At the time of this writing, baseball’s opening day officially was only 13 days away.

The Dodgers and Cubs will begin the 2025 season March 18 and 19 in Tokyo, Japan, marking the sixth time baseball has unveiled a season in the land of the rising sun. This will be the first time the Dodgers will play in Japan, and the second for the Cubs, who faced the Mets in 2000.

Aside from those two teams, baseball’s other squads will open the season on March 27, the earliest first pitch for the game.

With teams beginning to round into shape this week, there will be a few major questions facing each team putting the pieces into place.

One major question involves starting pitching. Which teams have the strongest staffs?

In this week’s edition of my Behind the Plate column, I’ll take a look at some of the presumed strong staffs, recall a former local star, and reflect about some parts of the game.

Your Best Five ... When it comes to the National League, you can make a strong argument for the Phillies or the Dodgers staff.

The Phils got a boost when they acquired Jesus Luzardo from Miami. He battled through injuries last season, but many believe he has a high ceiling. Luzardo’s most productive season was when he was 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 2023. With Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Ranger Suarez — in his contract year — Luzardo won’t be pressured to be a frontline starter, although he has looked good in camp.

Taijuan Walker, who struggled to find his rhythm last season, has been one of the biggest surprises this spring as a starter, and he could push to open with six starters. Joe Ross is a spot starter, and top prospect Andrew Painter should be ready after the All-Star break.

The Dodgers also have plenty of depth, notably with the offseason acquisition of Blake Snell, who will join Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top of the rotation.

Shoehi Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw and Bobby Miller form an absurd number of arms in April. There’s some trade bait here, but certainly depth.

At this time, I think you have to give a slight nod to the Dodgers.

New York, New York ... While the Phillies and Dodgers have pitching-a-plenty, the Yankees and Mets cupboards have some space.

There’s a growing consensus that the Yankees have one — if not the best — overall units, especially with the addition of closer Devin Williams.

But the Yankees could have trouble filling out the top five or six spots with Luis Gil’s injury and Marcus Stroman’s ineffectiveness. Clark Schmidt, who was a welcomed addition last season, has been bothered by a bad back and hasn’t started a game.

Garrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are solid, but the Yanks need to fill out the grid.

The same can be said for the Mets, who lost top hurler Sean Manaea for a few months.

Along with Manaea, oft-injured Frankie Montas is shut down again. That leaves David Peterson — a big surprise last season — and Tylor McGill in bigger roles to begin the season. Griffin Channing and Paul Blackburn could develop into steady contributors, currently provide needed depth.

Kodei Sengai, once viewed as the ace, now has to emerge as one.

The Best of the Rest ... In the National League, you have to turn toward the Braves, who always find a young, effective arm or two. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Reynaldo Lopez are a steady trifecta, and rumors persist the Braves are still in the hunt for Padres ace Dylan Cease.

On the other coast, the Mariners continue to be one of the game’s best kept secrets. The quintet of George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo have the league’s best walk rate and pitch deep into games.

The Phillies wanted Kirby or Gilbert in exchange for Alec Bohm, but their asking price was too high.

Boston will be back in the hunt for the AL East crown with former White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, ex-Dodger Walker Buehler, and Sox mainstay Tanner Houck leading the way.

Keep an eye on the Pirates. Paul Skenes should build on his rookie season mastery, and he’ll have support from young arms Jared Jones, Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter and vet Andrew Heaney.

The Cubs should be back in the race for the NL Central behind Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele.

On The Home Front ... Each week, I’ll look back at a former local player who played or is playing in the pros or minors.

Since 2019, former Marian standout Joe Nahas has been in the Cub’s farm system. Last year, Nahas spent the year with High-A South Bend where he was 0-0 with a 2.38 ERA in six games with 11 strikeouts in 11 innings, and was 6-2 with a 4.34 ERA at Double-A Tennessee with 74 strikeouts in 69.1 innings. He made seven starts in 25 games at Double-A.

Nahas went on to have a successful stint for Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League where he went 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA in 19 games in relief. He notched 24 strikeouts in 24 innings.

In his five minor-league seasons, Nahas is 18-18 with a 4.42 ERA in 127 games with 316 strikeouts in 336 innings.

With a strong showing in the winter league, Nahas’ stock should rise in the Cubs system this spring.

Card Corner ... Anyone have the Topps 1974 Hank Aaron “Home Run King” card?

If you do, and it is in mint condition (PSA 9), it can be worth over $2,500.

In 1973, Aaron finished one home run shy of breaking Baby Ruth’s record and he hit No. 715 off the Dodgers’ Al Downing on April 8, 1974.

Besides Aaron’s specialty card, other notable cards from the Topps 1974 set were Dave Winfield’s rookie card, Dave Parker’s rookie card, Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench and Steve Garvey.

The set could have been unique. Topps had made a set of Padres players playing in Washington that they scrapped after the prospective deal fell through.

Aside from the regulars, some of the better unknown Phillies cards from that set are George Culver, Ron Diorio, Billy Grabarkewitz, Craig Robinson, Cesar Tovar, Mike Wallace and Mike Rogodzinski. There’s also the Danny Ozark and coaches card.

Phillies 5K ... If you’re running in the upcoming Phillies 5K, please drop me an email. I would like to include your running experience in this column or in a story.

Time Passages ... Each week, I’ll look back at a former player, game, or a situation from our favorite pastime.

Do you remember outfielder Vada Pinson? He is primarily remembered from his days with the Reds in the early 1960s when he was one of the league’s top and most underrated hitters. Pinson also spent time with the Cardinals, then Indians, Angels and Royals.

Pinson had a productive 18 years in the majors — 11 with the Reds — playing in 103 games with the Royals in his final year in 1975. Overall, he hit .286 with 127 homers, 1,169 RBIs, 2,757 hits, and 305 stolen bases in 2,469 games.

He is only one of nine players in MLB history with more than 250 homers, 300 steals, and 2,700 hits.

The outfielder broke into the majors as a projected five-tool player who could hit for average and power, and had speed. In 1961, Pinson was third in the MVP voting with 16 homers, 87 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, a league-high 208 hits and a .343 average. He also won a gold glove.

In the two previous seasons during 1959 and 1960, Pinson led the league in doubles and plate appearances both seasons. He also led the league in triples twice, and also again led the league in hits (204) in 1963.

Pinson died after he was hospitalized from suffering a stroke at the age of 57 in 1995.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com