MLB Player News

Stripling (finger) threw a side session Tuesday but remains without a firm timetable for his Cactus League debut, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was scratched from Monday's start against the Diamondbacks because of a cut on his right index finger, which was described as minor by manager Mark Kotsay. Stripling did feel well enough to throw Tuesday's side session, so his delayed spring debut should come at some point in the near future.

Rodon tossed 2.2 innings against Toronto on Sunday, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out five batters.

Rodon's first start of the spring was promising, as he got more than half of his outs via punchout and gave up just one run (on a homer by Alejandro Kirk). Rodon's first season in New York was a disaster, as he posted a 6.85 ERA and 1.45 WHIP while battling injuries and totaling just 64.1 innings, but he appears healthy entering Grapefruit League competition and could be poised for a bounce-back campaign. He's a high-risk, high-reward target in fantasy drafts, as he struck out 237 batters as recently as 2022 but has reached 150 innings just three times over nine major-league seasons.

Urquidy modified the movement of his glove this offseason to avoid tipping his pitches, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Urquidy believed he was tipping his pitches by the way he moved and squeezed his glove in his delivery during the 2023 season. In addition to correcting that issue, he also worked to strengthen his shoulder and lat after suffering an injury to those areas last year. Urquidy is projected to compete with J.P. France (shoulder) for the fifth starter role, and he could have an advantage with France currently sidelined.

Teheran agreed to a minor-league deal with the Orioles on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Teheran had a surprising run of success with the Brewers in 2023, maintaining a 4.40 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 71.2 innings. He could provide valuable innings for the Orioles early in the season, as both Kyle Bradish (elbow) and John Means (elbow) have been slowed at the start of spring training.

Alexander signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Feb. 20.

Alexander made 18 appearances (11 starts) for the Brewers in 2022 and had a 5.40 ERA and 46:28 K:BB over 71.2 innings. He spent last season at the Triple-A level and had a 5.86 ERA in 16 outings, and he'll serve as organizational pitching depth for the Red Sox.

Lugo pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a hit, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out one in his Cactus League debut Monday versus the Cubs.

Lugo admitted to some nerves before the game, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Lugo is embarking on his first season with the Royals after spending his first seven major-league campaigns with the Mets before pitching with the Padres last year. The right-hander projects to be one of the Royals' top starters after pitching to a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 140:36 K:BB over 146.1 innings last year, his first as a full-time starter since 2017.

Kremer is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League start Wednesday versus the Twins, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

After the Orioles acquired Corbin Burnes in a blockbuster deal with Milwaukee earlier this month, Kremer looked poised for a back-end role in the Baltimore rotation, but he could end up opening the regular season as the team's No. 2 or 3 starter due to Kyle Bradish (elbow) and John Means (elbow) both seemingly being ticketed for the injured list. Kremer's overall numbers from 2023 (4.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 157:55 K:BB in 172.2 innings) weren't particularly eye-catching, but he was at his best down the stretch while helping the Orioles clinch the AL East crown. Over his final nine starts, Kremer pitched to a 2.83 ERA over 47.2 innings, though most of his peripherals during that stretch (4.06 xFIP, 12.7 K-BB%) suggest that his late-season surge wasn't quite as strong as the ERA would indicate.

Kikuchi gave up one hit and struck out three batters over two scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The southpaw tossed 19 of 30 pitches for strikes. Kikuchi is coming off his best MLB season to date, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 181:48 K:BB through 167.2 innings in 2023, but per Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic, he's looking to take another step forward by ditching his splitter for a circle change, a pitch that should have more separation from his mid-90s fastball. "His delivery was awesome, stuff was really good, too," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Monday's game. "Changeup's going to be a big pitch for him - especially against those righties. I thought everything that he set out to do today, he did. Fastball command was there, slider was sharp - really, really good first outing for him."

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Monday that Gausman is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut at some point next week, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Gausman's delayed entry into the Blue Jays' spring pitching schedule isn't the result of an injury; instead, the veteran right-hander prefers to build up early in camp with a few live throwing sessions before he pitches in a game. Coming off a 2023 season in which Gausman finished third in the American League Cy Young balloting, the Blue Jays are more than happy to let the 33-year-old dictate how he readies himself for the upcoming season. Toronto hasn't formally named an Opening Day starter, but barring an injury developing during the spring, Gausman will almost certainly be toeing the rubber March 28 in Tampa Bay.

Berrios is scheduled to start Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Berrios had initially been expected to make his spring debut Wednesday, but the Blue Jays opted to push him back a day, likely so that he can stay more closely aligned in the pitching order with top-of-rotation arms Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. After submitting a bloated 5.23 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 32 starts in 2022, Berrios delivered a return to form last season, bringing those ratios down to 3.65 and 1.19, respectively, while bumping his strikeout rate back up from 19.8 to 23.5 percent. Set to turn 30 years old in May, Berrios doesn't look like he'll ever emerge as the staff ace some envisioned he would become during his early years in Minnesota, but aside from the disastrous 2022 season, he's largely been a dependable arm for fantasy pitching staffs throughout his career.