Easton Lucas faced a challenging outing on Monday night as the Toronto Blue Jays were overpowered by the Atlanta Braves, resulting in an 8-4 defeat. Lucas, who had previously pitched excellently, surrendered eight earned runs, marking his first earned run of the season. Austin Riley led the Braves' offense with five RBIs, including two homers, while Sean Murphy contributed with a two-run blast. Manager John Schneider noted Lucas struggled with his off-speed pitches, which were often up in the zone.

Despite a rocky start, Lucas's ERA escalated to 4.70 from a perfect 0.00. The Braves’ pitcher Grant Holmes performed impressively, retiring the first 12 batters he faced and finishing with a career-high 7 2/3 innings. The game was notable for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s first home game back since a lucrative contract extension. The Blue Jays look to rebound with Kevin Gausman set to start the following night against Spencer Schwellenbach.

Vanderbilt baseball continues to showcase its prowess in producing MLB talent, with 11 former players making the cut for the 2025 opening day rosters, tying for first among SEC schools. Notable names include veteran Sonny Gray, who will lead the St. Louis Cardinals, and rising stars Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, both key members of the Texas Rangers' rotation.

Rocker, the 10th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, bounced back from Tommy John surgery to post a solid 3.86 ERA in three starts during his debut season in 2024. Leiter, selected second overall the same year, aligns with Rocker as the duo aims to solidify their roles. The exceptional performance of Vanderbilt alums like Bryan Reynolds and Dansby Swanson also highlights the Commodores' impact in the league, reinforcing their status as a powerhouse in collegiate baseball.

The National League has seen significant offseason shifts as teams finalize their rosters ahead of Opening Day. The Atlanta Braves are navigating a right field platoon with Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic while awaiting Ronald Acuña Jr.'s return from knee surgery. Meanwhile, the addition of Alex Verdugo complicates their lineup, as he may take time to adjust after signing late.

The Miami Marlins are facing uncertainty in their closer role with Calvin Faucher struggling during spring training. In contrast, the New York Mets have found a promising second base option in Brett Baty, who has impressed amidst Jeff McNeil's injury. The Philadelphia Phillies are also in a similar boat, with Jordan Romano performing well but no official closer named. As teams finalize their rotations and address injuries, fantasy managers should keep a close eye on these evolving situations.

The Atlanta Braves have added Alex Verdugo to their roster, signing him to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, with an option to Triple-A Gwinnett. Verdugo, who played for the New York Yankees last season and recorded a batting average of .233 with 13 home runs, will enhance Atlanta's outfield depth as they prepare for the upcoming season. In a similar vein, the Braves also secured veteran closer Craig Kimbrel and catcher James McCann on minor league deals.

Atlanta's most notable offseason move involved acquiring Jurickson Profar, who is expected to start in left field after a wrist injury. The team awaits the return of 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., who is recovering from a torn ACL. Bryan De La Cruz, signed recently, will likely split time in right field with Jarred Kelenic until Acuña regains his health. Verdugo's addition, however, creates a potential outfield logjam once Acuña is back in the lineup.

In the National League East, job battles are heating up as teams finalize their rosters ahead of the season. For the Atlanta Braves, the right field position is under scrutiny with Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic vying for a spot until Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from injury. Kelenic, despite a promising start, struggled last season, while De La Cruz hopes to capitalize on the opportunity. The Braves' starting rotation sees Grant Holmes as a frontrunner for the fifth starter role, with Ian Anderson also in the mix after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins face significant uncertainty in multiple positions. The catcher position remains up for grabs between Agustin Ramirez and Nick Fortes, both lacking strong offensive credentials. At first base and DH, options like Deyvison De Los Santos are not expected to break camp with the team, indicating a potentially tough season ahead for the Marlins. In contrast, the New York Mets are poised to leverage their depth, with players like Luisangel Acuña competing to fill in for the aging Jeff McNeil.