MLB Player News

Manning tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out four.

Manning has mostly struggled this spring with a 9.00 ERA across 10 innings, but he looked better Friday. The righty should still begin the year in Detroit's rotation, likely as the team's fourth starter. He had a solid 3.43 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 63 innings last season, though he only struck out 48 batters, and his inability to miss bats could limit his fantasy ceiling.

Rodriguez was charged for five runs -- two earned -- over 3.2 innings of work Saturday in a Grapefruit League start against the Red Sox.

Rodriguez wasn't helped by his defense, but he allowed six hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts. The 22-year-old now has a 5.56 ERA in spring training, but Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports the Orioles very much want Rodriguez to be a part of their Opening Day rotation. With his ability to miss bats, fantasy managers should still be interested in making him a part of their roster.

Cortes allowed five runs in 3.2 innings of work Saturday in his Grapefruit League debut against the Blue Jays.

Cortes allowed three walks and three hits while striking out four. He allowed two homers in the contest, and he threw 35 of 52 pitches for strikes. The line is unimpressive, but the big takeaway is that Cortes was able to get back on the bump after missing the first few weeks of the Grapefruit League because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He'll likely pitch again next week, and he appears to be well on his way to being a part of the Opening Day rotation.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Saturday that Rodon (forearm) is feeling good after throwing, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rodon was able to throw Friday, and he continues to make strong progress from the forearm muscle strain he was diagnosed with March 9. The left-hander is still a lock to begin the 2023 campaign on the injured list, but there's a good chance he'll only miss two-to-three starts, which would be a major win for fantasy players and for a Yankees team that has dealt with significant injury concerns during the Grapefruit League season.

Civale allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over 3.2 innings in Friday's Cactus League loss to the Reds.

Civale has given up six runs over 9.2 innings across four spring starts, but he's also posted a respectable 11:3 K:BB. Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Civale was able to stay in Friday's game after taking a liner off of his right foot, so that shouldn't be a concern going forward. He posted a career-worst 4.92 ERA over 20 starts (97 innings) in 2022, but there's been no indication that he's at risk of losing his place in the rotation yet, though he will be at the back end of the starting list for the Guardians.

Kikuchi gave up two runs on one hit and three walks over 3.1 innings in Friday's split-squad game against the Phillies. He struck out three.

The southpaw got stretched out to 76 pitches, but only 46 of them went for strikes. Kikuchi looked good early in camp but his control has begun to desert him again with Opening Day growing closer, and he now has a 16:9 K:BB through 13 spring innings despite a superficially strong 1.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. The 31-year-old has a career 5.02 ERA and 3.67 BB/9 since coming to MLB in 2019, and there's been no real sign this spring he's going to be any more reliable in 2023.

Heaney allowed a solo home run and struck out eight over five innings in a game against minor leaguers Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Heaney increased his innings count during what has been a good week for Texas starting pitching. Both Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom returned to the spring rotation after missing time due to side injuries. Jon Gray threw four shutout innings Thursday before Eovaldi's 3.1 scoreless Friday, and Martin Perez helped Venezuela eliminate the favored Dominican Republic in the WBC. Heaney should take up residence somewhere in the top three spots and could be an option for Opening Day given the delays experienced by deGrom and Eovaldi.

Mahle gave up three home runs in a row and four runs total in 3.2 innings Friday against the Orioles and his fastball velocity was in the 89-93 mph range after being in the 90-94 mph range in his previous outing. However, Mahle said his shoulder felt fine. "I felt pretty good with where I was at today. I know I gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs, but whatever. I felt pretty good," he told The Athletic.

In Mahle's March 11 start against the Red Sox, he had 13 pitches of 93-94 mph, and he threw just two pitches of 93 mph and zero 94 mph pitches in Friday's outing. It might be nothing, but it's at least mildly concerning that his velocity is trending down. Mahle struggled with a sore shoulder last year, ending his season in early September. All the reports on his shoulder have been positive this spring, but monitor his final spring outings.

Eovaldi (side) allowed four hits and struck out five over 3.1 scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against the Brewers.

This was Eovaldi's second Cactus League start but first since he sustained a side injury at the beginning of the month. The right-hander's fastball, which averaged 95.8 mph last season, sat in the upper 90s, touching 99 mph multiple times, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "I felt like I was ahead in the counts, felt like I used all my pitches," the pitcher said. "The only thing I need to work on doing better at is executing with two strikes." With Jacob deGrom ready to start Sunday, it looks like the Rangers' projected rotation is healthy as the regular season looms. As suggested earlier by manager Bruce Bochy, both Eovaldi and deGrom could be on restricted counts early.

Cortes (hamstring) is starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.

This is a big deal, as Cortes is working to get ready in time to make his first turn in the rotation. It's already been reported that he probably won't pitch in the first series against the Giants, but he could take the ball April 3 at home against the Phillies. He has been throwing live batting practice sessions and simulated games thus far in camp.