MLB Player News

Eder (elbow) is feeling 100 percent and doesn't have an innings limit set for spring training, Fish on the Farm reports.

Eder will likely be monitored closely as he nears his first live action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August of 2021. The 24-year-old has only played one year of minor-league ball in the early stages of his career, as he spent the 2021 campaign with Double-A Pensacola and turned in a sparkling 1.77 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with a 99:27 K:BB over 15 starts (71.1 innings).

Ashcraft said that he was removed early from his live batting practice session Monday for precautionary reasons after he was struck in the right ankle by a comebacker, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The right-hander noted that he's OK and is walking completely normal after getting hit by a line drive, which apparently didn't result in him experiencing anything more than minor bruising or soreness to his ankle. Ashcraft looks on track to remain on his usual throwing progression this spring as he looks to stake his claim to a spot in Cincinnati's Opening Day rotation.

Wright (shoulder) told reporters on Monday that he expects to be ready for the start of the 2023 season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Wright received a cortisone injection in January, which put him behind schedule. The 27-year-old won't be rushed, and Bowman notes that he likely won't make any starts during the first couple weeks of Grapefruit League action. Wright won a league-high 21 games in 2022, but fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his progress this spring.

Ashcraft had to cut his live batting practice short Monday after he was struck in the foot by a comebacker off the bat of TJ Friedl, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Facing hitters for the first time this spring, Ashcraft wasn't able to complete a full workout after taking a line drive to the foot. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Ashcraft didn't look to be in significant pain before leaving the mound, so he may have been pulled for precautionary reasons. If healthy, the hard-throwing right-hander should have an inside track to a spot in the Cincinnati rotation after posting a 4.89 ERA (4.20 FIP), 1.42 WHIP and 71:30 K:BB across 105 innings as a rookie.

Cobb is working on incorporating a cutter and a slider into his pitch mix, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Cobb is also going to call his own games this season using the PitchCom system. The righty was solid last year with a 3.73 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 149.2 innings across 28 starts, and he racked up a career-high 151 strikeouts. Cobb will still likely lean on his splitter and sinker, which accounted for a combined 84.5 percent of his pitches last season, per Statcast. He projects as a mid-rotation option for the Giants in 2023.

Steele could slot in as the Cubs' No. 3 starter to begin the regular season, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

With Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) expected to begin the year on the injured list, Chicago's rotation is somewhat thinned out. Marcus Stroman should lead the way, followed by the newly signed Jameson Taillon. After that, it's fairly wide open, with Steele, Drew Smyly, Adrian Sampson and Hayden Wesneski likely battling for three spots. Steele posted a solid 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts across 119 innings last year, so the lefty figures to have one of the spots secured.

Cavalli (shoulder) threw a session of live batting practice Sunday.

Cavalli was shut down in mid-September due to shoulder discomfort but appears to be at full strength for the start of spring training. The 24-year-old is one of the Nationals' top prospects, but manager Dave Martinez recently said the right-hander isn't guaranteed a spot in the Opening Day rotation.

Marquez (hamstring) completed a bullpen session Sunday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Though Marquez opted out of pitching for the Venezuelan team in the World Baseball Classic after experiencing a sore left hamstring shortly after reporting to Rockies camp, his ability to resume throwing off a mound suggests the injury won't do much to derail his preparation for the 2023 season. The Rockies could continue to take things slowly with Marquez in the spring as a precaution, but once he's cleared to pitch in the Cactus League or in an intrasquad game, he can probably be considered good to go for Opening Day. Despite coming off a down 2022 campaign in which he turned in a 4.95 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 181.2 innings, Marquez likely still profiles as the Rockies' top starting pitcher from a fantasy perspective.

Alexander (shoulder) was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday.

By placing Alexander on the 60-day IL, the Brewers now have an open spot on the 40-man roster for Justin Wilson, who was signed Saturday. Alexander is expected to be out until the end of May because of right shoulder soreness, and this transaction doesn't change that timeline.

Anderson is working on a slider, though he expects to continue to primarily throw his fastball and changeup, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The 2016 third-overall pick cruised to a 3.25 ERA in 30 starts across his first two years in the league, but he stumbled to a 5.00 ERA in 22 outings last year. Still just 24 years old, there's plenty of time for him to recapture his previous form. It seems like he's doing the work to get there, as recent reports have also indicated that he's adjusted his delivery as well as his pitch mix. Even the revamped version of Anderson isn't a lock to open the year in Atlanta's rotation, however, as Mike Soroka (hamstring) and Bryce Elder will also get the chance to stake their claim.