Austin Gomber, Chi Chi González, Dereck Rodríguez and Ryan Castellani have each started a spring training game in 2021. Early spring performance may have limited value, but here is where the fifth starter race stands so far:
The Bad
Gomber has been dealing. We have a frontrunner.
In a February press conference, Jeff Bridich said Gomber would “prepare himself as a starter here coming into spring training, but there’s a lot of conversation and relationship building, especially with he and our pitching coaches and Buddy [Black].” Those conversations have given him two starts in two spring appearances, and those new relationships have to be speaking well of his scoreless work.