I got pretty excited to have baseball with my morning coffee this week. Sure, I’ve been watching a lot of “baseball” already, but spring training rings pretty hollow compared to the real thing. Even without Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers defeated the Cubs with ease. I don’t want to alarm anyone, but Los Angeles might be a problem this season. 

Rangers RHP Jack Leiter is throwing hard this spring and kicking his change up like all the cool kids are doing these days, and he’s finally getting some results after a pro career peppered by unexpected struggles. He’s all but locked up a spot in the season-opening rotation and could hold it all season if he can keep the ball in the strike zone and generate better outcomes than the 8.83 ERA he posted in 35.2 MLB innings last season.