Some consider it just a superstition. Others view it as more of a mythological or biblical inevitability. Either way, Friday the 13th often carries troubling associations.
Misfortune. Unlucky. Terrifying. All commonly used adjectives to describe the day and everything that comes with it.
Spring training has passed its midpoint, with teams already making initial cuts and planning roster moves in anticipation of the season beginning. Opening night is less than two weeks away.
With the season rapidly approaching and it being “a day of dread”, Yardbarker’s team of MLB writers got together to identify one worrisome observation from each MLB team through the first half of spring training. Just what concerns do each team still need to address before Opening Day?
(Spring training stats listed are through Wednesday’s games unless otherwise noted.)
AL East
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Davis Schneider (36)
Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Baltimore Orioles | Did the O’s do enough to address the pitching staff? |
Baltimore pitchers combined to post a 4.60 ERA during the 2025 season, tied with the Marlins for 25th in the big leagues. The Orioles entered the offseason knowing that they’d need to make additions to help bolster the pitching staff, before ultimately adding Shane Baz and Andrew Kittredge via trade and Chris Bassitt and Ryan Helsley in free agency. The birds opted not to chase arms at the top of the free agent market, but will that decision come back to bite them?
Boston Red Sox | Might it be possible to have too much pitching? | It’s directly contradictory to baseball’s oldest mantra, but could Boston actually have too many arms in camp this year? Not including the already-injured guys, the club has 11 pitchers at spring training who made at least five starts last season (in the upper minors or higher). A handful of those arms (namely, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle) can be optioned to Triple-A Worcester to start the season, but how Alex Cora chooses to align the rest of the group behind Garrett Crochet remains unclear.
New York Yankees | A Rule 5 gamble isn’t working |
There was surprisingly a lot of discussion to come out of the Yankees’ decision to select right-hander Cade Winquest in December’s Rule 5 Draft, the first time the club has made a pick there in 11 years. After an uneventful offseason that saw the team return largely the same roster as a season ago, Windquest looked like New York’s big bullpen addition, but he’s appeared overmatched in spring training, showing both a drop in velocity and a loss of command with his pitches. His chances of making the Yankees’ bullpen are rapidly wearing thin.
Tampa Bay Rays | Trouble behind the plate | Tampa Bay backstops totaled -0.6 bWAR during the 2025 season, hitting a combined .187/.289/.306 (70 OPS+) with just 34 XBH (19 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR). Eight different players have seen time behind the plate this spring for the Rays, hitting a collective 13-for-90 (a .144 batting average) through Wednesday’s games. Someone will eventually need to step up and win this job.
Toronto Blue Jays | Davis Schneider looks lost at the plate |
2025 was, without question, a big year for the Blue Jays as a club, but it also proved to be a pivotal season for Davis Schneider. He slashed .234/.361/.436 (119 OPS+) in 227 PA for the year while seeing time at second base, third base, and both outfield corners. After Bo Bichette departed in free agency, Ernie Clement will see more playing time, but so, too, should Schneider. Only, this spring he’s managed a meager 2-for-21 start with 6 SO.
— Aaron Somers
AL Central
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Joey Cantillo (54)
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Chicago White Sox | Will the middle infield hit? |
Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery and Lenyn Sosa have struggled in spring training, combining for 19 hits in 100 plate appearances entering Thursday. Montgomery, in particular, is being counted on to be a key part of the lineup after belting 21 homers in 284 plate appearances for the White Sox in 2025.
Cleveland Guardians | Joey Cantillo needs to find his footing | Cantillo was a revelation when he joined the Guardians rotation on July 3, posting a 2.96 ERA and a 1.209 WHiP over 67 innings covering 13 starts. He has struggled in spring training, allowing 11 runs, nine earned, on 14 hits and three walks. As the Guardians will only go as far as their pitching staff will take them, they need Cantillo to find his form from the second half of the 2025 season.
Detroit Tigers | The bullpen could be a problem once again |
The Tigers have continually struggled to build a viable bullpen. While Kenley Jansen performed well in his two outings across spring training and the World Baseball Classic, the same cannot be said of other anticipated high-leverage relievers. Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan have combined to allow seven runs on 10 hits and two walks over 6.1 innings entering Thursday – both pitchers are expected to be key parts of the Tigers’ bridge to Jansen in the ninth inning.
