One thing to watch for each team in today's spring slate

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Baseball is back, baby. For the first time since September, all 30 teams will be in action on Saturday, and even if it's only Spring Training, that calls for a little fanfare. Here's a look at 2025's first full slate of games and what you'll want to have an eye on in each matchup.

Nationals at Astros, 1:05 p.m. ET

• Nationals: Right-hander Jake Irvin will take the mound for the Nationals in their Grapefruit League opener. This is the first look at the additions of veterans Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe to a young core that includes CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews (MLB No. 4 prospect), Luis García Jr., James Wood and Jacob Young. The Nats don't have to travel for this away game; they share the Spring Training complex with the Astros. -- Jessica Camerato

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• Astros: Ryan Gusto, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, is in his first Major League camp and will start for Houston, throwing two innings (depending on pitch count). Gusto, a favorite of general manager Dana Brown, went 8-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 29 games (26 starts) last year at Triple-A Sugar Land and is an intriguing depth piece. He was set to start last year’s season finale in Cleveland in what would have been his Major League debut, but the game was cancelled because of rain. -- Brian McTaggart

Pirates at Orioles, 1:05 p.m. ET

• Pirates: There are plenty of bullpen jobs up for grabs this spring, both for newcomers and young pitchers trying to fully establish themselves as Major Leaguers. Carmen Mlodzinski falls into the latter camp as he tries to earn his first spot on an Opening Day roster. This should also be the first peek at how the new outfield alignment will look, which includes Tommy Pham in left, Bryan Reynolds in right and Oneil Cruz in center field. -- Alex Stumpf

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• Orioles: Manager Brandon Hyde is easing quite a few of the regulars into action. So one of the highlights of Saturday’s game could be getting to watch right-hander Albert Suárez, who was a surprise standout last spring after spending the previous five years in Japan and Korea. The 35-year-old right-hander could again draw attention, although he’s already a frontrunner for an Opening Day roster spot (possibly in the bullpen). -- Jake Rill

Red Sox at Rays, 1:05 p.m. ET

• Red Sox: While most of the regulars will debut on Sunday, Ceddanne Rafaela will be on the trip and start in center field on Saturday. Rafaela bounced between center and shortstop in last year’s rookie season, but the Red Sox would like to play him almost exclusively in the outfield this season, where he is an elite defender. The Red Sox are looking for Rafaela to make significant improvement with his swing decisions after walking just 15 times over 571 plate appearances in 2024. -- Ian Browne

• Rays: After opening their Grapefruit League schedule against the Yankees on Friday afternoon at their temporary regular-season home, George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Rays will kick off their home slate at Charlotte Sports Park. Right-hander Jacob Waguespack and Rule 5 Draft pick Mike Vasil are among the scheduled pitchers competing for Opening Day spots, and lineup mainstays like Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe could be in the mix after sitting out Friday’s game in Tampa. -- Adam Berry

Phillies at Tigers, 1:05 p.m. ET

• Phillies: Max Kepler will make the trip to Lakeland, where he tries to show his new organization that he can be its everyday left fielder. Kepler signed a one-year, $10 million contract in December, hoping to bounce back from an injury-riddled season with the Twins. If he plays to his potential, it would be a boost to the Phils’ lineup. -- Todd Zolecki

• Tigers: Kenta Maeda gets the start as he tries to claim a rotation spot that he lost midway through a difficult 2024 season. Maeda threw more this offseason than ever, using Spring Training to compete rather than build up his arm. He’s already throwing as hard as he did in the regular season last year, and his arm strength is building. But can he pitch effectively against opposing hitters? -- Jason Beck

Braves at Twins, 1:05 p.m. ET

• Braves: Chris Sale will be on the mound for the first time since winning his first career Cy Young Award. The veteran hurler won the National League Triple Crown last year and re-established himself among the game’s elite. Sean Murphy, who is bidding to produce his own bounceback season this year, will make the trip to catch Atlanta’s ace. Bryan De La Cruz and Garrett Cooper are among the other veteran big leaguers who will be in Atlanta’s lineup. -- Mark Bowman

