GOODYEAR, Ariz — In a little more than three weeks, Tyson Ross will take the mound on Opening Day, the honor essentially anointing the 28-year-old right-hander as the staff ace. A more variety in his arsenal will only further Ross’ continued development when he matches up with three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw or other front-of-the-rotation types as he did in Thursday’s 9-4 Cactus League loss to the Indians.
Pitching heads up with Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco, the 6-foot-5 right-hander unleashed his work-in progress change-up for the first time during a three-inning start. Though he threw only five or six, according to his estimate, renewed resolve to evolve into something more than a two-pitch pitcher figures to serve him well.