Spring Training battles are always interesting to watch and some of these have been settled since the date of our original writing on March 6th, 2024. We still have some unsigned free agents that could play major factors in altering the lineups or rotations of these teams, but some of these spring battles have already been decided in the last two weeks, so here is the update as of March 17th, 2024. We are going to start off by kicking it around the NL West, because everyone always likes to start with the AL East.
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Updated MLB Spring Training Battles (2024 Fantasy Baseball)
Arizona Diamondbacks:
Position Battle: Ryne Nelson vs. Tommy Henry and dark horse Cristian Mena (5th SP)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: This battle is over and Ryne Nelson won by generating a ton of swing and miss this spring, with 17 Ks in 15 1/3 innings, posting a 25.8% K-BB rate and 12.3% swinging strike rate. Even without showing improvement in the control, the much better strikeout stuff will make him a usable starter if he can maintain this.
Colorado Rockies:
Position Battle: Rockies vs. Rockies
League Size: Theoretical
Update: The Rockies still seem hesitant to play their young guys out of the gate this year. We will see if anything changes, but there are a lot of names to watch in AA and AAA in this system, like Drew Romo, Hunter Goodman, Sterlin Thompson, Jordan Beck, Chase Dollander, and Yanquiel Fernandez.
Los Angeles Dodgers:
Position Battle: Evan Phillips vs. Kenley Jansen (Closer)
League Size: 10 Team
Update: Jansen is healthy and may still get traded, as the Dodgers have been rumored in talks with the Red Sox for his services, along with talks for Clase from the Guardians. Where there is smoke, there is fire; I don’t think Phillips saves are long for this team, even if he is really good.
San Diego Padres:
Position Battles: OF and Back of Rotation
League Size: 10 Team
Update: Wow, so much can change in less than two weeks! We have a ton of clarity on this front now, so let’s start with the OF.
It appears as if Jackson Merrill will start in CF, while rumors are also abound that Tommy Pham will be going back to San Diego and should start in LF. Jakob Marsee didn’t have the strongest spring, but is still not far away.
In regards to the infield, Graham Pauley looks to break camp at 3B and could split some time with Eguy Rosario as Manny Machado looks to begin the year as the DH.
The rotation was stabilized by a trade for former White Sox ace Dylan Cease. Jhony Brito has run away with the fifth rotation spot against the traded Drew Thorpe and Randy Vasquez this spring.
San Francisco Giants:
Position Battle: Mason Black vs. Blake Snell / Jordan Montgomery (5th SP)
League Size: 15 Team+
Update: Black has looked solid enough this spring, but Snell and Jordan Montgomery are still unsigned. Where will they go, we are only five days away from the first MLB game!?!?
Chicago Cubs:
Position Battle: Michael Busch vs. Garrett Cooper vs. Michael Tauchman
League Size: 15 Team+
Update: Garrett Cooper has destroyed pitching this spring and I can say I’m not surprised, because Cooper is always good when he’s healthy! Tauchman and Busch have had the worse springs of the three, so it looks like Cooper might get some 1B and DH reps. We should also see Cody Bellinger in CF to take some time away from Tauchman.
Cincinnati Reds:
Position Battle: Jonathan India vs. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (DH)
League Size: 12 Team
Update: The Noelvi Marte suspension settled this one for us; both of these guys are going to get regular playing time now.
Milwaukee Brewers:
Position Battles:
- Tyler Black vs. The Field
- Robert Gasser vs. Aaron Ashby vs. Colin Rea (5th SP)
League Size: 12 Team
Update: Tyler Black has had a sup-par spring, therefore Sal Frelick appears to be the favorite for 3B out of camp with Garrett Mitchell getting regular reps in RF.
In regards to the starting competition, DL Hall is banked for a rotation spot and it looks like Joe Ross is too for some reason, even though Robert Gasser has been stellar this spring. Ross has been terrible this spring and has never been good, while Ashby has done nothing and Gasser has 11 Ks in 10 innings with a 26.2% K rate, 17.8% swinging strike rate (outrageous) and only a 4.8% BB rate – the job should be Gasser’s in a just world.
