MLB Player News

General manager Ben Cherington said that Jones will start the Pirates' third game of the regular season Saturday in Miami, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cherington confirmed that Jones will be part of the Pirates' Opening Day roster, though Pittsburgh still has yet to officially select the 22-year-old right-hander to the 40-man roster. Heading into spring training, Jones looked to be on the outside looking in for a rotation spot with the big club, but he made it impossible for the Pirates to leave him off the roster after he allowed just three unearned runs to go along with a 15:8 K:BB in 16.1 innings during the Grapefruit League. Like most young pitchers, control will likely be a concern for Jones in his first taste of the big leagues, but the strikeout upside he displayed in the spring as well as in every stop of the minors make him a worthy late-round target in fantasy drafts.

Woodruff (shoulder) confirmed Saturday that he won't pitch during the 2024 season but expects to return to full strength for 2025, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "Honestly, I'm going [to] be the strongest I'll ever be at any point in my career because I'm going [to] have a year and just basically get my body ready for pitching," Woodruff said.

The Brewers non-tendered Woodruff in November, about a month after he underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. He reunited with Milwaukee in February on a two-year, $7.5 million deal, with both parties recognizing that the 2024 portion of the contract would be dedicated to rehab and recovery. Since having surgery in the fall, Woodruff seems to be encouraged with where he stands five months later. He's already started playing catch again and could advance to throwing off a mound at some point during the summer. Milwaukee placed Woodruff on the 60-day injured list Feb. 21, and he'll remain off the 40-man roster for the entire season before being reinstated.

Falter was informed Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Stumpf relays that prospect Jared Jones will be included in the Opening Day rotation, but it's not yet clear whether Falter, Luis Ortiz or someone else will fill the fifth and final starting spot. Falter doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so if he misses out on a rotation spot, he would most head to the bullpen since he would have to be moved off the 40-man roster in order to be eligible to pitch in the minors.

Jones was informed Monday that he's made the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

While the team has yet to confirm that Jones will be part of its rotation, that's the expectation. The hard-throwing right-hander earned a spot by allowing just three unearned runs during spring training, compiling a 15:8 K:BB over 16.1 innings of work. Jones has not yet pitched in the big leagues and doesn't have great control, but the 22-year-old certainly possesses some bat-missing ability.

Quantrill will start the second game of the regular season against the Diamondbacks, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Quantrill was hit hard in his final outing of spring training, but he's still set to follow Kyle Freeland in the rotation as the Rockies' second starter. Positively, he's worked 4.2 innings in each of his last two starts, so he should be able to handle a full workload to begin the campaign.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Miller will start the second game of Los Angeles' home-opening set against the Cardinals that starts Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

In the Dodgers' season-opening two-game series against San Diego in South Korea, Tyler Glasnow started Game 1 and was followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2. However, with the team now back on U.S. soil and approaching the traditional opening series, Miller will follow Glasnow in the rotation while Yamamoto will get the ball third. Miller has had a decent spring, posting a 2.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB over 13 innings and finishing his exhibition slate with four shutout frames against the Angels on Sunday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Yamamoto will start the third game of the team's initial home series against St. Louis, which begins Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Yamamoto got the start in the second game of the Dodgers' season-opening two-game set in South Korea against the Padres, following Tyler Glasnow in the rotation. While Glasnow will again take the mound for the team's home opener Thursday, he'll be followed by Bobby Miller in the second game of the series before Yamamoto gets the ball Saturday in Game 3. Yamamoto struggled in his MLB debut, lasting just one inning and giving up five earned runs, though it's not clear if that had anything to do with him moving behind Miller for Los Angeles' first home set.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Glasnow will start the team's home opener Thursday against St. Louis, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Glasnow started Los Angeles' first game of the season, allowing two runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Padres in South Korea on March 20. Due to the unique configuration of the regular-season schedule -- the Dodgers are now back in the United States playing exhibition games before Thursday's home opener -- Glasnow will be able to start twice in the team's first three regular-season contests. The right-handed hurler tossed 77 pitches in his initial start against San Diego, and he should be able to push that a bit higher Thursday versus the Cardinals.

Sheehan (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday before potentially facing live hitters later in the week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander landed on the injured list ahead of the season-opening, two-game series against the Padres in South Korea last week, but he continues to progress in his throwing program. Sheehan will likely require multiple rehab appearances after facing live batters, so he's likely to be sidelined through the first few weeks of the season.

Garrett (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday and pitch in a game Thursday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander recently progressed to throwing live batting practice and will now pitch in an exhibition contest. Garrett will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, but he appears on track to join Miami's rotation around mid-April.