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  • Richard Fitts SP | STL

    Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Cruises through six innings

    Fitts allowed an unearned run on three hits while striking out five over six innings in Monday's exhibition game in Mexico.

    Fitts got one final spring appearance ahead of what is expected to be a spot in Boston's rotation to start the regular season. Injuries to Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) created openings, and Fitts appears to have locked down the fourth spot in the rotation. Sean Newcomb and Cooper Criswell are the finalists to open the season in the No. 5 spot. Fitts compiled a 2.45 ERA and 14:6 K:BB while allowing 13 hits over 14.2 spring innings. If all goes as planned for Bello and Giolito, Fitts' stay in the rotation will last between two and three starts.

  • Luke Jackson RP | SEA

    Rangers' Luke Jackson: Emerges as closer candidate

    Jackson struck out a pair in a perfect ninth inning to notch a save in Monday's exhibition game versus the Royals.

    It was Robert Garcia in the seventh inning and Chris Martin in the eighth inning before Rangers manager Bruce Bochy handed things off to Jackson, who closed out a three-run victory. After the contest, Bochy noted that how he lined up the bullpen is "pretty close" to how he plans to deploy them in the regular season, Michael Bier of Foul Territory TV reports. The skipper added that the roles are not yet completely defined, so there's still some murkiness with this situation. Martin and Garcia had been viewed as the top two candidates to close for the Rangers, but Jackson now appears to be firmly in the mix and perhaps the favorite for saves.

  • Sean Newcomb RP | CHW

    Red Sox's Sean Newcomb: Scheduled for five innings Tuesday

    Newcomb will throw five innings in a minor-league game Tuesday at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

    While the Red Sox traveled to Mexico for a pair of exhibition games against teams from that country, Newcomb remained behind in Florida to make a final tune-up before a potential gig in Boston's rotation. His chances of landing a spot improved greatly over the weekend when the Red Sox assigned Quinn Priester to Triple-A Worcester. Cooper Criswell, who pitched two innings Sunday, is also still around. Whichever starter wins the final spot isn't expected to be part of the rotation for long, as both Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) are due back at some point in April. Red Sox manager Alex Cora did not say Newcomb is a lock for the roster, but the the lefty put himself in position with a strong spring. In 14.1 innings over five appearances, the 31-year-old Massachusetts native posted a 0.63 ERA (one earned run) with nine hits allowed and a 13:3 K:BB.

  • Royals' James McArthur: Officially lands on IL

    McArthur (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.

    McArthur is still on the mend from offseason surgery on his right elbow, so this move isn't an indication of his progress after it was reported a few days earlier that he'd begin the year on the IL. The team has yet to reveal a timetable for the right-hander's return.

  • Alec Marsh RP | KC

    Royals' Alec Marsh: Moved to 15-day IL

    Marsh (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday.

    It was reported a few days prior that Marsh would begin the season on the injured list, so this transaction is simply procedural. The Royals have yet to announced a timetable for his return after he picked up a right shoulder injury Wednesday while pitching in a minor-league game.

  • Matt Brash RP | SEA

    Mariners' Matt Brash: Fares well in Cactus League outing

    Brash (elbow) struck out two batters and walked one in two-thirds of an inning during Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres.

    Brash appeared to be amped up in what was his first live action since undergoing an internal brace procedure last May. He fired his first pitch at 98 mph and struck out the first batter he faced on three pitches. Brash then struck out the next batter he faced and walked the third, resulting in his removal after 12 pitches. According to Shannon Drayer of Seattle Times Sports, the next step for Brash will be to make sure he emerges from Monday's outing without any issues. If all goes as planned over the next day or so, he'll likely be scheduled for throwing on the back fields later in the week, followed by a rehab stint at Triple-A Tacoma.

  • Jacob Latz RP | TEX

    Rangers' Jacob Latz: Could still win bullpen spot

    Latz was spotted at Globe Life Field on Monday and could win a spot in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

    Latz was sent to minor-league camp in early March, but he remains under consideration for a multi-inning relief role and could be the favorite to nab the last spot in the Texas bullpen. The 28-year-old made 46 appearances in relief for the Rangers in 2024, posting a 3.71 ERA and 40:27 K:BB over 43.2 frames.

  • Guardians' Andrew Walters: Sent to Triple-A

    The Guardians optioned Walters (shoulder) to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

    After retiring just one batter and giving up three earned runs in his Cactus League debut Feb. 24, Walters was shut down for a brief period of time due to right shoulder stiffness. Walters was cleared to return to action March 15 and gave up one earned run on three hits and two walks over 2.2 innings across his final three appearances of the spring, but the missed time along with the fact that he had minor-league options remaining likely worked against him in his bid for the Opening Day roster. If he's able to get off to good start to the season at Triple-A, Walters should be in the mix for an early call-up, as he excelled in his first taste of the majors in 2024. The young righty allowed just six baserunners over 8.2 innings during the regular season and then held opposing batters to a .111 average over three postseason appearances.

  • Rays' Jonathan Hernandez: Dismissed from big-league camp

    The Rays reassigned Hernandez to minor-league camp Monday.

    Hernandez is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Durham after falling short in his bid for a spot in Tampa Bay's Opening Day bullpen. The hard-throwing right-hander previously recorded four saves while filling a high-leverage relief role for Texas during the 2022 season, but control problems kept him from having much success in the majors over the subsequent two seasons.

  • Matt Brash RP | SEA

    Mariners' Matt Brash: Poised for Cactus League debut

    Brash (elbow) will make his Cactus League debut Monday against the Padres, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

    It will be the first game appearance for Brash since last May's internal brace procedure. The hard-throwing reliever remains on track to make his season debut for the Mariners around May 1. As long as his pre-surgery stuff is intact, Brash should fill a high-leverage role in Seattle's bullpen.

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