Pittsburgh Pirates:
Position Battles:
- Henry Davis vs. Yasmani Grandal, Jason Delay and PT (Starting C)
- Jared Jones vs. Quinn Priester vs. Roansy Contreras (5th SP)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Yasmani Grandal was named the Opening Day catcher, however he has plantar fasciitis and it looks like he will begin the year on the IL. That’s great news for those with Henry Davis shares; he should pick up catcher status pretty quick as he has been raking this spring.
On the pitching front, Jared Jones has easily been the most impressive of the trio with Priester and Contreras this spring. He should win the five spot, even though Paul Skenes has been their best starter per IP.
Jared Jones is spotting 10 Ks in 11 1/3 innings with a 23.8% K rate this spring, against Roansy getting completely rocked.
St. Louis Cardinals:
Position Battle: Victor Scott II vs. Dylan Carlson (Starting CF)
League Size: 12 Team
Update: Victor Scott II has earned a spot and Oli Marmol seems like he wants to give it to him, but since he signed the extension, all of a sudden Carlson is playing every day and Victor Scott is playing with the minor league guys. I have been team Victor all spring as the most impressive player on the Cardinals, and that’s coming from someone who’s had live eyes on five spring games in person. At this point, I’m assuming the Cardinals go corporate BS on us and Carlson starts at CF because that’s what the pay masters want.
Atlanta Braves:
Position Battle: Reynaldo Lopez vs. Bryce Elder (5th SP)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: AJ Smith-Shawver is the real number five on this team, but the Braves have already sent him to AAA (rather than sending him to the pen as was the originally stated plan). ReyLo has only been average this spring, with 9 Ks in 11 2/3 IP and a 20.9% K rate with a 14.3% swinging strike rate. Meanwhile Elder has just been bad, so right now it seems like Lopez will get the job even though Smith-Shawver probably deserves it.
Miami Marlins:
Position Battle: Trevor Rogers vs. Ryan Weathers (5th SP)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Both of these guys will be making the rotation after the Eury Perez and Braxton Garrett injuries. Looks like one of Devin Smeltzer, Max Meyer, or Sixto Sanchez could make the team as well… so much for pitching depth.
New York Mets:
Position Battle: Cohen vs. Patience w/ Prospect Call Ups
League Size: Theoretical
Details: The big question at this point will be if the Mets sign JD Martinez or if the Marlins do. If the Mets sign Martinez, it could decrease some plate appearances for guys like Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty.
Philadelphia Phillies:
Position Battle: Jose Alvarado vs. The Field (Closer)
League Size: 12 Team
Update: No update here – see last time: Alvarado was great last year when he was trading off with Craig Kimbrel in high leverage situations, but he’s a lefty, so will he get full run as the closer or will he be in a timeshare? There are other interesting names to compete with him like Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Dominguez, and most notably Orion Kerkering, who looks like a beast.
Washington Nationals:
Position Battle: Kyle Finnegan vs. Hunter Harvey (Closer)
League Size: 12 Team
Update: No update here – see last time: This closer battle may drag into the season. Harvey is much better than Finnegan, but Finnegan is the incumbent and sometimes, especially with “bad” teams, that’s all that matters. Keep an eye on the way the Nationals set up the pen later in spring to see who they are leaning toward.
Houston Astros:
Position Battle: Jake Meyers vs. Joey Loperfido (Starting CF)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Looks like Loperfido is going to make the team as their super UTIL guy and could end up taking the CF job if Meyers struggle. Lopefido has a .432/.483/.692 slash, while Meyers is also hitting a stellar .320/.469/.680 with 2 homers and a steal.
Los Angeles Angels:
Position Battle: Carlos Estevez vs. Robert Stephenson (Closer)
League Size: 12 Team
Update: Estevez has not been great, but Stephenson is hurt, so it looks like Estevez will win this one.
Oakland Athletics:
Position Battle:
- Nick Allen vs. Darell Hernaiz (Starting SS)
- Joe Boyle vs. Luis Medina (5th SP)
- Mason Miller vs. The Field (Closer)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Let’s go Hernaiz! He’s hitting .306/.325/.333 against Allen’s 9 ABs, but who will win?
Medina is hurt, so even though Boyle has been walking the world the last few times out, he has the fifth spot locked down.
The Athletics have said they want Miller to close eventually, but not to start the season. We will have to see how long it takes for Miller to win the closer role outright as he destroys all the competition.