• Twins: The Twins used six players at second base last year. It could be more of the same in 2025 because manager Rocco Baldelli said he currently doesn’t have a second baseman who is going to get 600 plate appearances. In the first exhibition game against the Braves, Willi Castro will get the nod for Minnesota on Saturday. Castro could be the leading candidate to play second because he adds speed to a lineup that ranked last in Major Leagues in stolen bases last year. Edouard Julien and Brooks Lee will also get a chance to prove their worth. – Bill Ladson

Yankees at Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. ET

• Yankees: Carlos Rodón is set to make his first start of the spring, looking for a strong follow-up to a campaign in which the left-hander established career highs in wins (16) and starts (32). Plus, since the Yankees have now amended their long-standing facial hair policy, it’s an opportunity for Rodón to begin restoring the nasty beard he last sported with the Giants in 2022. -- Bryan Hoch

• Blue Jays: This could be your first look at the new guys, including Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez. Even early in camp, you should get a feel for John Schneider’s new lineup construction, too, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should only benefit from having another power threat like Santander hitting right behind him. -- Keegan Matheson

Astros at Mets, 1:10 p.m. ET

• Astros: Manager Joe Espada said key veterans like Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Peña won’t play in Grapefruit League games initially, so all eyes will be on position battles and prospects. Astros No. 12-ranked prospect Colton Gordon, a lefty, will start the game and should put himself in position to make his debut at some point this year with a strong spring. Facing Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso will be a good test out of the chute. -- Brian McTaggart

• Mets: The Mets aren’t wasting any time in showing off their new $765 million lineup centerpiece, Juan Soto. He, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso are all scheduled to be in Saturday’s lineup, along with starting pitcher Clay Holmes. The bulk of the intrigue, of course, surrounds Soto, who’s entering his first of 15 seasons under contract. Expect him to get an at-bat or two before sitting out Sunday, as it’s too early in camp for players to go back-to-back. -- Anthony DiComo

Cardinals at Marlins: 1:10 p.m. ET

• Cardinals: Erick Fedde gets the first start of Spring Training and he wants to try and prove that he can be better than he was late last season after the Cards traded for him. Fedde was 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts with the White Sox, but he slipped to 2-5 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 starts with St. Louis. Fedde, 31, will be a free agent at the end of the season and he hopes to use this year as a platform season to earn some long-term security. -- John Denton

• Marlins: Valente Bellozo begins Grapefruit League play on a quest to win the Marlins' fifth-starter job. The 25-year-old right-hander went from no experience above the Double-A level in Houston's system to Miami's most consistent starter in 2024. Despite possessing below-average velocity, he finished with a 3.67 ERA in 13 starts. -- Christina De Nicola

Guardians at Reds, 3:05 p.m. ET

• Guardians: Triston McKenzie will be starting for the Guards at the outset of a big spring for him. His struggles last season necessitated a demotion to Triple-A Columbus, and he’s out of Minor League options. But after a rigorous offseason training program, he looks stronger and was up to 95 mph on the back fields. -- Anthony Castrovince

• Reds: Hunter Greene will start as he works to build on his 2024 All-Star season. Greene was 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA over a career-high 26 starts but missed five weeks of the second half with a sore elbow. Entering his fourth big league season, the 25-year-old's goal is durability and pitching a full year without injuries for the first time. -- Mark Sheldon

Royals at Dodgers, 3:05 p.m. ET

• Royals: Welcome to the big leagues, Chandler Champlain. The Royals No. 16 prospect, in camp as a non-roster invitee, will draw the start against the Dodgers in the Royals’ second Cactus League game of the spring. Champlain will likely be part of the Royals’ Triple-A depth this season and could reach the big leagues as a starter or reliever depending on need. Spring games are relaxed, but Royals coaches will be able to see how Champlain handles himself on the mound if the star Dodgers hitters are in the lineup at Camelback Ranch. -- Anne Rogers

• Dodgers: After missing the entire 2024 season while recovering from right shoulder surgery, Nick Frasso gets the start. The 26-year-old right-hander reached Triple-A in 2023 and could have a chance to help the big league club at some point this season, if he's able to pick up where he left off. There are several names ahead of him on the depth chart, but he's worth keeping an eye on. -- Sonja Chen

Giants at Rangers, 3:05 p.m. ET

• Giants: Jung Hoo Lee is expected to start in center field and bat third for the Giants, marking his first game action since suffering a season-ending left shoulder injury last May. -- Maria Guardado

