MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that May will begin the season as the Dodgers' fifth starter, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

May had been battling Tony Gonsolin for the final spot in Los Angeles' rotation, but with the latter set to begin the season on the IL due to a back injury, May will officially claim the final spot. He won't travel with the team to Japan for the Tokyo Series against Chicago, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. The 27-year-old righty will instead remain in Arizona to continue ramping up for the start of the domestic season.

Gonsolin (back) will begin the season on the injured list, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Gonsolin recently injured his back while lifting, and manager Dave Roberts confirmed Tuesday that the right-hander won't be ready for the regular season. Dustin May will claim the fifth spot in the Dodgers' rotation as a result, and there's no guarantee Gonsolin will automatically claim that spot once he's healthy.

Yamamoto will start March 18 against the Cubs in the first game of the Tokyo Series, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Yamamoto worked up to five innings in his final Cactus League start Monday, giving up one run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven batters. His strong finish in camp will give him plenty of momentum leading up to his return to his home country, though he will be tasked with facing a formidable lineup in his 2025 debut. Fellow Japanese-born righty Roki Sasaki will take the mound in Game 2.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Sasaki will make his MLB debut March 19 against the Cubs in the second game of the Tokyo Series, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

The expectation all spring had been that Sasaki would get to pitch while the Dodgers were in Japan, but it has now been made official. The 23-year-old made his second appearance of the spring Tuesday in Los Angeles' final Cactus League game, allowing just one hit over four shutout innings while striking out two batters and walking two. His first regular-season test will come against a Cubs squad that posted an .868 OPS during spring training.

The Pirates optioned Burrows to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Burrows didn't see much success during his time in the Grapefruit League, giving up four earned runs in just five innings while striking out three batters and walking four. That being said, the 25-year-old held his own during his MLB debut last season, so the Pirates may be willing to promote him again in 2025 for spot starts or perhaps a more permanent spot if there are injuries.

The Pirates optioned Ashcraft to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.

Ashcraft made two appearances for the Pirates this spring, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out four batters across 3.2 innings. He'll ultimately miss out on Pittsburgh's Opening Day rotation, but if the 25-year-old righty can put up a number anything close to the 0.44 ERA he logged over 20.1 frames in Indianapolis last year, he could be on track to debut sometime in 2025.

The Phillies optioned Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Abel started Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Red Sox and will head to minor-league camp after giving up four runs (three earned) over 1.2 innings. The right-hander had a 6.46 ERA in 24 starts last season in his first full year at the Triple-A level, and he'll likely need to improve upon those numbers to have a chance of making his MLB debut in 2025.

Lord has been sitting 95-96 mph with his fastball in camp this spring, a significant improvement on the 92-93 mph he averaged in the minors last season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.

The Nationals have had some impressive success in the last couple years turning unheralded prospects into major-league arms, and Lord might be the next hurler to join that list. An 18th-round pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, the 25-year-old right-hander pitched at three levels last year, finishing his breakout campaign with a 3.93 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 57:20 K:BB over 55 Triple-A innings. His success largely came from the deception in his nearly sidearm delivery, but if Lord has developed a legitimate fastball, it could position him for a spot in the big-league bullpen at some point in 2025.

Canning gave up only one hit over 3.2 scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander built up to 55 pitches (37 strikes), and Canning is all but locked into the Opening Day rotation with both Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) set to begin the season on the IL. Canning flashed quality stuff at times during his tenure with the Angels but was never able to put it all together, with injuries and inconsistency both playing roles in his struggles. He's looked good so far in camp for the Mets however, posting a 0.00 ERA and 7:1 K:BB in 5.1 innings.

Alcantara gave up two unearned runs on four hits over 2.2 innings in Monday's split-squad game against the Nationals. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The right-hander tossed 57 pitches (33 strikes) as he continues building up ahead of an Opening Day assignment for the Marlins. Alcantara missed the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he worked over 180 innings each of the prior three seasons, and manager Clayton McCullough indicated over the weekend that Miami's ace would not face a hard innings limit in 2025. Alcantara hasn't done anything this spring to suggest he needs one, posting a 0.00 ERA and 8:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings.