to 6.75, but his 8:1 K:BB is quite strong. Brandon Woodruff has made a pair of short starts, throwing four scoreless innings. Freddy Peralta has done the same.

Minnesota Twins

Catcher

Willians Astudillo needed an injury ahead of him to secure his place on the roster, and he looks set to benefit from Miguel Sano's heel injury, which is expected to keep the third baseman out until May. Marwin Gonzalez is expected to fill in at third, leaving his utility role open for Astudillo, who has hit a modest 6-for-27 so far this spring and has, as usual, zero strikeouts and zero walks. Astudillo starting frequently elsewhere opens up more opportunities for the Twins' primary catchers, Jason Castro and Mitch Garver. Neither is having a good spring, with Castro hitting .133 and Garver hitting .120.

Fifth starter

There was very little reason to be excited about Martin Perez heading into camp, but he's now averaging around 95 mph (after averaging 92.7 mph last season) and has touched 97 mph. The increased velocity has shown in his numbers, as he's given up just two runs in nine innings, striking out seven while walking one. Adalberto Mejia has done nothing to take himself out of the conversation, giving up just one run in five innings with a 7:1 K:BB. Kohl Stewart, on the other hand, has already been optioned and is no longer in the picture.

Closer

The Twins' top two closing options have both started strong. Trevor May has allowed one run in 5.1 innings with a 6:2 K:BB. Blake Parker has given up one run in five frames, striking out six and walking none. Taylor Rogers hasn't done quite as well, allowing three runs in five innings.

New York Mets

First base

It remains to be seen whether the Mets will play the service-time manipulation game with Pete Alonso or if he'll be allowed to hit from Day 1. He's certainly making the case to be up right away, hitting .406 with three homers in 11 games. The emergence of Alonso may be the shock Dominic Smith needs to kickstart a stalled career, and he's off to a hot start of his own, hitting .407/.467/.556. The Mets are no longer working Smith out in the outfield, and it may be tough for them to roster two first basemen, so they could be left with a tough decision.

Outfield

The Mets' plan to have Jeff McNeil transition to outfield has hit some bumps, as he missed a few days with a wrist injury and now needs to also spend some time at third base, with Jed Lowrie (knee) and Todd Frazier (oblique) both potentially out for Opening Day. That could open up a third spot in the outfield for one of Juan Lagares, Rajai Davis or Keon Broxton. Davis has hit the best of the trio so far, posting a .992 OPS. Broxton's OPS sits at .694, thanks in large part to an impressive seven walks in 24 plate appearances. Lagares has struggled to a .214/.241/.286 line.

New York Yankees

First base

The Yankees reportedly won't carry two first basemen, so the loser of this battle won't open the season on the big-league roster. Luke Voit was seen as the favorite after an excellent short stay in the Bronx last season, and he's hit well so far this spring, posting a .970 OPS with two homers. Greg Bird is keeping the pressure on, hitting .348/.464/.609 with a homer of his own.

Oakland Athletics

Catcher

Chris Herrmann's recovery timeline from arthroscopic knee surgery won't become clear until he's reevaluated in late March, opening up a battle for a temporary starting role. Josh Phegley and Nick Hundley are expected to split time, and neither is a particularly appealing option. Phegley is a career .223/.264/.372 hitter with a poor defensive reputation. Hundley was one of the worst pitch framers in all of baseball last season but at least owns a respectable .248/.300/.406 career slash line. Sean Murphy looks to be the catcher of the future but has just three games at the Triple-A level under his belt, so he's unlikely to be up before Herrmann returns.

Left field

Nick Martini collided with the outfield wall in late February, injuring his knee and back. He isn't expected to return until late March and could need a rehab stint, probably taking him out of the running for Opening Day. That could make Robbie Grossman the favorite for playing time early in the season, though he hasn't done a whole lot to stake a firm claim to the role, hitting a modest .258/.324/.323. Chad Pinder and Franklin Barreto are making better arguments, with Pinder hitting .345/.406/.690 and Barreto hitting .387/.457/.613. It's been confirmed that Barreto will be on the roster when the team heads to Japan to take on the Mariners in an early season opener March 20. Mark Canha has also hit well enough, going 7-for-29 with one home run.

