MLB Player News

Manager John Schneider announced Monday that Berrios will start the Blue Jays' March 27 season opener versus the Orioles in Toronto, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Though Max Scherzer (thumb) and Kevin Gausman also represented worthy candidates for the Opening Day nod, both have been eased along more slowly in spring training, which may have factored into Schneider's decision to go with Berrios in the first game of the season. Berrios has already made four Grapefruit League starts and struck out seven over six scoreless innings in his most recent outing Sunday versus Atlanta, so he should be able to give the Blue Jays plenty of length right away to begin the season. Berrios is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he submitted a 3.60 ERA and 1.15 WHIP -- his best marks since 2021 -- but his strikeout rate dropped to 19.5 percent, his lowest of any season in which he made at least 15 starts.

Schmidt (shoulder) said he felt "great" during a 24-pitch bullpen session Monday and expects to be ready to make his season debut April 3 against the Diamondbacks, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Schmidt threw a bullpen session instead of a scheduled Grapefruit League start because he's had some trouble bouncing back in between outings. However, Schmidt doesn't look to be in danger of missing his first turn through the rotation once the regular season begins.

The Red Sox reassigned Davis to minor-league camp Monday.

Davis appeared in nine games out of the Colorado bullpen in 2024 and turned in a 5.75 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over 20.1 innings, but the right-hander never looked to be a serious threat to win a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster after signing with the organization on a minor-league deal in December. The 27-year-old could operate as a swingman at Triple-A Worcester this season, as he has experience both as a starter and reliever in the big leagues and upper levels of the minors.

Lively allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against the Brewers.

Lively breezed through two innings before giving up his first Cactus League home run in the third and more trouble in the fourth. The right-hander had three largely uneventful spring starts before tasting adversity in his fourth outing. He threw 74 pitches (50 strikes) and continues to build up in preparation for the regular season.

Leiter allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings in Sunday's spring start against the White Sox.

Leiter gave up a lot of loud contact in the first inning, when the White Sox plated two runs, but he managed to grind out three scoreless innings after that. There were command issues, including the No. 9 batter with two outs after getting ahead of him -- but also enough for the right-hander to take away some positives following the game. "I think grinding through an outing like this, it wasn't the sharpest, but I made pitches when I had to," Leiter told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Much has changed for the pitcher since his previous start last Tuesday. Projected rotation members Cody Bradford (elbow) and Jon Gray (wrist) have been shut down and potentially face significant absences during the regular season. That puts Leiter and fellow Vanderbilt alum Kumar Rocker on paths to the rotation.

Detmers pitched four innings in a Cactus League contest against the Padres on Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out four batters.

Kyle Hendricks began the game with five frames for the Angels, and Detmers followed by pitching the remaining four innings. The lefty is locked into a competition with Jack Kochanowicz for the final spot in the Angels' rotation, and both pitchers have made a strong case this spring. Detmers has posted a 2.30 ERA and 12:2 K:BB over 13.2 innings while Kochanowicz has a 2.92 ERA and 7:4 K:BB across 12.1 frames. Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune reports that the Angels are considering using whichever of the two pitchers doesn't get the rotation spot as a long reliever, though it's not clear if the team is leaning toward Detmers to come out of the bullpen since he's worked in relief in three out of his five Cactus League appearances, while Kochanowicz has started in all four of his outings.

Hendricks allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters over five innings Sunday in a Cactus League start against San Diego.

Hendricks was touched up for two runs in the third frame but otherwise kept the Padres off the scoreboard. The veteran lefty has pitched well in his first spring training with the Angels, posting a 2.63 ERA and 11:3 K:BB over 13.2 innings across four starts. Kendricks is penciled in for a starting role at the back of the team's rotation after Los Angeles signed him to a one-year contract last November.

Suarez picked up the win in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers after allowing one run on four hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out four.

Suarez is battling with Cade Povich for Baltimore's final rotation spot to begin the year in Grayson Rodriguez's (elbow) stead, and Sunday's effort should help his case of beginning 2025 as a starter. After giving up seven runs across 4.1 innings in exhibition play during February, Suarez has bounced back with a 2.84 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 12 strikeouts over 12.2 frames in March. It's possible the veteran right-hander gets one more spring start before the Orioles make a final decision between Suarez and Povich.

Matthews was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

Matthews had a strong showing in spring training with 9.1 scoreless innings and a 12:1 K:BB. He could be the first starter called up when a spot opens in the rotation. Matthews could still find success in the majors this season with his minuscule walk rate (1.0 BB/9 career in minors), strong strikeout rate (10.2 K/9 career in minors) and velocity.

Festa was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

Festa was a candidate to win a rotation spot, but struggled with an 11.94 ERA and 11: 3 K:BB in 11.1 innings this spring. Festa showed promise last season with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7 percent swinging strike rate, but he recorded a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP) in 14 games with the Twins. He could join the rotation early in the season if there's an opening.