MLB Player News

Shuster is one of the final arms competing for the final spot in the Atlanta rotation, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Atlanta surprisingly optioned both Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder to minor-league camp Tuesday, so what was once a cloudy race for the final spot has boiled down to a final two: Shuster and fellow left-handed prospect Dylan Dodd. In three Grapefruit League appearances, Shuster has allowed just one run in 8.2 innings for a 1.04 ERA, and he's also posted a healthy 9:1 K:BB. This could come down to the final days of spring training, but Shuster has a great chance to get the ball for Atlanta against the Cardinals for their fifth game.

Atlanta optioned Anderson to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

The way the regular-season schedule lines up, Atlanta is going to need a fifth starter out of the gate. Bryce Elder was also optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday, so maybe that assignment will go to Jared Shuster or Dylan Dodd. Anderson, 24, posted a rough 5.00 ERA over 22 major-league starts in 2022 and was struggling to find the strike zone this spring in Grapefruit League play.

Atlanta optioned Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Both Elder and Ian Anderson were dismissed from the competition for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, leaving Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd as the main candidates to begin the season as Atlanta's No. 5 starter. Elder turned in a 3.17 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 47;23 K:BB across 54 innings over his 10 appearances (nine starts) with the big club in 2022.

Burrows was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Burrows has made two Grapefruit League appearances as of Tuesday, and he allowed two runs on four hits with one strikeout and no walks over three innings. The right-hander is considered one of the better arms in the Pittsburgh system and likely will make his MLB debut at some point in 2023.

Cavalli is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his right elbow Wednesday, Andrew Golden of the Washington Post reports.

This comes after Cavalli felt discomfort in the back of his elbow in the third inning of a Grapefruit League start Tuesday afternoon against the Mets. It's a concerning situation for the 24-year-old right-hander, who ranks as a consensus top-100 prospect and might have been in line to open the 2023 season as the No. 5 starter for the Nationals. Even if the MRI shows no structural damage, Cavalli figures to be looking at a lengthy absence from live competition.

Mets general manager Billy Eppler said Tuesday that Quintana (rib) is not expected back until at least July, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

As confirmed by Eppler, Quintana needs surgery -- including a bone graft -- to repair the stress fracture on the left side of his rib cage. Doctors also found a lesion in that area and Quintana was sent to a tumor specialist, but a biopsy thankfully came back benign. The veteran southpaw joined the Mets on a two-year, $26 million contract over the winter after working to a sharp 2.93 ERA across 165.2 regular-season innings between the Pirates and Cardinals in 2022. David Peterson and Tylor Megill will continue their spring battle to replace Quintana in the rotation, but both could end up getting starts.

Garrett allowed five runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings while striking out three in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

The left-hander did get stretched out to 71 pitches (44 strikes), but that was about the only positive takeaway from this outing. Garrett remains firmly in the mix for a rotation spot with the Marlins, and while his spring ERA has now ballooned to 8.68, his 7:3 K:BB through 9.1 innings shows there's little cause for alarm. However, this performance could put Garrett behind his main competition for the fifth starter role, Edward Cabrera (1.80 ERA, 4:2 K:BB through five spring innings.)

Cavalli was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets with an apparent injury, Andrew Golden of the Washington Post reports.

Cavalli shook his right arm in discomfort after delivering a 1-1 pitch to Brandon Nimmo in the bottom of the third inning. He then departed following a short chat with Nationals manager Dave Martinez and head trainer Paul Lessard. The 24-year-old had been in the running for the final spot in Washington's season-opening starting rotation but now may be facing an extended absence.

Megill gave up three hits and a walk while striking out three over four scoreless innings during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

With the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation up for grabs due to Jose Quintana's rib injury, Megill replaced Max Scherzer as the starter Monday so the young right-hander could face big-league hitters, and he responded by shutting down a lineup that included Jazz Chisholm, Garrett Cooper and Jorge Soler. David Peterson also remains in the mix for the open rotation job and has yet to allow a run this spring himself, but Megill's performance Monday keeps him firmly in the mix.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced Tuesday that Cobb (knee) will start the second game of the regular season, Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Clearly that knee contusion that Cobb suffered Saturday in a Cactus League start against the Dodgers is not going to be a lingering issue. The veteran right-hander pitched to a 3.73 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 151:43 K:BB over 149.2 innings (28 starts) for San Francisco last season.