Rotation

With up to three spots up for grabs, Oakland's rotation picture remains a murky one. Daniel Mengden has been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's completely out of the running, as the A's won't need a full rotation worth of starters when they head to Japan to open the season for a two-game series a week before the main part of the regular season opens. Jesus Luzardo has been excellent, posting a 15:4 K:BB while allowing just one run in 9.2 innings. It's likely he'll remain in the minors for a few weeks for service-time reasons regardless of how ready he looks. Brett Anderson has been decent, recording a 7:2 K:BB and allowing five earned runs in 9.2 innings. He's been confirmed to start one of the team's exhibition games in Japan but hasn't been officially confirmed as a member of the rotation. Frankie Montas has had a strong spring, allowing just one run in nine innings. Chris Bassitt has allowed six runs in 10 innings, but his 12:1 K:BB is quite impressive.

Philadelphia Phillies

Third Base

Maikel Franco has missed time while battling the flu and has hit a mediocre 5-for-25 when healthy. Scott Kingery hasn't done a lot to push him for the job, going 6-for-30 at the plate. There's a chance that both players will be everyday starters to open the season if Kingery is needed at second base to cover for Cesar Hernandez, who has been battling a hip strain.

Outfield

The Phillies did indeed land Bryce Harper at long last, locking up right field at Citizens Bank Park for the next 13 years. Andrew McCutchen won't have any competition in left field, leaving just center field up for grabs. The most obvious candidates for that job, Odubel Herrera and Roman Quinn, are both battling injuries. Herrera has missed three weeks with a hamstring problem and has only recently resumed running. Quinn has missed over two weeks with an oblique strain, though he's also resumed running. If neither can make it back by Opening Day, Aaron Altherr could cover center field, as he's played there some in the past. Nick Williams could perhaps start in an outfield corner, pushing McCutchen or Harper to center. Dylan Cozens deserves a mention as well, as he's hit .308 with three homers, but he's expected to open in the minors unless injuries open up a roster spot.

Closer

The Phillies haven't clarified anything about their closer situation this spring, so it remains to be seen if they have any intention of using a pitcher in that traditional role. Newly-signed veteran David Robertson has made just a single appearance, striking out a pair in a scoreless inning. Seranthony Dominguez has a 5:1 K:BB with one earned run in 5.1 frames. Hector Neris has allowed two runs in the same amount of work and has struck out eight batters.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Shortstop

Both contestants for the Pirates' shortstop job are off to poor starts this spring. Erik Gonzalez is hitting 3-for-23 with one home run. Kevin Newman is hitting a slightly-better but still-bad 4-for-22.

Fifth starter

The Pirates' fifth-starter candidates are also struggling. Jordan Lyles has a 5.00 ERA through nine innings. Steven Brault's ERA sits at 6.30 through 10 frames. Nick Kingham's ERA is all the way up at 7.11 in 12.2 innings. Notably, all of Lyles' and Kingham's appearances have been starts, while Brault has started twice and relieved twice.

San Diego Padres

Catcher

If the Padres base their starting catcher decision based purely off of early spring offensive stats (which seems highly unlikely), Francisco Mejia would have the clear edge. He's hit .385 with three homers in 10 games. Austin Hedges has gone just 3-for-15.

Outfield

The Padres' outfield competition was thinned by one after Travis Jankowski was ruled out three months for wrist surgery. Wil Myers has gotten some looks in center field, potentially to the detriment of Manuel Margot. Margot has hit .310 with a homer and a pair of steals, so he's not giving up his playing time without a fight. In the corners, Franmil Reyes has hit .250 with one homer, while Hunter Renfroe also has a homer but has hit just .185. Franchy Cordero has struggled to a .538 OPS but does at least have four steals.

San Francisco Giants

Outfield

Presumptive center fielder Steven Duggar has hit just 3-for-14 since returning from a minor shoulder issue. Likely starter Mac Williamson has primarily played left field, not right as originally expected. He hasn't had a ton of success at the plate, going 6-for-27, though he does have three extra-base hits. Austin Slater has returned from elbow issues which ended his 2018 campaign prematurely, but he's struggled to .174 average and a .501 OPS. Gerardo Parra has hit a modest .250 but has a pair of homers. Cameron Maybin hasn't done much at the plate and was arrested for a possible DUI, but the team has said that the incident will have no effect on his chances at earning a roster spot. He's expected to back up Duggar in center. Chris Shaw is no longer in the picture, having been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in order to get regular at-bats.

Closer

No clarity has emerged in the Giants' closer picture. Mark Melancon isn't making a great case for himself this spring. He's allowed three homers and four total earned runs in just 3.2 innings. Will Smith has only appeared twice but has a pair of scoreless innings. Sam Dyson has given up one run in four frames, striking out five.

