{"id":61089,"date":"2018-03-21T10:02:06","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T10:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=61089"},"modified":"2018-03-21T10:02:06","modified_gmt":"2018-03-21T10:02:06","slug":"opening-day-countdown-justin-turner-shohei-ohtani-and-other-mlb-questions-that-need-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/opening-day-countdown-justin-turner-shohei-ohtani-and-other-mlb-questions-that-need-answers.html","title":{"rendered":"Opening Day countdown Justin Turner Shohei Ohtani and other MLB questions that need answers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Opening Day countdown Justin Turner Shohei Ohtani and other MLB questions that need answers<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

With less than 10 days until the Major League Baseball season gets underway, there’s still plenty of uncertainty surrounding injuries, rotations, lineups and free agents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s a look at four of the most pressing questions lingering:<\/span><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s at third for the Dodgers?<\/span><\/p>\n

Justin Turner’s broken wrist won’t require surgery but could sideline him for about two months, and the Dodgers are going to miss his production. Fortunately, the defending NL champions have a ton of defensive versatility on the roster.<\/span><\/p>\n

Logan Forsythe could see the bulk of the time, which would mean Chase Utley getting more at-bats at second and Kike’ Hernandez filling in as needed. Backup catcher Austin Barnes can also play second base.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It obviously makes a lot of sense to have Logan over there a lot more at third, and to kind of put together some guys at second base, and leave Chris (Taylor) in center field,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShould Ohtani start in the minors?<\/span><\/p>\n

Things haven\u2019t gone great in spring training for the Angels’ highly-touted two-way player. Shohei Ohtani has made two starts as a pitcher, giving up eight earned runs in 2 2\/3 innings, and has been hit just as hard in minor league games. At the plate, he’s 2-for-24 with nine strikeouts.<\/span><\/p>\n

It sounds like Ohtani will be breaking camp with the team, but why rush him into major league action once the season begins? With Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs healthy, the Angels have an abundance of starting pitchers. A few starts and a bunch of at-bats for Ohtani the minors could do him a world of good before he makes his big-league debut.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where will Cobb land?<\/span><\/p>\n

While deals materialized for Jake Arrieta and Lance Lynn, righty Alex Cobb is still on the market. The 30-year-old pitched well for Tampa Bay last year after missing all of 2015 and most of 2016 following Tommy John surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n

A team who hopes to contend \u2013 like the Brewers \u2013 could sign Cobb to a one-year deal at a bargain-basement price. With the season less than two weeks away, Cobb would need time to prepare after he signs anyway, so maybe suitors will wait to see how things go the first few weeks of the season.<\/span><\/p>\n

How are the Yankees going to line up?<\/span><\/p>\n

The Yankees have a murderers\u2019 row of sorts with Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez. They\u2019re all going to hit homers no matter where they are in the lineup, but new manager Aaron Boone could look to split up the righties with Didi Gregorious batting third or Greg Bird folded into the middle of the lineup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Naturally, how the Yankees break from the gate won’t necessarily indicate a long-term strategy – particularly with J.A. Happ getting the opening-day nod for the Toronto Blue Jays.<\/span><\/p>\n

So even with an opening-day deadline ostensibly lurking, there’s always time for adjustments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/2018\/03\/20\/justin-turner-dodgers-shohei-ohtani-mlb\/442055002\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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