MLB Player News

Holmes allowed one hit and three walks over five scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. He struck out five.

The 28-year-old right-hander came into camp penciled into a rotation spot for Atlanta, and Holmes has only tightened his grip on the job since. Over 10 Grapefruit League innings, he's given up one run with a 9:5 K:BB. Holmes will need to keep pitching well through the first month or so of the season in order to stick in the rotation once Spencer Strider (elbow) is cleared to make his 2025 debut.

Estevez (back) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Angels, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Estevez has been slowed in camp by lower-back tightness but has been throwing off a mound without issue for several days and is nearly ready to test himself in a game setting. The 32-year-old is expected to have enough time to get ready for Opening Day and projects to begin the season as the Royals' closer.

Long (hand) is scheduled to make an appearance out of the bullpen in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Long will be making just his third appearance of the spring and his first since March 3, when he was struck in the left hand by a line drive. The southpaw dealt with some residual swelling to his pitching hand as a result, but he was able to resume throwing a few days later. The 29-year-old remains firmly in the mix for a spot in Kansas City's Opening Day bullpen.

The Rangers optioned Curvelo to minor-league camp Wednesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Curvelo received a major-league contract from the Rangers this winter even though he hasn't pitched above the Double-A level. He'll begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Round Rock after permitting five runs with a 6:3 K:BB across five frames this spring.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said that Bradford has been scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Wednesday against the Reds due to left elbow soreness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. Bradford will be shut down for four or five days before resuming his throwing program.

An elbow injury at this stage of spring training puts Bradford at risk of not being ready for Opening Day, but the Rangers will wait and see how the southpaw responds to a few days of rest before determining his next steps. On a positive note, Young relayed that Bradford underwent an MRI on his elbow, which came back clean. If healthy, Bradford would seemingly have the inside track on a spot at the back end of the Texas rotation to open the season. However, if Bradford requires a stint on the injured list, the door would be open for either Kumar Rocker or Dane Dunning to break camp in a starting role.

Brash (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

It will be the reliever's first time facing hitters since he underwent an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last May. The Mariners have said Brash could make his season debut by the third week of April in a best-case scenario, but closer to the beginning of May is probably a more realistic target.

The Rangers signed Strickland to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Strickland had a respectable 2024 campaign with the Angels, finishing with a 3.31 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 57:24 K:BB over 73.1 innings. The 36-year-old has some past history with manager Bruce Bochy, as the two were both with the Giants for the first five years of Strickland's career. He'll compete for a role in middle relief but might not have enough time to work his way onto the Opening Day roster.

Minter (hip) will make his Grapefruit League in Wednesday's game versus the Cardinals, Manny Gomez of NJ.com reports.

Minter will be in line for his first game action since he underwent hip surgery last August. He has just over two weeks to ramp up for Opening Day, but since he'll be deployed as a one-inning reliever, he'll likely need only a handful of appearances in spring training to get himself ready. He's projected to help set up for closer Edwin Diaz in the Mets bullpen this season.

Martinez threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's spring game against Kansas City.

Martinez came on in the fourth inning to relieve starter Merrill Kelly, who left with one out and runners at the corners. Martinez needed just two pitches to get out of the jam, inducing a double-play groundout to end the inning. It was the fourth scoreless appearance in five Cactus League outings for Martinez, who is competing with A.J. Puk and Kevin Ginkel for the closer role.

Kittredge (knee) said Wednesday that his timetable for a return is between June and the All-Star break, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The veteran right-hander added that he is optimistic he can make it back on the earlier side of that timetable. Kittredge's knee had begun nagging him during live bullpens this spring, which ultimately led to left knee debridement surgery last Friday. Baltimore signed Kittredge to a one-year, $10 million contract in January, and he will likely pitch important innings for the team down the stretch, if healthy.