MLB News
Jordan Wicks Optioned To Minors
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jordan Wicks has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. The left-hander was included on the roster that traveled for the Tokyo series. However, Wicks doesn't appear to have made the domestic Opening Day roster. Wicks showed flashes of potential last season, but finished with a 5.48 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 11 games (10 starts) with the Cubs last season. He figures to be one of the first pitchers recalled if the Cubs need a starter at some point this season. Wicks being optioned means Colin Rea should be locked into the fifth starter role in Chicago.
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Cade Cavalli To Face Live Hitters
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Cade Cavalli (elbow) is scheduled to face live hitters on Thursday. This marks the first time that Cavalli has faced batters this spring. The 26-year-old continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery he had two seasons ago. The right-hander is likely to begin the season on the injured list while he continues to rehab his elbow. After that, Cavalli is likely to ramp up activities in the minors before possibly joining the Nats rotation.
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Jorge Lopez To Throw On Friday
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (hip) is set to return to the mound during Friday's spring training contest against the Miami Marlins. Lopez has been sidelined for about 10 days due to a lingering left hip issue. He appears to be over the issue, so he shouldn't require a stint on the injured list. Barring any setbacks, Lopez should serve as the primary setup option in Washington behind Kyle Finnegan. That being said, Lopez probably won't have fantasy value right away in Washington, but is someone to keep an eye on in case Finnegan gets injured, traded, or regresses and gets pulled from the role.
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Orelvis Martinez Headed To Triple-A
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Orelvis Martinez has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday. Martinez missed a few games after getting hit by a pitch in the hip earlier in the week. He has since returned to action, but didn't make the big league club. Martinez did everything right this spring with a .320/.393/.480 slash line across 28 plate appearances. The Jays want Martinez to get everyday at-bats in the minors until they have a full-time role for him in Toronto. Dynasty managers should continue to hold Martinez as he should make a big impact once he's ready to play in Toronto.
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Dillon Tate Optioned To Minors
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Dillon Tate has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. This isn't shocking considering Tate didn't sign with the Jays until March 10. The right-hander hasn't pitched yet this spring, so he'll build up in the minors. Tate was a fairly reliable bullpen arm for the Baltimore Orioles for the past few seasons. In 2024, Tate registered a 4.66 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 27/12 K/BB ratio across 33 appearances. He figures to pitch in high leverage spots once he's ready to pitch in the big leagues.
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Gavin Sheets Added To 40-Man Roster
The San Diego Padres announced on Thursday that they selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Gavin Sheets to their 40-man roster and placed right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Because of Sheets' strong showing in Cactus League action -- he's hitting .311/.367/.756 with six home runs and 12 RBI in 19 games -- he appears likely to open the 2025 campaign on the big-league roster as an extra bat for the Friars. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger shouldn't be ignored in NL-only leagues, as he could be put in the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter against right-handed pitching to start the year. Sheets, a former second-rounder in 2017 by the Chicago White Sox out of Wake Forest, has had double-digit home runs in all four of his big-league seasons.
2 hours ago
Ranger Suarez To Play Catch On Friday
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that left-hander Ranger Suarez (back) "felt a lot better today" and will play catch in camp on Friday. Suarez had tests done on his ailing back this week, but the 29-year-old southpaw has been cleared to resume playing catch on Friday and will hopefully be able to avoid being placed on the injured list to start the 2025 regular season. It's something to watch early on in the season after Suarez dealt with back issues last year as well. Suarez was one of the best pitchers in baseball early on in 2024, but things fell apart for him and he finished with a 6.17 ERA in his final 12 starts before and after his back injury. While his back injury this spring may not be as bad as what he dealt with last year, it should make fantasy managers hesitant. Even if his back injury doesn't affect him at all, we wouldn't bank on Suarez being as good as he was early on in 2024.
2 hours ago
Clarke Schmidt Throws Live Batting Practice On Thursday
New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) threw around 30 pitches during a live batting practice session in camp on Thursday against the likes of Austin Wells, Dominic Smith, Pablo Reyes and Paul Goldschmidt, according to NJ Advance Media's Max Goodman. It's a positive step for Schmidt, but manager Aaron Boone already admitted that he won't be built up to 75-80 pitches for the start of the regular season next week. Especially after Schmidt missed three months in 2024 due to injury, the Yankees will likely play it safe and put him on the injured list to open the season. It means that the 29-year-old most likely won't make his first scheduled start of the year on April 3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, Schmidt should be ready to make his 2025 debut in April, and he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him after a promising 2024 campaign, outside of his injuries.