• Rangers: Tyler Mahle only made three starts in his return from Tommy John in 2024, allowing seven runs in 12 2/3 innings. He’ll be making his Cactus League debut with Texas on Saturday at Surprise Stadium. He’ll be an important piece of the Rangers’ rotation this season as it’s held down by a number of veteran starters -- Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray -- who all missed time with injuries last season. -- Kennedi Landry

White Sox at Cubs, 3:05 p.m. ET

• White Sox: The South Siders have employed seven managers since the end of Ozzie Guillen’s eight-year-run in 2011, but Will Venable, who currently holds the honor, should be the man in charge for quite some time. Saturday’s crosstown matchup marks the 42-year-old’s first official game as White Sox manager, with Venable earning rave reviews from players, coaches and front office members alike in the early stages of Spring Training. -- Scott Merkin

• Cubs: Given the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers next month (March 18-19), the North Siders got a head start on their spring schedule and are already two games into their Cactus League slate. Lefty Justin Steele – last season’s Opening Day starter – is scheduled to make his spring debut against the White Sox. Steele is currently lined up to start the second game in Japan, while lefty Shota Imanaga is preparing to be this year’s Opening Day starter for the Cubs. -- Jordan Bastian

D-backs at Rockies, 3:10 p.m. ET

• D-backs: Most of the team’s veteran pitchers won’t get into games for a couple of days yet, but that’s not true for position players. Manager Torey Lovullo likes to stagger his lineups early in terms of the number of regulars so look to see right fielder Corbin Carroll make his spring debut in this game against the Rockies. -- Steve Gilbert

• Rockies: Right-hander Gabriel Hughes, the team’s top pick in 2022, advanced to Double-A Harttford in 2023 but disappeared from the prospect radar after undergoing Tommy John surgery during that summer. Hughes, however, returned for the Arizona Fall League and has impressed the Rockies in camp with his stuff and aptitude. -- Thomas Harding

Athletics at Padres, 3:10 p.m. ET

• Athletics: J.T. Ginn, who finished last season in the A’s rotation and posted a 4.24 in eight games (six starts) as a rookie, will start the Cactus League opener and get his first crack in what figures to be a tight battle for the final spot in the rotation along with Joey Estes, Mitch Spence and Brady Basso. -- Martín Gallegos

• Padres: Matt Waldron has vowed to throw more knuckleballs in 2025. And he’ll begin doing so Saturday with his first start of the Cactus League, as he vies for the final spot in the Padres starting rotation. Waldron threw his signature pitch about 40 percent of the time last season. This year, he’d like that number to be higher -- "rely on that and make them really respect that," he said. -- AJ Cassavell

Mariners at Angels, 3:10 p.m. ET

• Mariners: Seattle won't roll out any arms from its elite starting rotation until next week, leaving all eyes on intriguing bullpen candidates -- and a lineup that they hope finds far more offensive consistency this season. The Mariners took strides at the plate in September but ultimately weren't able to overcome their shortcomings from earlier in the year. Victor Robles will be of particular interest this spring, after a breakout performance in 2024. -- Daniel Kramer

• Angels: Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz starts the Cactus League opener and is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation with Reid Detmers and Chase Silseth. A number of regulars will be in the lineup, including Jorge Soler, Taylor Ward, Logan O’Hoppe, Nolan Schanuel, Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak, Kevin Newman and Tim Anderson. -- Rhett Bollinger

Reds at Brewers, 3:10 p.m. ET

• Reds: Graham Ashcraft is Cincinnati's starting pitcher but unlike recent springs, the right-hander will have to battle with several other candidates to earn a rotation spot out of camp. Ashcraft, who had a 5.24 ERA in 15 starts last season, battled inconsistency throughout the first half and missed the entire second half with a right elbow strain. -- Mark Sheldon

• Brewers: Who’s at shortstop? Be careful about reading too much into Spring Training lineups, but the start of games will offer the first clues about how the Brewers plan to cover the loss of popular shortstop Willy Adames. It seems like the plan is to slide Joey Ortiz from third base to short and leave Platinum Glove Award winner Brice Turang at second, but that could change once that club assesses its options to backfill. -- Adam McCalvy