The Captain is back! Aaron Judge has returned to Yankees camp after taking Team USA agonizingly close to winning the WBC, ultimately falling to Venezuela in the final. He rejoins in time for one of their final five spring tune-ups, the Yankees rolling out something close to their Opening Day lineup tonight against the Orioles.
Luis Gil makes his sixth start of what has been an up-and-down spring for the 27-year-old rotation hopeful. He looked decent enough in his first four outings, allowing four runs (three earned) in 11.1 innings (2.38 ERA), albeit while still not looking like his 2024 self in terms of stuff. He then got shelled for seven runs on three home runs in three innings last time out against the Tigers. He and Ryan Weathers have looked the shakiest of the Yankees’ starters this spring, though the team recently locked Weathers into the rotation to start the year. In 11 starts after returning from a lat injury last year, Gil went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA (123 ERA+), 4.63 FIP, and 41 strikeouts in 57 innings.
Zach Eflin re-signed with the Orioles in December after missing the final two months of last season due to lower back surgery. He had a 5.93 ERA prior to the procedure and looked a shadow of the Rays righty who quickly excelled for the Orioles post-deadline in 2024. Things were going well for him last Sunday against the Yankees, with a pair of strikeouts in each of the first two scoreless frames, but rain brought a premature end to that game shortly thereafter.
I suspect we’ll be seeing a lot of today’s Yankees lineup to start the regular season with most if not all of their starters in. Giancarlo Stanton has been tearing the cover off the baseball this spring and can hopefully carry that momentum into the start of the season. Ryan McMahon continues to get reps at short meaning Oswaldo Cabrera starts at third, while the only change from the projected Opening Day lineup (aside from José Caballero at the six with McMahon at third) sees J.C. Escarra replace Austin Wells behind the plate this evening.
The Orioles lineup meanwhile is missing several of its regulars, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg out with injury and Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman on the bench. Offseason acquisitions Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso bat leadoff and third, respectively. Top prospects Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo have been raking this spring and look to have forced their way into the Opening Day lineup conversation.
How to watch
Location: George M. Steinbrenner Field — Tampa, FL
First pitch: 6:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: Gotham Sports App
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660 AM, WBAL 1090 AM
Online stream: Gotham Sports App
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