MLB Player News

Garcia has been shut down due to soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Garcia had been scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Thursday, but that's been scrapped and he will be evaluated by doctors. The right-hander has encountered multiple bumps in the road in his comeback from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, suffering a couple setbacks last season and now another.

Allen allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six over 4.2 innings in Wednesday's split-squad start against the Angels.

This was Allen's fifth Cactus League appearance and third start. Following a regression season in 2024, Allen has pitched well this spring, elevating his chances among several candidates for one of the open rotation spots. He lowered his Cactus League ERA to 1.89, the best of all starters not named Tanner Bibee. His 19 strikeouts to four walks over 19 innings also points to him opening the regular season in the Guardians' rotation.

Williams allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings in Wednesday's split-squad start against the Athletics.

Williams made his fourth Cactus League start and got up to 80 pitches (52 strikes), putting him on schedule for the regular season. The right-hander has impressed this spring with 21 strikeouts over 12.1 innings. There's room for him to make one more start prior to the regular season, likely Monday or Tuesday against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field after the Guardians break camp. Williams is expected to pitch during the opening series of the regular season in Kansas City.

Hancock will open the regular season as Seattle's No. 5 starter, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

There was little doubt Hancock would be able to win the job, given the lack of other candidates on the roster, but he solidified himself after allowing just one run on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. George Kirby (shoulder) is not expected to rejoin the Mariners until mid-April, setting up Hancock to make a handful of starts to begin the campaign. "He's really had a good camp. I think he's really taken a step forward here," manager Dan Wilson said. Even so, the 2020 first-rounder's fantasy upside could still be restricted, considering Hancock fanned a lowly 14.7 percent of the batters he faced over 60.2 innings in 2024.

Stroman tossed three scoreless innings in a Grapefruit League game against Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out three batters.

The only hit Stroman allowed was an infield single, though he did display a bit of wildness by walking two batters and plunking another. That led to him needing 64 pitches to get through three frames, but the overall results were mostly positive as the veteran righty prevented the Phillies from crossing the plate. Stroman struggled early this spring, but he's since bounced back and has a tolerable 4.66 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB over 9.2 spring innings. He's a leading candidate to open the season in the Yankees' rotation, due in part to long-term injuries to Gerrit Cole (elbow) and Luis Gil (lat).

Bido has won a spot in the Athletics' rotation, manager Mark Kotsay told Martin Gallegos of MLB.com on Wednesday.

Bido entered camp with seemingly a lock on a rotation spot but has struggled with a 9.24 ERA this spring with five home runs allowed in 10.2 innings. That left a little uncertainty for his spot in the rotation until this announcement. Bido made a strong impression with a 3.41 ERA and 24.3 percent strikeout rate last season. He could be a late bloomer at age 29.

Varland is expected to make the Twins' major-league roster as a reliever, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. He's thrown nine scoreless innings with a 5:2 K:BB ratio this spring.

Manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't confirmed the move to the bullpen in an attempt to keep his options open, but Varland hasn't been building up innings to work as a starter this spring. The right-hander struggled last season as a starter in Triple-A with a 4.75 ERA. As a reliever in the majors during 2023, he showed promise with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings and a 17:1 K:BB. Varland could soon be in the high-leverage mix due to a fastball that can touch triple digits.

White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed over the weekend that Burke will start the team's season opener March 27 versus the Angels in Chicago, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Burke made just four appearances (three starts) for the White Sox at the tail end of the 2024 season, but he dazzled in those outings with a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 19 innings. He's been shakier this spring in allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and five walks over 10.2 innings, but with few appealing alternatives on hand, Burke was awarded the Opening Day assignment. The 25-year-old righty has shown bat-missing ability at every stop of his professional career, but the strikeout stuff has often been accompanied by walk rates north of 10 percent. Though Burke turned some heads during his brief taste of the big leagues in 2024, expect more volatility in his performance during his first season as a full-time starter in the majors.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on Wednesday named Bibee the team's Opening Day starter for their March 27 matchup versus the Royals, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Bibee will be opposed by Cole Ragans in the American League Central showdown. The 26-year-old Bibee has looked sharp this spring, tossing nine scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Bibee finished the 2024 regular season with a 3.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 187:44 K:BB across 173.2 frames.

Spence will begin the season in the Athletics' bullpen, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The A's will go with Joey Estes as their fifth starter over Spence, who allowed nine runs (eight earned) with a 7:3 K:BB over 11.2 innings this spring. Spence is likely to operate in long relief and should be the first guy called upon when the Athletics are in need of a fill-in starter.