MLB Player News

Funderburk gave up a run over 1.2 innings with a strikeout, walk and home run allowed in Sunday's loss to Kansas City.

Funderburk wasn't sharp during the outing as he also had an error and a balk. He made the roster as the second lefty in the bullpen, but he'll likely be used in low-leverage spots initially like in Sunday's loss.

Armstrong (0-1) picked up the loss Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk over one inning. He struck out one.

Armstrong served as the opener for the Rays on Sunday, allowing two runs to cross in his one inning of work. While he allowed the first three batters to reach base, leading to the first run of the game on a Justin Turner single, the second run was set up by a passed ball and is the reason Armstrong ended up as the pitcher of record.

King (0-1) allowed a run on one hit and struck out two over two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Sunday versus the Dodgers.

King didn't make the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, but he was first in line for a call-up when Riley O'Brien (forearm) went on the injured list Sunday. King's season debut went poorly, as he inherited a runner from Andre Pallante and then gave up the game-deciding home run to Max Muncy in the eighth inning. Last season, King posted a 3.62 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB over 37.1 innings between the Rangers and the Cardinals while adding 12 holds in 35 appearances. He's not expected to be part of the high-leverage mix, and his poor first impression Sunday is likely enough to keep him in a middle-innings role going forward.

Rodriguez allowed one hit and two walks (one intentional) while striking out two over two scoreless innings in Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Cubs.

Rodriguez breezed through the seventh inning before working out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam. The right-hander has legitimate heat with a fastball that averaged 97.5 mph and topped out at 98.5. Rodriguez, who had command issues (4.0 BB/9) in 13 games for the Rangers in 2023, showed improvement in that area during spring training. The 26-year-old could be a weapon in the bullpen if he can locate his pitches with consistency.

Barlow (0-1) took the loss Sunday versus the Athletics, allowing a run on two hits and a walk over one-plus innings while striking out one.

Barlow pitched a perfect eighth inning but allowed three straight baserunners aboard to start the ninth. Eli Morgan then walked the only batter he faced, which forced in the decisive run. It's not unusual for Barlow to be tasked with getting more than three outs at a time, so his usage Sunday isn't particularly noteworthy. The big concern here is that he's allowed two runs and walked three batters over two innings to begin the season. Barlow is projected to be a setup man to closer Emmanuel Clase, but he could lose those assignments if he can't get on track quickly. Morgan and Nick Sandlin are also experienced relievers who could be in the mix for high-leverage work.

Leclerc (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on one hit and three walks over two-thirds of an inning against the Cubs.

It wasn't a save situation, but it was a troubling performance that recalled Texas' bullpen struggles of 2023, when Leclerc lost the closer's job early on. Leclerc, who's had an issue with free passes during his career, walked a run in Sunday and has walked five over 1.2 innings thus far. The Rangers' closer has allowed runs in each of his first two outings. He was the victim of an incorrect call by an umpire Opening Day, but Sunday was all on him.

Sims (1-0) threw a scoreless inning and picked up the win in Sunday's victory over Washington.

Sims fired a perfect top of the ninth inning and benefitted from the team's three runs in the bottom half of the frame to pull out a comeback win. He's coming off a career-high 67 appearances (61 innings) in 2023, when he operated as one of the primary setup relievers for closer Alexis Diaz.

The Dodgers optioned Feyereisen to Triple-A Oklahoma City on March 22.

Feyereisen missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from shoulder surgery, but he received a clean bill of health for spring training and pitched well enough early on in camp to earn a spot on the Dodgers' 31-player travel squad for the two-game Seoul Series in South Korea with the Padres. He ended up making his Dodgers debut in the second game of the series March 21 and was roughed up over his lone inning of relief work, as he served up three earned runs on three hits and one walk in the 15-11 loss. The Dodgers sent him to minor-league camp one day later, and Feyereisen will now look to right the ship at Oklahoma City with the hopes of earning a longer-term stay in the big-league bullpen.

The Dodgers optioned Varland to Triple-A Oklahoma City on March 22.

Varland closed the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list due to right knee inflammation, but he was healthy for the start of spring training and pitched well enough in the early part of camp to earn a spot on the Dodgers' 31-player travel squad for the two-game Seoul Series in South Korea with the Padres. He came on in relief during the second game of the series March 21 and retired the only batter he faced in a 15-11 loss. He was one of three players sent back to minor-league camp upon the Dodgers' return to the United States and is now set to pitch out of the Oklahoma City bullpen before he awaits his next opportunity with the big club.

Thompson allowed one hit over a scoreless eighth inning in Sunday's 5-1 win over Colorado.

Thompson made his second appearance, both coming in the eighth inning as a leadup to presumptive closer Kevin Ginkel, who is the most logical fill-in for the injured Paul Sewald (oblique). Neither game developed into a save situation, but it offers a glimpse into how manager Torey Lovullo plans to deploy the backend of the bullpen without Sewald. The side-arming Thompson was a revelation for the Diamondbacks in 2023, and he logged nine appearances in the postseason.