The South Side swagger is alive and well, rolling into Camelback Ranch with a vengeance. Yesterday’s 5-1 beatdown of the Cubs was just what Sox fans needed with four bombs, a little catharsis, and a reminder that the Good Guys can still mash when the mood strikes. Now, Chicago gets to take their swings against San Francisco, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m. CST.
Davis Martin gets the ball for start number two this spring, looking to solidify his spot in the 2026 rotation. Last year, he proved he could
handle the workload, tossing 142 2/3 frames with a 4.10 ERA. How did he do in his first Cactus League go-round? One hit, one run, and nothing wild over two frames. Today is all about sharpening the command and continuing to shake off the rust.
On the other side, it’s Landen Roupp for the Giants — a 27-year-old righty trying to forget 2025 ever happened after a comebacker to the knee cut his season short. Before that, he was steady if unspectacular with 22 starts and a 3.80 ERA. Roupp isn’t blowing doors off with velocity, but his curveball spins like a top, and his sinker turns grounders into an art form. He punched out two in his only spring inning so far, so the Sox hitters better keep their wits and not go digging for junk in the dirt.
As for the bats, Edgar Quero finally gets a breather as he’s been putting up PlayStation numbers, slashing .529/.556/.824 after another two hits yesterday. With Quero on ice and Kyle Teel headed off for Team Italy, it’s Korey Lee time. The backstop’s hitting .273/.500/.273 with a .773 OPS in 16 plate appearances so far this spring.
However, the hottest bat in the lineup today belongs to Miguel Vargas. He’s still waiting for his first Cactus League dinger, but the guy’s been locked in with a .429 average, 1.038 OPS, and two doubles in five games. That will play, Miggy.
Here’s how the offense will back up Martin: Meidroth at second and leading off, Luisangel Acuña in center, Vargas at third. LaMonte Wade Jr. gets first base, and Lenyn Sosa, fresh off yesterday’s bomb, slides in at DH. The rest: Tanner Murray at short, Jarred Kelenic in left, Derek Hill in right, and Lee at the dish.
And for Tony Vitello’s Giants:
Unfotunately there’s no TV broadcast today, but if you’re not lucky enough to be baking in the Glendale sun, you can tune in to WMVP 1000 AM or stream the audio on MLB+ at 2:05 p.m. CST.
