MLB Player News

Rodriguez (0-2) allowed six earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two across 3.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Athletics.

Rodriguez was staked to a 3-0 lead but allowed a three-run home run to Stephen Piscotty in the third inning and was hit hard again in the fourth frame. Though he allowed only one home run, Rodriguez was tagged for three other extra-base hits. He's gotten hit hard to start the season, surrendering 11 earned runs and six walks across eight innings.

Paxton (1-1) allowed four earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out nine across 5.1 innings to earn the win Thursday against the Orioles.

Paxton got off to a shaky start by allowing a leadoff home run to Jonathan Villar. The four earned runs were a bit disappointing, though he allowed only one extra-base hit besides the home run. Paxton also continued to miss plenty of bats, generating 20 swinging strikes. He has now racked up 14 strikeouts through 11 innings for the season.

Cobb allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four across 5.2 innings Thursday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Cobb was taken deep twice but allowed only one other extra-base hit and handed out just one free pass. His velocity was in line with last season's average, giving no indication that his late start to the season will cost him in terms of performance. Though the two home runs were alarming, Cobb's first outing was largely positive after he closed the 2018 season with a 2.56 ERA across his last 59.2 innings of work.

Gilbert (illness) is starting for Low-A West Virginia on Thursday, Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider reports.

Gilbert will get the ball on Opening Day for the Power. The 21-year-old was drafted by the Mariners with the 14th pick in the 2018 first-year plater draft, though an illness kept him from making his professional debut until this season.

Turnbull allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out 10 and walking two across six innings in a no-decision against the Royals on Thursday.

The 26-year-old followed up his rough first start with a masterful performance, inducing 15 swinging strikes Monday. That, along with keeping the ball in the park, helped him limit the Royals' damage from nine baserunners (one reached on an error). Turnbull is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 11.0 innings over two starts this season. Next up is likely a date with the Indians.

Baz will open the year in extended spring training, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports.

With Baz, it's possible that he could be sent to Low-A before the short-season leagues open up, but at the latest we should see him sent somewhere in mid-June. The player to be named later in the Chris Archer trade has frontline stuff but needs to work on harnessing his arsenal.

Contreras will open the year in the rotation at Low-A Charleston, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

He joins one of the more electric rotations in the lower levels of the minors, as Luis Medina, Luis Gil, Tanner Myatt and Matt Sauer will also be pitching for the RiverDogs. Contreras is well-known in dynasty-league circles, drawing Luis Severino comps, and this season has a chance to be his breakout year.

Medina will open the year in the rotation at Low-A Charleston, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

Medina's insane arsenal was on display last season in the Appalachian League (47 strikeouts in 36 innings), but his control issues were also very apparent (46 walks). It doesn't really matter where the Yankees would have assigned Medina -- when he is on, he's close to unhittable, and when he can't locate his pitches, most minor-league hitters can draw walks against him. If Medina's control were to jump a grade this season, his stock would explode.

Schmidt will open the year with High-A Tampa, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

This is quite a bump up for Schmidt, who made eight total appearances last year in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, and has never pitched in a full-season league. To jump Schmidt over Low-A completely speaks to how advanced the Yankees think their first-round pick from 2017 is. Assuming he stays healthy, Schmidt will likely split the season between High-A and Double-A.

Kremer (oblique) will open the year rehabbing in extended spring training, MLB.com reports.

He suffered the injury in mid-February, so he's been rehabbing the injury for six weeks already. Unless he has suffered a setback, Kremer should be ready for an assignment to Double-A or Triple-A at some point in the coming weeks.