Seattle Mariners

First base

With Kyle Seager out all of April following hand surgery, this is no longer much of a battle. Ryon Healy is expected to slide over to third base, opening up first for Jay Bruce or perhaps (if there's a trade) Daniel Vogelbach.

Shortstop

Neither Tim Beckham nor his primary competitor, J.P. Crawford, is hitting particularly well this spring. Crawford has managed a .240/.296/.360 line, while Beckham has hit .222/.250/.292.

Closer

Hunter Strickland has missed time with lower-back tightness. He got back on a mound Tuesday, but time may be tight for him to be ready for the Mariners' early season opener against Oakland on March 20 in Japan. Potential next man up Anthony Swarzak is still working back from shoulder tightness. He's thrown bullpen sessions but has yet to get into game action. That could leave Shawn Armstrong and Dan Altavilla as the top options in a mediocre bunch, at least until Strickland or Swarzak returns. Armstrong has allowed two runs in six innings this spring while recording an 8:3 K:BB. Altavilla has allowed three runs in six frames, striking out seven while walking two.

St. Louis Cardinals

Right field

Reports have suggested the Cardinals want to bat Dexter Fowler second, which means he's still seen as an important part of the lineup despite a very poor 2018 campaign. He'll have to hit better than he's hit so far this spring if that's to happen, as he's gone just 5-for-25 so far. Jose Martinez isn't pushing him for playing time, hitting 5-for-27. Tyler O'Neill, on the other hand, already has four homers and an OPS of 1.097.

Rotation

The Cardinals' rotation picture has gotten more complicated over the course of the spring. Adam Wainwright has allowed just two runs in nine innings and appears to be locked into the fourth spot behind Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty and Michael Wacha. Carlos Martinez's shoulder injury will rule him out for all of April at least, and there's no guarantee he'll be trusted to start when he does return. Alex Reyes has been ruled out of the rotation conversation, at least for now, but he'll have a shot to make the team as a reliever. Austin Gomber and Daniel Ponce De Leon have also been ruled out and will likely open in the rotation for Triple-A Memphis. That leaves John Gant and Dakota Hudson competing for the fifth starter job. Gant had a 3.47 ERA in 114 innings last season, but his 95:57 K:BB and 4.07 FIP were unremarkable. Hudson had a 2.63 ERA in 27.1 innings of relief last season. That also outpaced the ERA estimators by quite a bit, coming with a worrisome 19:18 K:BB.

Closer

Jordan Hicks is having just about the best spring training possible, striking out seven batters in two scoreless innings. That's not a typo -- he struck out four batters in one inning after one reached base on a strike-three wild pitch. Hicks' strikeout number were disappointingly low for someone with his impressive heat last season, but if he's finally getting whiffs then he'll be an obvious choice to close. Andrew has allowed three runs with a 5:1 K:BB through 3.2 Grapefruit League innings.

Tampa Bay Rays

First base/designated hitter

All three of Yandy Diaz, Ji-Man Choi and Avisail Garcia could start on Opening Day if Diaz is needed at third base with Matt Duffy still battling a hamstring issue. Diaz missed a few days with general soreness but has a respectable .725 OPS in 10 games. Choi is making a strong case to play as often as possible, hitting .389/.560/.611. Garcia looks good after easing into camp following offseason knee surgery, hitting .350 with three home runs.

Texas Rangers

Catcher

Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been on a tear so far this spring, going 9-for-17 with four extra-base hits. A short hot streak is unlikely to change the Rangers' plan to make veteran defensive wizard Jeff Mathis the primary catcher, however. Mathis is off to a fine start himself, posting a .333/.500/.400 line in 20 plate appearances.

Toronto Blue Jays

First base/designated hitter

Rowdy Tellez continues to mash after a hot September, hitting .333 with three homers in 10 games. Justin Smoak isn't giving up playing time at first base easily, also hitting .333 and adding a pair of home runs. Kendrys Morales hasn't been up to the same level as that pair, going 5-for-21 at the plate with just a single extra-base hit.

Second base

Lourdes Gurriel has swung a hot bat this spring, hitting .450 with a pair of homers in eight games. That puts him well ahead of Devon Travis, who appeared in just two games before being shut down with knee inflammation. Brandon Drury, who is likely to play third base until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is called up, is having a fine spring himself, hitting .375 with two home runs.

Washington Nationals

Catcher

Both Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki are making strong cases for playing time so far this spring. Gomes has hit .316 with an .842 OPS through eight games. Suzuki has done slightly better in seven contests, hitting .368 with a .947 OPS.