Kansas City Royals | How much better will the outfield actually be? | Although several mid-tier free agent outfielders would have helped improve the lineup, the Royals opted for buy-low options and a trade for Isaac Collins. Collins, the expected starting left fielder, and center fielder Kyle Isbel have combined for five hits and five walks in 45 plate appearances, striking out 15 times. The Royals need both players to show signs of life offensively for the lineup to show tangible improvement.
Minnesota Twins | How healthy is Joe Ryan? |
The Twins received another injury scare when Ryan tweaked his back while carrying his suitcase ahead of his spring training debut. That debut came on Tuesday, where Ryan topped out at 93.5 mph, but only generated three swings and misses and did not strike out a batter over three innings. It is just one start, but the Twins need Ryan to quickly return to form if they have a chance at competing in the AL Central.
— David Hill
AL West
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (21)
Allan Henry-Imagn Images
Athletics | Third base is a mystery | Max Muncy was a liability in the field at third base a season ago, his first in the big leagues, committing six errors while recording a .918 fielding percentage, well below league average (.964). He’s already committed two during spring training, and while the Athletics have given him a long leash, Muncy hasn’t taken command of the position, opening the door for latecomer Andy Ibanez, signed last month, or Darell Hernaiz, who recently hit a walk-off home run for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, to take over the hot corner.
Houston Astros | Outfielders quiet at the plate |
The Astros have a crowded infield but a dearth of options for the outfield, creating an imbalance that could be rectified with a suitable Isaac Paredes trade. Taylor Trammell, who has a career .175 batting average, and Cam Smith, who hit .236 as a rookie last season, are the only Astros outfielders hitting above .300 in spring ball, a concerning development with the regular season weeks away.
Los Angeles Angels | Grayson Rodriguez doesn’t appear all the way back | Los Angeles acquired Rodriguez from the Baltimore Orioles for Taylor Ward, who hit a career-high 36 home runs in 2025, and the early returns have been underwhelming. In three spring training starts, Rodriguez, who missed all of 2025 and hasn’t started since July 31, 2024, has a 7.88 ERA, allowing seven earned runs in eight innings, with seven strikeouts and six walks.
Seattle Mariners | Colt Emerson’s breakout on hold |
A popular question entering spring training was if Emerson, the No. 9 prospect in MLB.com’s rankings, could crack the defending AL West-champion Mariners Opening Day roster. But after a steady climb from High-A, where he played 90 games, to Triple-A (six games), his progress has stalled during the first half of spring training, with Emerson slashing .200/.242/.267 in 30 at-bats.
Texas Rangers | Underwhelming fifth starter competition | Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker are the top competitors for the final spot in the starting rotation, but neither has fared well in spring training. Latz has allowed five earned runs and seven hits while striking out four in 8.1 innings, while Rocker has given up three earned runs and seven hits in 4.2 innings, making first-year manager Skip Schumaker’s decision a blind dart throw.
— Eric Smithling
NL East
Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29)
Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Atlanta Braves | An injured starting rotation | Injuries have decimated the Braves’ pitching staff over the last 12 months. Between those recovering from 2025 surgeries or suffering from new ailments this spring, the team is already facing a season without Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Strider, AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Joey Wentz. Veteran left-hander Chris Sale was recently signed to an extension that could keep him around until 2028, but with all these injuries, it’s easy to question how the Braves can find arms to eat valuable innings this season.
New York Mets | Will outfielder Carson Benge be up to playing every day? | Carson Benge, New York’s No. 2 prospect, is supposed to break camp with the team. The 20-year-old is having a great spring, with eight hits, 4 runs, 4 RBI, and a stolen base in eight games. The trouble is, the former 2024 1st-round pick (19th overall) is untested. The Mets are asking Benge to step in and play every day after trading away long-time left fielder Brandon Nimmo during the offseason. Benge will be facing a lot of pressure to produce immediately in the Big Apple.
Miami Marlins | Sandy Alcantara continues to struggle |
The 2022 Cy Young Award winner missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John Surgery, which affected his ability to be his All-Star self, going 11-12 with a 5.36 ERA (worst of his career) in 31 starts. Alcantara’s struggles in 2025 have carried over into spring training, with the right-hander having a 6.75 ERA, allowing three earned runs, a walk, and five strikeouts. In the last year of his five-year ($56 million) contract (but has a club option for 2027), Alcantara is the Marlins’ best asset to trade to help the rebuild they’re in, but he needs to get back to his 2022 self to have value.
