The Baseball Buffet for 3/11/2026

Israel 6, Netherlands 2 - After Netherlands took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, Israel’s pitchers allowed only two more hits the rest of the game, with NYY pitcher Harrison Cohen striking out 5 in 2 IP, and Ben Simon walking three but also striking out three in the ninth inning.

Czechia 0, Japan 9 - Four pitchers for Japan combined on a 2-hit shutout, while CF Ukyo Shuto went 2-4 with a 3-run HR, and CHW 1B Munetaka Murakami hit a grand slam.

Canada 3, Puerto Rico 2 - Three pitchers for Canada each hurled 3 innings and held Puerto Rico to only five hits and two runs. Meanwhile Canada’s hitters also managed only five hits but converted those into three runs, with MIA LF Owen Caissie going 2-3 with a walk and 2 doubles.

Italy 8, United States 6 - In a shocking upset, Italy played well and took advantage of mistakes by the USA, scoring 8 runs in the first six innings off only 4 hits. They had HRs from CHW C Kyle Teel, CHW SS Sam Antonacci, and KCR RF Jac Caglianone. NYM SP Nolan McLean (3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) and NYY pitcher Ryan Yarbrough (2.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) were the primary victims. Meanwhile Italy’s starter, COL SP Michael Lorenzen, did very well with 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. The US bullpen performed better, and their hitters mounted a comeback, including a HR by BAL 3B Gunnar Henderson, and two HR by CHC CF Pete Crow-Armstrong, but it was too little, too late.

BOS SP Sonny Gray had 4 K in 4 IP, but also allowed 3 H, 1 BB, and 2 ER from a HR by DET DH Riley Greene, his first of the spring.

BAL DH Coby Mayo had a big day, going 4-4 with a HR and 5 RBI

MIN SP Joe Ryan did well with 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

TBR SP Steven Matz, who is competing for a rotation spot, did well with 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

NYY LF Jasson Domínguez went 2-3 with a HR and 2 runs, and NYY CF prospect Spencer Jones hit his fourth HR of the spring. Meanwhile, NYY SP Luis Gil had 4 K in 3.1 IP, but also allowed 4 H and 1 ER, including a HR by PHI C J.T. Realmuto, his first of the spring.

TOR SP Dylan Cease did well with 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

NYM SP David Peterson did well with 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, and 3 K, while NYM 1B Jorge Polanco went 2-2 with a walk, a HR, and 2 runs, and NYM C Francisco Alvarez was 2-3 with a 2-run HR

MIA SP Eury Pérez had 7 K in only 3 IP, but also allowed 2 walks and 2 HR, hit by WSN RF Daylen Lile and WSN 3B Brady House. Meanwhile, WSN SP Foster Griffin did well with 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

AZ CF Jordan Lawler led off the game with a HR, his fourth of the spring. LAD SP Tyler Glasnow settled in after that with 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.

CLE SP Tanner Bibee had 6 K and 0 BB in 3.2 IP, allowing 4 H and 3 runs, but 0 ER

SFG SP Carson Seymour did well with 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

CHC SP Cade Horton struggled with 3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, including allowing three homers to TEX SS Corey Seager, TEX 2B Josh Smith, and TEX 3B Ezequiel Duran

TEX SP Jacob deGrom did well with 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, and TEX pitcher Kumar Rocker, who is competing for a rotation spot, had 5 K in 4 IP, but also allowed 3 H and 2 ER, including a HR by CHC CF Matt Shaw

CHW DH Korey Lee was 1-2 with 2 walks, a HR, 2 runs, and 3 RBI, while CHW SP Shane Smith struggled with 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

ATH SP Jeffrey Springs struggled with 2.2 IP, 4 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, and 3 K, while the Athletics’ hitters had homers from RF Brent Rooker, 1B Nick Kurtz, and DH Shea Langeliers

CIN SP Brandon Williamson did well with 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, while CIN DH TJ Friedl went 3-3 with a 3-run HR, CIN LF Will Benson went 2-4 with a HR and a double, and CIN 3B P.J. Higgins hit a 2-run HR

LAA SP Mitch Farris had 6 K in 3.2 IP, but also allowed 8 H, 1 BB, and 7 ER, including a grand slam by SDP RF Jase Bowen

SEA SP Cooper Criswell did well with 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

KCR SP Cole Ragans had 5 K in 3.1 IP, but also allowed 4 H and 2 ER

NYM SP Jonah Tong. As Anthony DiComo at MLB noted, the Mets have optioned 22-year-old prospect Jonah Tong back to AAA. He had 22 K in 18.1 IP over 5 starts for the Mets last year, but also owned a 7.71 ERA during that work. He had only made one appearance so far in Spring Training, giving up 3 runs in 2.2 IP. This move isn’t a huge surprise really, as Tong mostly pitched at AA last year, with only two starts at AAA—though his combined stats in the minors last year were certainly impressive with 1.58 ERA and 179 K in 113.2 IP.

