PEORIA, Ariz. — Take a spin around the Cactus League with “Three Up, Three Down,” an inside look at what is coming up and what went down on Tuesday.
THREE UP
1. Several aces and frontline pitchers will be held back from starting games the first few days of the Cactus League schedule. In the Oakland Athletics’ camp, right-hander Sonny Gray is not scheduled to pitch until after Saturday, and in the Seattle Mariners’ camp, right-hander Felix Hernandez is not on the list of names of the first four starting pitchers in games this month. Neither pitcher is dealing with injury; their respective managers are moving slowly with their aces as they normally do this time of year in preparing them for Opening Day.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who continues to deal with neck stiffness, is expected to play Thursday or Friday. The neck issue is a chronic problem, but don’t look for Gonzalez to miss too much action. He played 156 games last year while being selected an All-Star for the first time in four years. Gonzalez has played at least 156 games in each of the past 10 seasons.
3. Mariners outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz is dealing with mild knee soreness and will be held out of the lineup Wednesday. “No issue, we just want to take it a little slow with that one,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. The injury came as a result of Cruz running on turf in the Dominican Republic, then hurting his knee running on grass in Arizona. Keeping Cruz healthy is a priority, as he hit 40-plus homers each of the past seasons before finishing in the top 10 of American League MVP voting both times.
THREE DOWN
1. The Kansas City Royals signed catcher Salvador Perez to a five-year contract extension. The new deal gives the three-time All-Star $52.5 million in guaranteed money. Perez is only 25 years old even though it seems as if he has been playing for a long time, and he has been a key part of the Royals’ rise to champion status. Already a three-time All-Star, Perez was selected the World Series MVP last fall after hitting .364 (8-for-22) with a .455 on-base percentage.
2. The Cubs made the obvious official, announcing that 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta would get the Opening Day start. Arrieta will take the mound against the Los Angeles Angels on April 4 in Anaheim. He will make his second career season-opening start, the first one being in 2012 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. Arrieta went 22-6 with 1.77 ERA, four complete games and three shutouts, including a no-hitter, for the Cubs last season.
3. Eugenio Suarez, who is filling a big hole for the Reds this year, got off to a good spring start. In Cincinnati’s Cactus League opener, Suarez doubled twice as the Reds topped the Cleveland Indians 6-5. After starting 96 games for the Reds at shortstop last year, Suarez is taking over at third base this year in place of All-Star Todd Frazier, who was traded to the Chicago White Sox in December as part of a three-team deal. Suarez had a .280/.315/.446 batting line last year, so the bigger concern will be how he handles the adjustment to manning the hot corner.