St. Louis Cardinals pitchers and catchers report to Jupiter, Florida today for spring training. Their first workout is tomorrow. The full squad reports next Sunday. The Cardinals begin Grapefruit League play February 22nd hosting the New York Mets.
Cincinnati Reds pitchers and catchers report to spring training Thursday in Goodyear, Arizona and have their first official workout Saturday. Joey Votto and Nick Senzel are among early arrivals working out, although position players are not scheduled to report until Sunday. The initial Cactus League game will be February 22nd against the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark.
MLB is contemplating a major change to its playoff format. Multiple reports say an expanded playoff field from 10 teams to 14 is being considered. It would feature three division winners and four wild card teams, with the best team in each league receiving a bye into the division series. A change can’t happen until 2022 at the earliest due to the league’s TV contracts.
A former big league pitcher is blaming the Houston Astros for striking out his career. Mike Bolsinger has filed a civil suit against the Astros in Los Angeles. He claims Houston’s sign-stealing scheme led to a poor relief outing in 2017 and his demotion to the minor leagues. Bolsinger wants unspecified damages to be donated to LA-area children’s charities.