The Yankees went on the road this afternoon and picked up a 2-1 win over the Twins. Billy McKinney hit a solo homer — he has six hits total this spring, and five are dingers — and both Tyler Austin and Shane Robinson had two hits. Jacoby Ellsbury went 0-for-2 with a walk in his first spring game since March 1st. He played four innings as scheduled and told Coley Harvey it was a “productive day.”

Jordan Montgomery started and allowed one run in six workmanlike innings. He wiggled out of a bases loaded, no outs jam while allowing just one run. Ten up, nine down for Domingo German, whose only baserunner allowed came on an Abi Avelino error. Little Sunday looked pretty good. Montgomery and German were the only pitchers used today. Here are the box score and video highlights, and here’s the rest of the day’s news from Tampa:

• Ronald Torreyes is the emergency third catcher, and to help prepare him for the role, the Yankees had him catch a Wade LeBlanc bullpen session earlier this week. “He’s a natural,” Aaron Boone joked. “I’ll be ready, but hopefully I don’t have to play there. If I go back there and catch, something not good is happening,” said Torreyes. [Randy Miller]
• Boone said he is not a fan of personal catchers, which is music to my ears. “We’ll always evaluate but bottom line is we’ve got an elite-level catcher we’re not going to sit down and get into that personal (catcher) stuff too much. It’s not even on my board right now,” he said. [Erik Boland]
• Here are the day’s minor league lineups. Miguel Andujar played first base. He’s played first at least one other time in a minor league game this spring. Triple-A Scranton manager Bobby Mitchell said Andujar will play first “a little bit” during the season. [Conor Foley]
• The Yankees have a home game against the Red Sox tomorrow afternoon. That game will be televised. Masahiro Tanaka is the scheduled starter.

This is the nightly open thread. MLB Network is replaying spring games throughout the evening, the (hockey) Rangers and Islanders are playing, and March Madness resumes tonight. Talk about those games or anything else here, as long as it’s not religion or politics. Get that outta here.

You know what today is? Today is the last time this year the Yankees will play a baseball game we can’t watch. Well, I guess that’s not technically true. Only one of the two split squad games Saturday will be televised, but close enough. From here on out, we’ll be able to watch the Yankees play on any day they have a game. Hooray for that.

The Yankees are at home tonight to take on the Orioles and you’re going to have to follow on Gameday. Luis Cessa is making the spot start because the Yankees don’t want the O’s to see one of their regular starters so late in Spring Training. I’ve always thought that’s kinda silly — the other night the Yankees hid CC Sabathia from the Rays yet used all their “A” relievers in the game — but whatever. Here are the rest of the day’s notes from Tampa:

• Update: Tyler Austin, Gio Gallegos, Ben Heller, and Billy McKinney were all optioned down, the Yankees announced tonight. That leaves Cessa, Domingo German, and Jonathan Holder as candidates for the eighth reliever spot among 40-man roster players. The Yankees are down to 39 players in big league camp.
• The Yankees should have their Opening Day roster finalized by the end of the day Saturday, said Aaron Boone. We know Tyler Wade is making the team and chances are Chasen Shreve will as well, so the only roster spot still open is Jacoby Ellsbury’s. The Yankees have talked about using it for an eighth reliever. [Bryan Hoch]
• Speaking of Ellsbury, he took batting practice again today and is scheduled to go on the road trip tomorrow. Clint Frazier (concussion) is doing better. “It’s going to be baby steps,” said Boone. Here are the day’s minor league lineups and workout groups. Again, don’t get too caught up in who is playing where. The kids are scattered at all different levels in the spring. [Erik Boland, Billy Witz]
• To help deal with the new mound visit rules, the Yankees may have their catchers wear wristbands with different sign sequences this year. The Indians and I think the Dodgers did this last year. Other teams have played around with it this spring. “It’s definitely helpful,” said Gary Sanchez. Interesting! [Dan Martin]
• The Yankees will be on the road to take on Twins tomorrow afternoon. Thankfully, the game will be televised. These last three days without televised games stunk. Jordan Montgomery is the scheduled starter. Ellsbury, Wade, Brandon Drury, Austin Romine, and Ronald Torreyes are making the trip. [Boland]

This is the open thread for the night. The Knicks and Nets are playing and MLB Network is replaying games throughout the evening. Talk about those games, the Yankees and Orioles, or anything that isn’t religion or politics here. Have at it.