2 hours ago
Kris Bubic Appears To Be Favorite For No. 5 Rotation Spot
MLB.com's Anne Rogers writes that it appears to be shaping up as though Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic will earn the final rotation spot out of spring training behind Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen. It means that Daniel Lynch could open the 2025 season out of the bullpen or as a starter at Triple-A Omaha. But the fact that Lynch has come out of the bullpen in Cactus League games this week gives insight to where the Royals might be leaning. Bubic has had a strong spring and most recently struck out five in 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. He emerged as a high-leverage reliever late last year after having Tommy John surgery in 2023. His workload will surely be managed, but if he can transfer any of his strikeout stuff from last year to the rotation, he'll be useful in deep-mixed and AL-only affairs.
2 hours ago
Andrew Abbott To Start On IL, Carson Spiers To Open As Fifth Starter
The Cincinnati Reds have told left-hander Andrew Abbott (shoulder) that he will begin the regular season on the injured list. As a result, right-hander Carson Spiers will serve as the team's fifth starter early on. Abbott's 2024 season came to an early end due to a left-shoulder injury, and he was still dealing with shoulder issues early in spring training, which put him behind the eight ball. The 25-year-old southpaw made his Cactus League debut earlier this week, but he simply ran out of time to get stretched out before Opening Day. If Abbott eventually can put his shoulder issues in the past for good, he should eventually return to their starting rotation in 2025. In the meantime, Spiers will be an option for NL-only fantasy managers after he posted a 5.46 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 80 K's and 27 walks in 90 2/3 innings over 22 outings (10 starts) for Cincy in 2024.
3 hours ago
Teams Showing Interest In Jordan Montgomery
Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro reports that there has been recent interest from a few teams in trading for Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery. There could be even more interest from teams after Montgomery threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in his Cactus League outing on Wednesday versus the division-rival Colorado Rockies. The New York Yankees come to mind as a team that might have serious interest in a reunion with Montgomery after injuries to Gerrit Cole (elbow), Luis Gil (lat) and Clarke Schmidt (shoulder). The 32-year-old southpaw is looking to bounce back after a rough first year in Arizona in 2024 in which he went 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 83 strikeouts and 44 walks in 117 innings over 25 outings (21 starts). If he earns one of the final rotation spots for the D-backs to start the season, his workload could be limited after missing the early portion of spring training with a finger strain.
3 hours ago
Zac Gallen To Start On Opening Day For Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen will be the team's Opening Day starter next Thursday, March 27, against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. It's a bit of a surprise that the D-backs didn't go with offseason acquisition Corbin Burnes, but instead they'll roll with the 29-year-old Gallen for the third straight year on Opening Day. Gallen has a little pressure off of him at the top of Arizona's rotation now that Burnes is in tow. He's not a fantasy ace by any means, but he makes for a solid No. 3 fantasy starter and should be rolled out there in his first start of the year against the Cubs. Gallen's strikeout rate fell to a career-low 25.1%, but he's notorious for being one of the best strike-throwers in the game. It seems unlikely that Gallen will ever be a fantasy ace again like he was in 2022, but you could do a lot worse as your SP2 or SP3.
3 hours ago
X-Rays Come Back Negative For Zack Gelof
X-rays have come back negative for Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof (hand) after he was it by a pitch on his right hand in a Cactus League game on Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians. Gelof is dealing with a little bit of swelling on his hand, though, so he'll be held back from baseball activities on Thursday. The A's will re-evaluate the 25-year-old on Friday, but the team thinks he will be fine. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Gelof return to spring games this weekend, and he should be fine for Opening Day next week. The former second-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Virginia has hit .314 with two homers and eight RBI in 14 Cactus League games, but he's merely middle-infield depth in deep-mixed leagues after he hit just .211 with a league-high 188 strikeouts in only 138 games in 2024 in his sophomore season.
3 hours ago
Felix Bautista Not A Lock To Be Ready For Opening Day
Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (elbow) isn't a lock to be on the team's Opening Day roster when they take on the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays next Thursday. "No, we're still talking about our roster. We haven't solidified anything there yet," manager Brandon Hyde said when asked if he's confident that Bautista will be ready. The O's were always planning on easing the 29-year-old closer in early on in 2025 after he missed all of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery in October of 2023, but he might actually begin on the injured list. The good news for fantasy managers is that Bautista has been throwing in spring training and has allowed three runs while striking out seven and walking one in four Grapefruit League appearances. He should still be rostered in all fantasy leagues, but Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto could tag-team closing duties for the O's early on.
3 hours ago
Gunnar Henderson "Running Out Of Time" To Be Ready For Opening Day
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) is "running out of time" to be ready for Opening Day next Thursday against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. Hyde is still "hopeful," but there are only a few spring training games remaining on the schedule. The good news is that if Henderson opens the 2025 season on the injured list, it shouldn't be very long before he's able to make his debut. The most likely scenario if the 23-year-old isn't ready for Opening Day is that young infielder Jackson Holliday will shift to shortstop, with Ramon Urias seeing most of the starts at second base in Baltimore. Despite suffering an intercostal injury in spring training, Henderson was still a first-rounder in most fantasy drafts after a breakout 2024 season that saw him slash .281/.364/.529 with an .893 OPS, 37 home runs, 92 RBI, 21 steals and 118 runs scored in 159 regular-season contests.
