MLB Player News

Sale struck out four batters over two perfect innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The veteran southpaw fired 16 of 25 pitches for strikes and overpowered a lineup that likely featured most of Pittsburgh's Opening Day starters, with his strikeout victims including Oneil Cruz and Yasmani Grandal. Sale said at the beginning of camp that he was coming off his healthiest offseason in years, offering some optimism that he can still deliver dominant results when he's on the mound, but the 34-year-old hasn't thrown at least 150 innings in a season since 2018.

Phillips walked one and struck out two over two hitless and scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring game against the Cubs.

Phillips turned in a strong performance in his spring debut, following an equally impressive outing from starter Frankie Montas. Due to injuries in the Reds' rotation last season, the 22-year-old right-hander was forced to make his MLB debut earlier than expected. Cincinnati has a number of starter candidates in camp and may not be so reliant on its prospects in 2024. Phillips is expected to be part of the rotation at Triple-A Louisville.

Rodriguez allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over one-plus innings in Tuesday's spring start against Texas.

Rodriguez, who signed a four-year deal with Arizona during the offseason, had a rough debut in a Diamondbacks uniform. Just 20 of his 38 offerings landed in the zone, and the left-hander gave up two home runs. Despite the results and shaky command, Rodriguez focused on the positives. "My command was a little off, but overall I was feeling good," the pitcher told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "My velocity was right where we wanted it, like 90-92 mph up to 93 sometimes, so overall everything was good. Just location, a little bit, but that's what we've got spring training for." Rodriguez should get another four or five Cactus League starts to build up his pitch count and work on command.

Abbott is battling with Nick Martinez, and to a lesser extent, Brandon Williamson, for the Reds' fifth starter job, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Abbott is off to a good start this spring, but it's noteworthy that his spot in the rotation isn't a sure thing. The way the job battle has been framed by Goldsmith is that Hunter Greene, Frankie Montas, Nick Lodolo (lower leg) and Graham Ashcraft all have spots provided they are healthy. However, Lodolo, Montas and Ashcraft are all coming back from injury, so this situation is pretty fluid.

Gray gave up two hits over two scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out five without walking a batter.

It was an impressive start to the exhibition schedule for Gray, who was facing a New York lineup anchored by Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor along with a handful of top prospects like Luisangel Acuna and Drew Gilbert. Gray still needs to demonstrate improved control and command to become a reliable fantasy asset, so the lack of walks Monday might be more important for his 2024 outlook than the Ks.

Buehler (elbow) will face hitters Tuesday for the first time this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The Dodgers are bringing Buehler along carefully this spring after he missed virtually the entire 2023 season following Tommy John surgery. He is not expected to make any Cactus League appearances and instead will stay behind at extended spring training for the start of the regular season. The Dodgers have been vague about a timetable for Buehler's season debut, but it doesn't seem likely to happen before the end of April.

Corbin is scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League start Thursday versus the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Corbin struck out four of the nine batters he faced Saturday in the Nationals' spring opener against the Astros, but he was touched up for two earned runs on three hits (two singles, one triple) and also conceded a stolen base. At this stage of Corbin's career, spring training is more about building innings than turning in quality results, but even if the 34-year-old lefty is lights out in his subsequent Grapefruit League outings, fantasy players should have some degree of skepticism about him carrying over any success into the regular season. Over each of his last three campaigns in Washington, Corbin has taken at least 31 starts in every season, but he hasn't turned in an ERA better than 5.20 or a WHIP lower than 1.47 and has seen his strikeout percentage decline in each successive year.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that Rutledge will start Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Rutledge will be taking the hill on three days' rest after he made his spring debut in relief Saturday in the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener against the Astros. He worked two scoreless frames versus Houston, striking out two of the eight batters he faced while walking one and allowing a base hit. According to Zuckerman, team officials reportedly came away impressed from Rutledge's debut appearance, and the young right-hander could build a stronger claim for a spot in Washington's Opening Day rotation if he's able to to carry that momentum into Wednesday. Rutledge will need a stellar spring to cement a starting role with Washington after he was touched up for 15 earned runs on 24 hits and six walks over 20 innings in his first taste of the big leagues late last season.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Tuesday that Luzardo will be the club's Opening Day starter March 28 versus the Pirates, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

With Sandy Alcantara (elbow) slated to miss the entirety of the 2024 campaign, Luzardo was the obvious choice to take the ball Opening Day. The left-hander collected a 3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 208:55 K:BB across 178.2 innings covering 32 starts in 2023. He should remain a fantasy standout for the Marlins in 2024.

Lowder allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning of relief in Monday's Cactus League game against Milwaukee.

Lowder, the Reds' first-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, was making his first career spring start. He pitched the seventh inning, with the lone hit he allowed a broken-bat single, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The right-hander threw 13 pitches (10 strikes), with both of his punchouts coming on called third strikes.