MLB Player News

Fried gave up two hits over four scoreless innings while striking out five in Thursday's exhibition game against Team Puerto Rico.

Facing a lineup that featured Francisco Lindor in the leadoff spot and big-league bats throughout the lineup, Fried carved up the opposition without much trouble. Including two Grapefruit League starts, the southpaw has yet to allow a run over nine innings with a composite 14:2 K:BB this spring, and he appears to be just about ready for Opening day.

Strider gave up a run on three hits over 3.1 innings while striking out five during Thursday's split-squad game against the Blue Jays.

The right-hander fired 42 of 57 pitches for strikes in his third appearance of the spring. Strider has a 9:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings in Grapefruit League action, and after a dazzling rookie campaign that saw him fan 202 batters in only 131.2 frames for a 38.3 percent strikeout rate, Atlanta is counting on the 24-year-old to emerge as a true ace in 2023.

Vines was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Friday.

Vines has impressed this spring and is one of the team's better pitching prospects, but he'll head to Gwinnett for a little more seasoning. A major-league debut in 2023 is certainly a possibility for the 24-year-old right-hander should a need arise.

Munoz was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Friday.

Munoz has tossed two scoreless innings this spring, but he's in need of more seasoning. The 22-year-old collected a 4.66 ERA between High-A Rome and Double-A Mississippi last season.

Cavalli gave up one run on three hits and a walk over three innings while striking out six during Thursday's exhibition against Team Israel.

The young right-hander was making his first start of the spring after two relief appearances in Grapefruit League action, but Cavalli has looked good in any role, posting a composite 12:2 BB:K across six innings. He's ticketed for a spot in the Nationals' Opening day rotation, and while Cavalli's big-league debut last year ended quickly due to shoulder trouble, he has the arm talent to be a fantasy asset in his rookie campaign if he can stay healthy.

Gonsolin's rehab from his ankle injury is going to "be a slow process," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times on Friday.

Gonsolin managed to avoid a fracture when he injured his left ankle during a fielding drill Monday, but the sprain he suffered seems to have been a fairly significant one. The plan is for the right-hander to be shut down for several more days and he'll then need to be built back up. Roberts wouldn't offer a timetable for Gonsolin's return, but it sounds like he could wind up missing the first several weeks of the season. Ryan Pepiot and Michael Grove are the candidates to fill Gonsolin's rotation spot.

Grove is an option to fill in for Tony Gonsolin (ankle) if Gonsolin needs to miss time, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times on Friday.

Roberts said that if Gonsolin requires an injured list stint, which appears likely at this point, it would probably be either Grove or Ryan Pepiot filling in. Grove put up a 4.60 ERA over seven appearances (six starts) for the Dodgers last season in his first taste of the big leagues. He's one of the team's better young arms and would be worth a late-round dart throw in fantasy leagues if he joins the rotation.

Pepiot is an option to open the season in the Dodgers' rotation if Tony Gonsolin (ankle) isn't ready, manager Dave Roberts told Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times on Friday.

Roberts listed Michael Grove as the other option to fill a potential Gonsolin vacancy. Pepiot held a 3.47 ERA with 42 strikeouts over 36.1 innings for the Dodgers last season. He also walked 27, though, and control has been an ongoing issue for the righty. Still, Pepiot boasts real upside and is worth a look as a late-round fantasy target.

Painter will be shut down for four weeks after being diagnosed with a proximal ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right elbow.

An MRI a week ago showed the issue, and it has since been confirmed following a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache. The hope is that Painter will be cleared to do some light throwing after the four-week shutdown period is up. For what it's worth, the 19-year-old righty told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that it's a "pretty mild" sprain and he's "pretty confident" he'll heal with rest and rehab. Still, it's a major concern for the Phillies and to fantasy managers in re-draft formats who have already rostered Painter.

Suarez was brought back from the World Baseball Classic due to left forearm tightness, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies believe the injury to be minor, but they will push Suarez back a few days as he receives treatment. While his performance took a step backward on the mound last season, he still managed a 3.65 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 155.1 innings. The southpaw will shoulder a similar workload in the rotation this season, health permitting.