Not that it really matters, but the New York Yankees are tied for the Grapefruit League lead with a 13-6 record after beating the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. On Friday, they will visit the Atlanta Braves in North Port, with left-hander Ryan Weathers looking to bounce back after putting up a stinker the last time out.
Facing the Mets last Sunday, Weathers conceded six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks, striking out three. It’s a big contrast in comparison to how he looked in his first
spring start in late February vs. the Nationals, striking out five in 3.2 scoreless frames. The 26-year-old trade acquisition has been a hot topic among fans because of his fastball velocity, which touched 99.5 mph the last time he pitched and averaged 98.2 mph. Getting whiffs with his secondary pitches will be the key, though.
Didier Fuentes, the Braves’ starter, is a legitimate prospect, ranked third in their system. The 20-year-old boasts a big fastball that averaged 97.4 mph the last time he pitched and could be a good starter or a shutdown reliever someday. Atlanta also has a track record of being unafraid of aggressive promotions, and indeed, he made his MLB debut last year just three days after turning 20. He made three more starts after that but returned to Triple-A afterwards and ended the year in Gwinnett after suffering right shoulder inflammation.
Since this is a mid-spring road game, the Yankees are sending out a lineup full of mostly reserves and players fighting for relevance, but also with some regulars. Leadoff hitter Trent Grisham made the trip, as did Cody Bellinger and Ryan McMahon. They’ll be joined by Randal Grichuk, Oswaldo Cabrera, Max Schuemann, Jonathan Ornelas, Ernesto Martínez Jr., and Payton Henry.
The Braves welcome the return of Ozzie Albies to their starting nine after he spent some time away from the team playing for Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. He’ll be joined in the lineup by plenty of other likely faces who will play roles for Atlanta in 2024, including Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Mike Yastrzemski, Mauricio Dubón, and Jonah Heim. Kyle Farmer, José Azócar, and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. round out the batting order.
How to watch
Location: CoolToday Park — North Port, FL
First pitch: 1:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: MLB Network, Gray TV (ATL)
Radio broadcast: ESPN 103.7 (ATL), available via MLB.tv
Online stream: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv
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