Philadelphia Phillies | Lack of outfield depth | Philadelphia’s outfield in 2026 projects to have top prospect Justin Crawford in center field, Adolis Garcia in right field, and a platoon in left between Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp. Each carries questions. Crawford has hit at every level in the minors, but is unproven. Garcia is coming off back-to-back down seasons in Texas and needs to return to form. Johan Rojas (suspension pending), Gabriel Rincones Jr., and Pedro Leon are additional options on the 40-man roster, but the Phillies’ lack of outfield depth may end up hurting them.
Washington Nationals | Can James Wood repeat his All-Star season, despite spring training struggles? | 2025 was a breakout season for James Wood, who hit 31 home runs and made his first All-Star appearance despite leading the NL in strikeouts (221). Wood hasn’t shown the progress Washington was hoping for this spring, hitting .095 with eight strikeouts in nine games. The Nationals’ chief power source (only one other player topped 20-homers last season, the since-departed Josh Bell), Wood is counted on to be a leader for this team, and he’ll be under a microscope this season.
— Zack Cariola
NL Central
Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff
Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Chicago Cubs | A strong lineup, but the depth is weak | Chicago finished second in the NL Central last season and aims to contend for the division crown this year. The team added to their playoff-caliber lineup, bringing in third baseman Alex Bregman and starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. Newly acquired first baseman Tyler Austin’s injury throws a wrench in the bench plans, pushing Matt Shaw up the depth charts at multiple positions. For a team hoping to contend, having depth questions this early is not ideal.
Cincinnati Reds | All-around pitching health | Ace right-hander Hunter Green is out until at least July following elbow surgery, and now left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson will miss Opening Day with an oblique strain. Suddenly, the Reds need to find additional arms to cover all of these innings. Cincinnati may still have a full pitching staff, but the club’s depth is certainly taking a hit. The Reds’ pitching staff has the worst ERA in spring training, entering play on Friday.
Milwaukee Brewers | Rotation is already beat up | Milwaukee is facing the possibility of multiple starters being unavailable for Opening Day. Brandon Woodruff is still finding his rhythm after returning from 2024 Tommy John surgery and a lat injury that ended his 2025 prematurely. Quinn Priester has landed on the IL with a wrist injury tied to a thoracic outlet issue in his shoulder, while Logan Henderson has been slowed by elbow soreness.
Pittsburgh Pirates | Infield questions remain | The Pirates spent the offseason focused on fixing a league-worst offense, trading for Brandon Lowe and signing Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna. Still, questions remain about shortstop as the club decides between Nick Gonzales, who has played just 14 career games at the position, and 19-year-old Konnor Griffin, who has yet to play above Double-A. Griffin has shown flashes that he’s ready for the majors, but he also has a .192 batting average through 26 at-bats.
St. Louis Cardinals | The offense is clearly gutted | The Cardinals focused on starting their rebuild this offseason, trading away Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, and Sonny Gray in separate deals. The lineup has plenty of questions remaining. 12 different players have seen time in left field this spring, while there are also questions behind the plate as Ivan Herrera continues to battle knee inflammation.
— Taylor Bretl
NL West
San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler (10)
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Arizona Diamondbacks | Will hand surgery slow Corbin Carroll? | All-Star right fielder Corbin Carroll sustained a broken hamate bone in his right hand while taking live batting practice on Feb. 10 and underwent surgery. Carroll made his Cactus League debut on Wednesday after being forced to miss the World Baseball Classic. It often takes hitters months to regain full hand strength after surgery, though.
Colorado Rockies | Who’s on first? |
The first baseman’s job is up for grabs, and, as of the moment, it looks like the Rockies will go with a platoon of left-handed-hitting Troy Johnston and right-handed-hitting Blaine Crim. Both were waiver claims last year. Top prospect Charlie Condon is lurking, though.
Los Angeles Dodgers | Tommy Edman is still rehabbing |
The utility player underwent surgery on his right ankle just days after playing in all seven games of the Dodgers’ victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in last year’s World Series. Edman was slated to be the primary second baseman but is still rehabbing and will begin the season on the injured list.
San Diego Padres | Walker Buehler is struggling | Caught in a bit of a financial squeeze, the Padres are trying to fill out the back end of the rotation with low-cost options. They thought Buehler, a two-time All-Star, might be an answer, but he has allowed four runs and seven hits in 6.2 innings and not looked sharp in the Cactus League through Wednesday.
San Francisco Giants | Still short a quality starter |
The Giants lack a quality third starting pitcher to team up with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. Lucas Giolioto is still a free agent and would fit nicely in the middle of the rotation. The Giants, though, seem to be content with journeymen Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser.
— John Perrotto
