Robbie Ray has made the most of his fresh start this spring. The former Cy Young winner missed his first camp with the Giants — and the first three and a half months of last season —  recovering from Tommy John surgery. Ray, 33, arrived in Arizona last month healthy and is looking every bit like the pitcher who won a combined 25 games and struck out nearly 500 batters in 2021 and 2022 with the Blue Jays and Mariners, respectively. The lefty delivered 4 1/3 strong innings on Thursday against the Texas Rangers, allowing just three hits and two earned run while striking out eight batters on 65 pitches.

When the Giants and Cleveland Guardians lined up for the national anthem on Wednesday in Goodyear, there were quite a few head nods and waves across the field. On the home side, manager Stephen Vogt stood alongside Craig Albernaz, who became his associate manager after years in San Francisco as the bullpen coach. To Albernaz's right was Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa, who previously was the bench coach for Gabe Kapler and briefly replaced him at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

When the Giants and Cleveland Guardians lined up for the national anthem on Wednesday in Goodyear, there were quite a few head nods and waves across the field. On the home side, manager Stephen Vogt stood alongside Craig Albernaz, who became his associate manager after years in San Francisco as the bullpen coach. To Albernaz's right was Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa, who previously was the bench coach for Gabe Kapler and briefly replaced him at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

When the Giants and Cleveland Guardians lined up for the national anthem on Wednesday in Goodyear, there were quite a few head nods and waves across the field. On the home side, manager Stephen Vogt stood alongside Craig Albernaz, who became his associate manager after years in San Francisco as the bullpen coach. To Albernaz's right was Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa, who previously was the bench coach for Gabe Kapler and briefly replaced him at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

When the Giants and Cleveland Guardians lined up for the national anthem on Wednesday in Goodyear, there were quite a few head nods and waves across the field. On the home side, manager Stephen Vogt stood alongside Craig Albernaz, who became his associate manager after years in San Francisco as the bullpen coach. To Albernaz's right was Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa, who previously was the bench coach for Gabe Kapler and briefly replaced him at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

When the Giants and Cleveland Guardians lined up for the national anthem on Wednesday in Goodyear, there were quite a few head nods and waves across the field. On the home side, manager Stephen Vogt stood alongside Craig Albernaz, who became his associate manager after years in San Francisco as the bullpen coach. To Albernaz's right was Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa, who previously was the bench coach for Gabe Kapler and briefly replaced him at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

When the Giants and Cleveland Guardians lined up for the national anthem on Wednesday in Goodyear, there were quite a few head nods and waves across the field. On the home side, manager Stephen Vogt stood alongside Craig Albernaz, who became his associate manager after years in San Francisco as the bullpen coach. To Albernaz's right was Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa, who previously was the bench coach for Gabe Kapler and briefly replaced him at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

When the Giants and Cleveland Guardians lined up for the national anthem on Wednesday in Goodyear, there were quite a few head nods and waves across the field. On the home side, manager Stephen Vogt stood alongside Craig Albernaz, who became his associate manager after years in San Francisco as the bullpen coach. To Albernaz's right was Guardians field coordinator Kai Correa, who previously was the bench coach for Gabe Kapler and briefly replaced him at the end of the 2023 MLB season.

A three-man, multi-position equation of matchups looks like the Cincinnati Reds' answer to a troubling third base position as they open the season.

A three-man, multi-position equation of matchups looks like the Cincinnati Reds' answer to a troubling third base position as they open the season.

The San Francisco Giants are looking to prove doubters wrong this season. While they made some improvements to their roster, most notably bringing in Willy Adames and Justin Verlander in free agency, the reality is the Giants finished fourth place in their own division last year and don't seemed poised to take a huge step forward. One way San Francisco can exceed expectations is by getting improvements from the players who were previously on this roster. Jung Hoo Lee is back after his season-ending shoulder surgery.

The Giants moved Thursday's first pitch up an hour to avoid the rain that was headed for the valley, but there was nothing that could be done about the wind. It allowed his off-speed pitch to appear even slower than it usually does. The pitch is a new one, with a grip borrowed from American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Ray thinks it could be a game-changer in his second full season with the Giants, and right now it looks like he might have the same effect on the rotation.

This winter marked the dawn of a new era for the San Francisco Giants, with legendary catcher Buster Posey taking over the front office as the president of baseball operations. The team signed Willy Adames away from the Milwaukee Brewers, with the two sides agreeing to a massive seven-year, $182 million deal. With Adames in the fold, the Giants have one of the strongest left sides in baseball, pairing him with star third baseman Matt Chapman.

Spencer Steer has been the Cincinnati Reds' most durable and versatile player the past two seasons.