1958: Helmets become required. “Starting this season, American League batters will be required to wear batting helmets.”

1981: Johnny Mize and Rube Foster are elected to the Hall of Fame. “Slugger Johnny Mize and Negro Leagues pioneer Rube Foster are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Mize hit .312 with 359 home runs during a 15-year major league career, while Foster served as a pitcher, manager, and Negro League organizer in the first quarter of the 20th century.”

18-year major league career, spanning from 1996-2014, with half spent with the Phillies, and the rest spread across five other clubs

Two-time All-Star, and won a Gold Glove Award as an OF in 2005

Had a strong combination of power and speed, with 20+ HR nine times and 20+ SB in 13 consecutive seasons

Had 100+ RBI eight times and 100+ runs eight times

Also walked a lot with 100+ walks eight times which led to frequently posting a .400+ OBP

Overall had 288 HR, 400 SB, 1,453 runs, 1,363 RBI, a .291/.395/.475 slash line, and a 128 OPS+

10-year major league career, spanning from 2006-2015, mostly as a 2B with the Marlins and Braves

Three-time All-Star, including as a rookie in 2006, finishing that season with a .282 average, 27 HR, 90 RBI, and 105 runs

Had an impressive 49 doubles and a career-high 113 runs in 2007

Had 30+ HR in five seasons, a record for 2B

Struck out a lot with 150+ K six times

Overall had 235 HR, a .241/.336/.447 slash line, and a 107 OPS+

12-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1968-1979, mostly with the Pirates, Rangers, and Yankees

Was an All-Star for the Pirates in 1971, finishing that year with a 19-9 record and a 3.06 ERA, then went 15-7 with a 2.70 ERA in 1972

Had another fine season in 1976 with the Yankees, going 17-8 with a 3.19 ERA

Overall had a 138-119 (.537) record, a 3.46 ERA, and a 104 ERA+

As described at Wikipedia, "Ellis threw a no-hitter on June 12, 1970, and later stated that he accomplished the feat under the influence of LSD. ... He had a substance abuse problem, and acknowledged after his retirement that he had never pitched without the use of drugs. After going into treatment, Ellis remained sober and devoted the remainder of his life to counseling others with substance use disorder in treatment centers and prisons."

21-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2005-2025, playing for 14 different clubs (which is tied with Edwin Jackson as the record for most different MLB teams)

Has been a mixed starter and reliever during his long career, which seems to have finally concluded with brief major league stints in 2024 (Red Sox) and 2025 (Royals)

His most effective numbers arguably came in 2017 while pitching for the Athletics and Dodgers and posting a 12-5 record, a 2.12 ERA, and 129 K in 110.1 IP over 20 starts

Overall had a 90-76 (.542) record, 1,432 K in 1,418 IP, a 4.02 ERA, and a 106 ERA+

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1992-2005, mostly with the Rockies and Indians, with some time spent with five other clubs

A sidearm/submarine reliever, he posted a 2.14 ERA over 84 IP and 71 appearances in 1995 for the Rockies, and a 2.01 ERA over 67 IP and 64 appearances in 2002 for the Padres and Mets

Overall he appeared in 833 games, all in relief, with a 3.63 ERA and 132 ERA+

15-year major league career, spanning from 1969-1983, for the Reds, Astros, and Royals

Was a good defensive CF, winning four consecutive NL Gold Glove Awards from 1974-1977

Was an important member of the 1975/76 Cincinnati Reds World Series Champions, including batting .307 with 22 SB and 11 triples in 1976

Overall had 82 SB and a .258 average

8-year major league career, spanning from 1983-1990, with the Mariners, Orioles, Phillies, and White Sox

Played mostly LF, and was an All-Star in 1985 finishing that year with a .300 average, 26 HR, 88 RBI, 100 runs, and 22 SB

Had 20+ SB five times, including a career-high of 40 SB in 1987

Overall had 78 HR, 155 SB, a .286/.369/.421 slash line, and a 119 OPS+

Rougned Odor

Chase Utley

Alfonso Soriano

Jeff Kent

Rogers Hornsby

6 dark horse candidates to win MVP in '26, by MLB writers, 3/10/2026

HOFer Wee Willie Keeler played big, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 3/11/2026

The Twisting, Tragic End of Porter Moss, by Chris Jensen at Here's the Pitch: the IBWAA Newsletter, 3/11/2026