MLB Player News

Ragans (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Twins, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.

Ragans turned in a strong outing and bounced back nicely from his rough season debut, but the southpaw was tagged with the loss due to a defensive miscue and limited run support. His lone blemish came in the second inning when a pickoff attempt by Salvador Perez sailed high and deflected into center field, allowing a run to score. Ragans otherwise kept Minnesota in check, limiting hard contact while once again racking up strikeouts to bump his season total to 13 across 10 innings. After injuries sidelined the 28-year-old for much of last season, Thursday's performance was an encouraging one. Ragans will look to replicate that success in his next start, scheduled to come against Cleveland.

Lopez (1-0) earned the win over Arizona on Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three batters over five innings.

Lopez gave up Jordan Lawlar's first MLB homer -- a big 424-foot solo blast -- in the third inning, but that's the only run the veteran hurler allowed. Meanwhile, Atlanta had a big day on offense, with an eight-run fifth inning giving Lopez an enormous cushion ahead of his final frame. The right-hander has had a nice beginning to the campaign, allowing just two runs (both on solo homers) over 11 innings while posting a 6:3 K:BB across his first two starts. Lopez made only one appearance last season before injuring his shoulder and missing the remainder of the campaign, but he was an All-Star in 2024, so it's feasible that he could be a viable fantasy asset throughout 2026 if he can remain healthy.

The Marlins traded Acton to the Twins on Thursday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Logan Whitaker.

The 27-year-old righty was DFA'd by the Marlins on Sunday to make room on the 40-man roster for Leo Jimenez. Acton has pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in Triple-A to begin the season, and moving into a Twins organization that doesn't have much bullpen depth should help his chances of returning to the big leagues at some point.

The Tigers released Poche on Thursday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Poche never appeared in a Grapefruit League game after signing an NRI deal with the Tigers in February, and the team will now decide to move on from him rather than stash him away in their farm system. Poche allowed 13 earned runs in just 9.1 innings in the majors last season and finished the year with a 5.40 ERA across 16.2 minor-league frames.

The Tigers released Bickford (triceps) on Thursday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Bickford signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers in January and was a non-roster invitee to spring training, but he never pitched in a game due to a triceps injury. He'll now look for another opportunity in the free-agent market, but he may have a hard time landing with another team until his triceps issue clears up.

Bradford (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

It will be Bradford's first official game action since he underwent an internal brace procedure on his left elbow last June. The left-hander will need most, if not all, of the allotted 30 days on his rehab assignment, but if all goes well he could be ready to pitch for the Rangers around the start of May. Whether the Rangers use Bradford as a starter or reliever upon his activation could depend on what the team's needs are at the time.

Effross (oblique) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Effross suffered a left oblique strain in early March and is finally ready to throw off the mound again. The sidearming reliever has struggled from a health and results perspective in recent years but will give the Tigers some experienced bullpen depth at Triple-A Toledo once he's healthy.

Owens (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Lakeland on Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Owens is working his way back from arthroscopic right hip surgery after re-signing with the Tigers on a minor-league contract. The righty got a cup of coffee in the majors last season and should join the Triple-A Toledo bullpen once he's deemed physically ready.

Perez gave up two hits, including a solo home run, in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to record his first hold of the season in an extra-inning loss to the Phillies.

The 29-year-old lefty entered the game with two outs in the seventh inning and retired Kyle Schwarber, but Bryce Harper then took Perez deep to lead off the eighth as the Nationals' bullpen squandered a 5-0 lead. Perez may not hang onto a high-leverage role much longer if he can't keep the ball in the park -- he's served up two homers in his first three appearances and 2.2 innings this season, although his 3:0 K:BB is more promising than his 6.75 ERA.

Taylor will be the White Sox' opening pitcher in Friday's game against the Blue Jays, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Taylor will take the ball first as the White Sox begin their first homestand of the season before handing things off to Sean Burke, who will handle the bulk of the innings. The 23-year-old Taylor has tossed one inning in each of his first two appearances this season but is expected to eventually stretch out to cover multiple frames, as his goal is to reach 100 innings in 2026 before moving into the rotation in 2027.