Wbc Schedule: Dominican depth, Tatis' exhibitions and the wbc schedule shaped by Cristopher Sanchez

The wbc schedule is taking shape as Fernando Tatis Jr. leaves Scottsdale for Dominican exhibitions and Cristopher Sanchez is named the Dominican Republic's Game 1 starter on March 6. Those moves matter this week for spring-roster availability, exhibition dates in Santo Domingo and the pitching pecking order the Dominican team will carry into pool play in Miami.

Tatis' final Cactus League day in Scottsdale before Dominican exhibitions

In Scottsdale, Ariz., Fernando Tatis Jr. logged two more at-bats on Friday afternoon and played four innings in right field in a third straight day of Cactus League action. After his outing at Salt River Fields he jogged, gear in hand, to the center field clubhouse and had a flight to catch to join the Dominican Republic for World Baseball Classic preparations.

Tatis said, "I feel great, " and added that he was "in a great spot, " that his swing felt in play and that body-wise he felt "awesome and I’m ready to go. " He is 3-for-12 with three walks after an 0-for-2 in Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Rockies at Salt River Fields.

Tatis, Machado, Soto and Guerrero Jr. set for Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal exhibitions

The Dominican ramp-up will include two exhibition games next week against the Detroit Tigers at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal, with those exhibitions scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Tatis noted he has not played in front of fans in his home country since playing for his father, Fernando Tatis, as the hitting coach on the Dominican team for Estrellas in 2023, and that he was serving his PED suspension and ineligible for the last World Baseball Classic.

Tatis said he was "really looking forward to" the exhibitions and to playing alongside current teammate Manny Machado, former teammate Juan Soto and boyhood friend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Pool play is set to begin in Miami, Fla., with the Dominican opening pool play in Miami against Nicaragua.

Cristopher Sanchez named Game 1 starter for March 6, Pujols sets rotation pieces

Cristopher Sanchez will represent the Dominican Republic in next month's World Baseball Classic and has been named the team's de facto ace. Manager Albert Pujols announced Tuesday that Sanchez will be the Dominican team's Game 1 starter on March 6 against Nicaragua.

Pujols said that Luis Severino, Brayan Bello and Sandy Alcantara will slot in behind Sanchez. Sanchez may start once in Phillies camp before then, likely going two innings, and is not expected to go any deeper than four innings against Nicaragua.

Sanchez's recent track record and repertoire that earned him ace status

The Phillies' lefty finished second in National League Cy Young voting last season after delivering a 2. 50 ERA and a 1. 06 WHIP over 202 innings. The 6-foot-6 lefty has taken major strides forward three years in a row, broke out in the summer of 2023, reached a higher level in 2024 and established himself as an ace in 2025.

His changeup has graded out as the second-best in baseball the last two seasons behind only Tarik Skubal's, and his sinker last season graded as by far the best in all of baseball, well ahead of Framber Valdez and Garrett Crochet in the Nos. 2 and 3 spots. Team observers see him entering the 2026 season viewed as one of baseball's Top 7 to 10 starting pitchers and as one of the best trades and contracts in Phillies history.

Padres spring dynamics: Sung-Mun Song settling in as major names depart for the WBC

Sung-Mun Song, the 29-year-old Korean import, said a weight lifted when a line drive found grass on Thursday and again on Friday. Through interpreter Jun Yi, Song said, "I got my first hit yesterday and then, like, my pressure is kind of gone, " and that getting along with teammates has made it "a good two days. " He added that even in KBO he was always nervous until the first hit, and that getting that hit off a good pitcher boosted his confidence.

Song's hit on Thursday came off Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft, and Friday's hit came off a 90 mph cutter from Rockies right-hander Juan Mejia. Song has three starts so far this spring, and with Tatis, Machado and Xander Bogaerts departing for the World Baseball Classic his action is expected to pick up. He has worked only at second and third base with the Padres so far, but shortstop and outfield work appear imminent; Song has only played shortstop in middle school and has only shagged balls in the outfield, yet said he is eager to help wherever needed.

Managerial shuffle in San Diego while Stammen attends family wedding

Manager Craig Stammen is missing two games — Friday and Saturday — to attend his sister’s wedding. Pitching coach Ruben Niebla added associate manager to his duties after becoming a finalist for the managerial opening that went to Stammen, and bench coach Randy Knorr will serve as the acting manager during Stammen’s absence this weekend and in any instance in which Stammen is ejected.

Wbc Schedule: exhibitions, Miami pool play and what follows

The Wbc Schedule now lists two exhibitions in the Dominican Republic at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by pool play beginning Friday in Miami against Nicaragua. Cristopher Sanchez is slated as the Game 1 starter on March 6 against Nicaragua, with Severino, Brayan Bello and Sandy Alcantara set to follow in the rotation.

Between those exhibition dates and the March 6 start, teams and players are balancing spring assignments, travel and shortened workloads: Sanchez may throw two innings in camp and a maximum of four in his Game 1 start, while Padre departures for the Classic will open more playing time for Sung-Mun Song.