Split squads produce 18-game Saturday slate

March 12th, 2016

Six teams will break into split squad action across Spring Training on Saturday, leading to a whopping 18-game slate.
That also means fans will be treated to an extra helping of games on MLB.TV, which will be streaming 13 games throughout the day. The action gets started at 1:05 p.m. ET when up-and-coming right-hander Luis Severino squares off against Rays left-hander Matt Moore, who is hoping to get back on track after a couple of injury-plagued seasons.
Watch the action on MLB.TV
Elsewhere, Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright will be looking to put his own injury even further behind him when he takes the mound against the Astros in a game that can be heard on Gameday Audio.
Here are some things to watch for throughout a very busy Saturday (all times ET):
Severino, Moore hope to hit stride in AL East battle: NYY@TB, 1:05 p.m., MLB.TV
Severino, a promising 22-year-old righty, will make his second spring start (third appearance) on Saturday when the Yankees travel to Port Charlotte, Fla., to take on the division rival Rays. Severino, who posted a 2.89 ERA over 11 starts in his debut season last year, has allowed five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings (10.38 ERA) this spring.
The Rays will counter with Moore, who is aiming for a bounceback season in 2016. The southpaw got off to a slow start in his return from Tommy John surgery last year, posting an 8.78 ERA in six starts before being demoted to the Minors, but registered a 2.97 ERA in six starts following his September return.

Colon clashes with Cards: STL(ss)@NYM, 1:10 p.m., MLB.TV
After watching young guns Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard all make their spring debuts earlier this week, staff veteran Bartolo Colon will be back in action Saturday against the Cardinals. The 42-year-old righty held the Cardinals to one run over three innings in his Grapefruit League debut on Monday. The St. Louis split squad will counter with lefty Tyler Lyons.
Pitching prospects square off in NL West rivalry: ARI(ss)@SF(ss), 3:05 p.m., MLB.TV
Archie Bradley, the D-backs' No. 2 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, will get the start when the D-backs send a split squad to Scottsdale Stadium to take on the Giants. Bradley, who is competing for the D-backs' final rotation spot, allowed three runs off seven hits over 2 2/3 innings in his Monday outing against the Mariners.
On the other side, the Giants will call on the club's No. 24-ranked prospect Ty Blach, who has allowed just two hits over four scoreless innings this spring.

Santiago, Peavy strive for statement starts: SF(ss)@LAA, 3:10 p.m., MLB.TV
Hector Santiago will make his third start of the spring Saturday, as he continues his quest to lock down a spot in the Angels' rotation. A first-time All-Star last season, the southpaw tossed two scoreless innings against the Giants in his spring debut before yielding two runs over three innings his last time out.
The Giants, meanwhile, will turn to veteran Jake Peavy, who will look to build off his last outing. The 34-year-old righty allowed six runs off nine hits in just 1 2/3 innings in his Cactus League debut before holding the Rangers to two runs over three frames on Monday.
Wainwright works against Astros: HOU@STL(ss), 1:05 p.m., Gameday Audio
Wainwright will make his second start of the spring. The St. Louis staff ace tossed a pair of shutout innings in his spring debut, which marked his first start since April 25, 2015. Though Wainwright made a surprising return late last year from an early-season Achilles tendon injury, he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen down the stretch.