Seattle Mariners:
Position Battle: Jerry DiPoto vs. the Trade Itch
League Size: Theoretical
Update: A.J. Preller is out Dipoto-ing Dipoto. When will he make another move? This team isn’t good enough as built; they need more offensive fire power if they want to make it in the playoffs.
Texas Rangers:
Position Battle: Wyatt Langford vs. Ezequiel Duran (aka Service Time Manipulation)
League Size: 12 Team
Update: Langford has had the best spring of any hitter in baseball; if the Rangers don’t have him start on Opening Day, it’s straight up roster manipulation. The dude is going to be a super star. Think righty Josh Hamilton without the drugs.
Chicago White Sox:
Position Battles:
- Dylan Cease vs. the Trade Block
- Closer Mess
League Size: 12 Team
Update: Cease was traded to the Padres clearing up the rotation for the competition, while Michael Kopech was (smartly) moved back to the pen. It looks like we have openings for Nick Nastrini and Garrett Crochet at this point and possibly Kopech to close?
Cleveland Guardians:
Position Battle: Chase DeLauter vs. Kyle Manzardo (Starting Hitter)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Wow! Both of these guys deserve to make the Opening Day roster. Manzardo is rocking a .381/.458/.476 slash, while DeLauter has a .474/.545/.842 slash with 2 homers. Let both of these guys play, because the rest of this lineup is lackluster.
Detroit Tigers:
Position Battle: Reese Olson vs. Casey Mize (5th SP)
League Size: 15 Team
Details: Olson has been good this spring and Mize hasn’t been bad himself. Tigers might benefit from going six man or even eight man with all the starters on this roster… I bet the Marlins felt this way a month ago.
Olson has 10 Ks in 10 2/3 IP with a 21.7% K rate, but the swinging strike rate is at an unbelievable 26.5% rate.
Mize has the same 10 Ks in 10 2/3 IP, but with only a 10.8% swinging strike rate, it’s less believable.
Kansas City Royals:
Position Battle: Will Smith vs. James McArthur vs. John McMillon (Closer)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: McMillon was sent down, so this is going to be a likely Will Smith win vs. a James McArthur dark horse.
Minnesota Twins:
Position Battle: Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, Alex Kirilloff, Chris Paddack, and Anthony DeSclafani vs. Health
League Size: Theoretical
Update: Looks like DeSclafani is already out and Louie Varland should be starting to begin the season.
Baltimore Orioles:
Position Battle: The Ryans (Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle) vs. Rookies (1B & DH) – CHANGE VS. Colton Cowser
League Size: 12 Team
Update: Colton Cowser is a man on fire. Dude deserves a job at this point and should get one. If the Orioles deny him a roster spot, it would just be sad.
Cowser is hitting .379/.514.793 with 4 homers and a steal.
Ryan O’Hearn is hitting .267/.371/.300 with nothing.
Ryan Mountcastle is hitting .259/.259/.333 with nothing.
Boston Red Sox:
Position Battle: Ceddanne Rafaela vs. Wilyer Abreu (Starting CF)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Rafaela is destroying this competition and has already earned this starting job.
Rafalea: .256/.326/.564 with 3 homers and 2 steals.
Abreu: .128/277/.333 with 2 homers and 0 steals.
Rafaela is also better defensively.
New York Yankees:
Position Battle: Austin Wells vs. Jose Trevino (Starting C)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: This one is still up in the air and will likely go into the season.
Austin Wells: .296/.367/.630 with 2 HR and 1 SB.
Jose Trevino: .300/.273/.600 with 1 HR and 0 SB.
Tampa Bay Rays:
Position Battle: Junior Caminero vs. The Field (Starting 3B)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Caminero has already been sent down unfortunately, but we will see how soon he is up and how much guys like Isaac Paredes, Jose Caballero, and others can hold him off.
Toronto Blue Jays:
Position Battles:
- Davis Schneider vs. Cavan Biggio and Kevin Kiermaier (2B / 3B / CF)
- Bowden Francis vs. Alek Manoah vs. Ricky Tiedemann (5th SP)
League Size: 15 Team
Update: Schneider is better than Biggio and Kiermaier’s defense gives him that job, so this one looks like it will play out into the season.
Meanwhile, Francis looks to win the fifth SP role as Manoah is hurt and Tidemann will be held back until mid-summer.
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