3 hours ago
Drew Thorpe Leaves Minor-League Outing With Elbow Discomfort
Chicago White Sox right-hander Drew Thorpe (elbow) left his minor-league outing early on Thursday due to elbow discomfort. Manager Will Venable said that Thorpe will need to undergo imaging on his arm. It's unclear exactly how serious Thorpe's right-elbow injury is, but it's a bit ominous after he's already had multiple setbacks since having a bone spur removed from the same arm last September. Even if it's not a serious injury for the 24-year-old former second-round pick by the New York Yankees, it would not surprise us if the White Sox play it safe with the young hurler and place him on the injured list to begin the regular season next week. If healthy, though, Thorpe has already secured a spot in Chicago's starting rotation after he went 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 25:21 K:BB over his first nine MLB starts in 2024. He's an AL-only option in fantasy if he's healthy.
3 hours ago
Brooks Lee Scratched On Thursday With Back Tightness
Minnesota Twins infielder Brooks Lee (back) was scratched from Thursday's Grapefruit League lineup due to lower-back tightness, according to the St. Paul Pioneer's Betsy Helfand. Lee is being considered day-to-day for now. Jose Miranda replaced him at third base against the Boston Red Sox. While the 24-year-old's injury doesn't appear to be serious, it's a bit more concerning with Opening Day just a week away. The former first-rounder (eighth overall) in 2022 out of Cal Poly made his big-league debut a year ago and hit .221/.265/.320 with a weak .585 OPS, three home runs, 27 RBI, three steals and nine runs scored in 50 games. It wasn't exactly pretty, but Lee displayed strong contact skills in the minors and has good plate discipline. With Royce Lewis (hamstring) starting the year on the injured list, Lee should see solid playing time between second and third base for the Twins as long as his back injury doesn't linger.
4 hours ago
Ramon Urias Returns To Action On Thursday
Baltimore Orioles infielder Ramon Urias (hamstring) will return to the starting lineup on Thursday against the New York Yankees. Urias is slated to bat eighth and cover the hot corner. Urias has been sidelined over the past week due to this injury. However, seeing him return to the starting nine quite quickly suggests the injury is not overly serious. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Last season, Urias appeared in 100 contests in Baltimore. Across this stint, he held a .254/.322/.423 slash line with nine doubles and 11 home runs. He swiped one bag and held a strong 18.3 percent strikeout rate. During the regular season, Urias will likely see time as a depth option in the infield. He could have an increased role early in the campaign if Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) is unable to play at the start of the season.
5 hours ago
Alex Verdugo Inks Contract With Atlanta
The Atlanta Braves have signed outfielder Alex Verdugo to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Verdugo has been linked to several suitors throughout camp. Fantasy managers should expect Verdugo to have a depth role in the Atlanta outfield. Last season, the 28-year-old posted a .233/.291/.356 slash line across 149 contests with the New York Yankees. He showed a strong eye at the plate, holding a 15.0 percent strikeout rate, but struggled to generate offense with his bat as he posted a modest .302 xwOBA. In addition, Verdugo was an elite defender, as he placed in the 94th percentile in arm strength and 96th percentile in arm value. Fantasy managers should expect Verdugo to compete for starting opportunities in right field while Ronald Acuna Jr.'s (knee) remains sidelined. He will likely operate on the strong side of a platoon in right field alongside Bryan De La Cruz. Verdugo will likely limit the opportunities for Jarred Kelenic, who is also a left-handed bat who posted a low .231 AVG last season.
5 hours ago
Ryan Weathers Will Open Season On Injured List
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Ryan Weathers (forearm) will open the season on the injured list with a left forearm strain. Weathers has been one of the most dominant pitchers during spring training. He has logged 11 1/3 innings of work with a stellar 0.79 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. During this stint, he has tallied 11 punchouts with eight walks and just three hits. Last summer, Weather logged 86 2/3 innings in the majors and held a 3.63 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied strikeouts at a modest 21.8 percent rate and showed strong control as he allowed walks at a 6.5 percent rate. With Weathers set to begin the season sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Connor Gillispie to have a clear path to a starting role. Gillispie has also enjoyed a strong spring as well, holding a 0.75 ERA and a near-perfect 0.42 WHIP across 12 frames. Gillispie is worth targeting in deeper formats as an early-season streaming option.
6 hours ago
Jordan Wicks
• SP
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Cubs
