MLB Player News

Mikolas gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out one.

Facing the team he spent the last seven seasons with, Mikolas tossed only 46 of 83 pitches for strikes and served up a three-run, first-inning homer to Nelson Velazquez. The veteran right-hander hasn't shown much this spring, posting a 6.52 ERA and 6:7 K:BB through 9.2 innings, but the rebuilding Nationals are just counting on Mikolas to soak up some innings while they wait for prospects like Travis Sykora (elbow) and Jarlin Susana (lat) to get healthy and start making a case for spots in the big-league rotation. Mikolas has made more than 30 big-league starts in four straight seasons, but his 4.51 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 6.3 K/9 during that time don't offer much fantasy appeal.

Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Yamamoto will start the Dodgers' March 26 season opener versus the Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Yamamoto will receive his second straight Opening Day nod after he dazzled with a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 201:59 K:BB during the 2025 regular season and then went on to take home World Series MVP honors in the playoffs. He'll square off with Zac Gallen and the Diamondbacks in 10 days.

Perez walked one and struck out five over four scoreless, no-hit innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The 22-year-old right-hander's strikeout victims included Jose Altuve and prospect Zach Cole (twice) as Perez built up to 53 pitches, 30 of which went for strikes. Through 9.2 spring innings, he's posted a 15:6 K:BB, and Perez could be poised for a breakout campaign after he tossed a career-high 118 innings across three levels in 2025, delivering a 4.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 105:32 K:BB in 95.1 frames for the Marlins across 20 starts.

Suarez allowed four hits and two walks over four scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He struck out three.

Facing a Philly lineup that featured about half of the team's Opening Day starters, including Trea Turner, Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott, Suarez tossed 36 of 61 pitches for strikes to kick off a combined shutout for Atlanta. The 28-year-old southpaw is out of minor-league options, and while he may not be in the mix for a rotation spot, Suarez could begin the season as a long reliever to help provide some length as the team plays 13 games in 13 days right out of the gate.

Ritchie struck out six across four scoreless, hitless innings of relief Sunday against the Phillies.

The only baserunner he allowed over 52 pitches (39 strikes) was a hit batsman as Ritchie continues to turn heads in spring training. The 22-year-old right-hander boasts a 2.25 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB in 12 innings and has thrown four innings in each of his last two outings. Ritchie is not on the 40-man roster and isn't expected to break camp in the big-league rotation, despite Atlanta's rash of pitching injuries, but a hot start at Triple-A Gwinnett would put him in line to make his MLB debut early in the season.

Williamson could win a spot in the Reds' Opening Day rotation, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. Williamson threw four shutout innings in Sunday's spring training game and has a 1.64 ERA with a 13:2 K:BB over 11 innings so far.

Williamson's stat line is nice enough, but also Chase Burns isn't quite extended out like the Reds would have hoped for, nor is his range of mobility where they'd like it, which could give them the impetus to keep Williamson. Williamson missed all of the 2025 season after having Tommy John elbow surgery in September of 2024.

Urquidy allowed three earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four and walking one across 3.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

It was a mixed performance for Urquidy, who built up to 61 pitches and also managed more strikeouts than walks in an outing for the first time in three appearances this spring. He's also allowed three earned runs in each of those outings, resulting in nine earned runs across 8.2 innings. Urquidy was the presumed fifth starter for the Pirates entering the spring, but he may be leaving the door open for either Hunter Barco or Carmen Mlodzinski to claim the role instead.

Stone (shoulder) said Sunday that he hopes to begin playing catch next week, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The right-hander was shut down in early March after being diagnosed with inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder, so it will take him some time to build his arm back up. Stone is hoping he can get back to mound work within the next month, which will likely push his return timeline into at least May.

Seymour has allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out eight across 9.1 innings in four Cactus League outings, including one start.

While he has spent most of his time in the minors as a starter, the Giants' bullpen competition is wide open, and a relief role is Seymour's best shot at making the Opening Day roster. The right-hander made his big-league debut with San Francisco in the 2025 campaign and primarily operated out of the bullpen, finishing with a 4.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB across 36 innings in 16 outings (three starts).

Lowder allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out four over 3.1 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Rangers.

The results weren't pretty, but Lowder was able to work around traffic on the bases. The righty also built his pitch count up to 76 (44 strikes). After a couple of breezy outings to open the Cactus League, Lowder has been stung for seven runs (four earned), 11 hits and four walks over seven innings in his last two starts. Still, he's probably done enough to nail down one of the two available spots in the rotation. Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson are also in the mix for those vacancies