The rain held off in Lakeland this afternoon and the Yankees lost 8-3 to the Tigers. Brady Lail (two runs in 1.2 innings), Ben Heller (three runs in 1.2 innings), and Matt Frawley (two runs in 0.1 innings) did most of the damage on the mound. All the minor league hurlers combined for a dozen strikeouts in eight innings though, so that’s cool.

Tyler Wade went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, and, after the game, Aaron Boone confirmed Wade has made the Opening Day roster. “Wade’s going to be on the team,” said Boone to Erik Boland. No surprise there. Neil Walker had a single, Gleyber Torres had a double, and Jorge Saez hit a two-run home run. Not much else to see from the skeleton crew the Yankees sent on the road with rain in the forecast. Here is the box score and here is the rest of the day’s news from Spring Training:

• Because of the weather forecast, Sonny Gray didn’t go on today’s road trip and instead pitched in a minor league game. He threw six innings and said he felt good afterward, which is the most important thing. David Robertson stayed in Tampa and threw a simulated game. Also, Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) went through a full workout today. He missed the last two days with an illness. [Conor Foley, Pete Caldera, Brendan Kuty]
• Here are the day’s minor league lineups, if you’re interested. Brady Lail is moving to the bullpen full-time this year. I am kinda intrigued. DJ Eberle wrote up some observations from the backfields and here’s some video of the drills the Yankees put their minor league catchers through. [Foley]
• The Blue Jays finally announced their Opening Day rotation. The pitching matchups for the first series of the regular season: Luis Severino vs. J.A. Happ, Masahiro Tanaka vs. Aaron Sanchez, CC Sabathia vs. Marco Estrada, and Sonny Gray vs. Marcus Stroman. [Gregor Chisholm]
• The Yankees are back in action tomorrow night at home against the Orioles. The game will not be televised. Luis Cessa is making the start.

This is the nightly open thread. MLB Network is replaying games all night and the three local hockey teams are all in action. Talk about those games or anything else here, as long as it’s not religion or politics. Thanks.

The Yankees are taking on the Rays at home tonight, but alas, the game will not be televised. You’ll have to follow on Gameday. David Hale is making the start. Anyway, I wrote our Yankees season preview over the CBS, so check that out. Here are the day’s news from Spring Training:

• Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique) was scratched from today’s simulated game and tomorrow’s Grapefruit League game with a fever and a sore throat. He is not expected to be ready for Opening Day and the Yankees may use his roster spot to carry a 13th pitcher. Clint Frazier (concussion) is feeling better. He played catch and took dry swings yesterday. [Lou DiPietro, Bryan Hoch, DJ Eberle]
• CC Sabathia threw a simulated game this afternoon, which is why Hale is starting tonight. Sonny Gray will stay behind in Tampa tomorrow and pitch in a minor league game because the weather forecast for Lakeland isn’t good. The rest of the upcoming rotation: TBA (Wednesday and Thursday), Masahiro Tanaka (Friday), Luis Severino (Saturday). That lines Severino up for Opening Day on normal rest. I imagine one of those TBAs will be Jordan Montgomery. Also, the Yankees won’t be back on television until Thursday. Womp womp. [Hoch, George King]
• Gleyber Torres is going to split his time at shortstop and second base this year, which doesn’t surprise me. The Yankees want him to be ready to play short, if necessary. Here are today’s minor league lineups. Don’t read anything into the levels. Guys are scattered all over in Spring Training. Here’s video of Deivi Garcia’s high spin curveball. [Eberle]
• And finally, special advisor Alex Rodriguez was in the house today. I imagine he’ll be in Tampa for a few days to do … whatever it is he does for the Yankees nowadays. [Jerry Crasnick]

Here is the nightly open thread. MLB Network is showing the Rockies and Rangers live tonight, plus the Knicks and Nets are playing. Talk about those games or anything else here, as long as it’s not religion or politics. Thanks in advance.