What is happening? Welcome to the PlusPitch Podcast.

You're on Pitching Podcasts from PitcherList.com.

My name is Nick Pollack.

Today is March 5th and yes, we are going to talk about baseball.

Justin Verlander is expected to start the season on the IL.

It is confirmed.

So I'm going to expect Rinal Blanco is going to be the spot on the interim as J.P.

France.

He's been slowed down in camp. Spencer Arredgetti is another option, but I think that Renal Blanco

is going to be the guy that is going to get the job out of the game. Do I really care? Not so much

outside the 15 teamers, 12 teamers. I really don't think it's worthwhile. Lucas Gialito has a partially

torn UCL and a flex restraint, and that's terrible news. He may miss all of 2024. We're going to find out more later. The Red Sox could pursue John Montgomery or Blake's now, but honestly, I think it's just going to mean that Garrett Whitlock and

Tanner Halk are both in the rotation. Cooper Criswell is apparently a serious consideration as well,

but that just makes no sense. You have Whitlock and Halk. Stop doing this. I like both of those

guys. Whitlock is utilizing both of his secondaries to get swing strikes this preseason exactly what you want to see.

Well, Tanner Halk is apparently showcasing the greatest velocity jump of anyone in Boston camp, which is really exciting, but does he have a lefty weapon?

I don't know.

I don't know if he has that weapon to take down left-handed batters quite yet.

Still, both of them are very intriguing. I'd go after both.

Sunday Gray was removed yesterday with a mild hamstring strain. It should mean that Zach Thompson or

Matthew Lieberdor again an opportunity. I don't expect Sunny Gray to be out for long, though,

and I actually kind of like him more in drafts because you should expect him to fall now. He's going to have that injury label and all of that stuff.

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