quick pitches
On a windy day in Arizona, Justin Steele got blown away by Milwaukee hitters. The former George County High star, expected to start the second game of the Chicago Cubs’ season next week in Japan, gave up 10 hits — three home runs — and seven runs all told in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander now has a 9.72 ERA in 8 1/3 innings this spring. The 2023 All-Star went 5-5 with a 3.07 ERA in 24 starts in an injury-curtailed 2024 season. He won 16 games in 2023. … Also in Cactus League action today, ex-Ole Miss standout Doug Nikhazy, making a start for Cleveland, got knocked around by the Los Angeles Dodgers, yielding four hits, four walks and seven runs in 1 2/3 innings (55 pitches). The left-hander gave up a two-run homer to Tommy Edman, the second batter he faced. In camp as a new member of the Guardians’ 40-man roster, Nikhazy has a 7.27 ERA in 8 2/3 innings and is likely ticketed to return to Triple-A to start 2025. … Brandon Woodruff, the Mississippi State alum from Wheeler, pitched in a minor league game for Milwaukee in Arizona, his first live appearance since shoulder surgery 17 months ago. He reportedly threw 94 mph and unveiled a new cutter. Woodruff, a two-time All-Star, is 46-26, 3.10, for his career. His projected return to the Brewers’ active roster is mid-May. … On Monday in Florida, Jackson Prep product Will Warren threw 3 2/3 innings (two hits, one walk, one earned run) for the New York Yankees in a win against Detroit. Warren, 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA in 11 2/3 innings this spring, appears to be a viable candidate for the Yanks’ tattered rotation with Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil both out. GM Brian Cashman, asked about looking for arms outside the organization, told mlb.com: “We’ll just evaluate what’s available, and this time of year, very little is available.” For the record, former Ole Miss star Lance Lynn and Madison Central High alum Spencer Turnbull, both MLB vets, are free agents. … Nick Sandlin, ex-Southern Miss standout, got a win for Toronto on Monday with a scoreless inning in relief. A newcomer to the Blue Jays (trade from Cleveland), he has made just two appearances this spring. … Ole Miss alum Ryan Rolison, a first-round pick back in 2018, has thrown three scoreless innings with three K’s this spring for Colorado; the 27-year-old lefty (4.55 ERA in 83 minor league games) is in camp as a minor leaguer. … Kansas City optioned Eric Cerantola, Mississippi State product, to Triple-A, and the A’s did the same with ex-UM star Gunnar Hoglund.