MLB Player News

Richardson (undisclosed) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one over one inning during Saturday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.

Richardson has returned to health after an unspecified injury sidelined him near the end of the 2024 season. This wasn't a great start to camp for someone who is competing for a big-league roster spot, though he should get a few more opportunities to show what he can do.

Verlander gave up one run (on a home run) over two innings with a strikeout and walk in his San Francisco spring debut Monday. "Overall, I'm healthy," Verlander told MLB.com. "I thought the velo was OK for the first start of the spring. Better than what I was doing last year, so that's a big improvement. Overall, I was pleased."

Verlander battled shoulder and neck injuries in 2024, the latter of which he's hinted at returning too soon from and could have played a factor in him finishing the year with a 5.48 ERA and 1.38 WHIP over 90.1 innings. It's a good sign he's fully healthy as spring training begins. However, at age 42 this season it's not a given he'll return to anything close to his pre-2024 form.

Glasnow pitched one inning against Cincinnati in a Cactus League contest Monday, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two batters.

Glasnow struck out the first two batters he faced before giving up three straight hits, including a two-run double by Austin Hays that ended with Hays getting thrown out at third base. Glasnow threw just 16 pitches in the frame, so he did some more throwing in the bullpen after he was lifted, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. The right-hander isn't scheduled to start either of the Dodgers' two Tokyo contests versus the Cubs to kick off the MLB regular season, but he's expected to pitch in one of the team's two exhibition games in Japan versus teams from the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization leading up to the series against Chicago, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

Snell will pitch for the first time this spring Tuesday against Seattle, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Snell joined the Dodgers on a five-year contract in November and is set to be a key figure in the team's revamped rotation. The two-time Cy Young Award winner bounced back from a rough beginning with the Giants last year to finish with a 3.12 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 145:44 K:BB over 104 innings. Snell is unlikely to go more than an inning or two in his spring debut Tuesday. He's not expected to start in either of Los Angeles' two Tokyo games against the Cubs to kick off the MLB regular season, but manager Dave Roberts has indicated that Snell will pitch in one of the team's two exhibition games in Japan versus teams from the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

Roa (shoulder) tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one walk while striking out a batter in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cardinals in Grapefruit League action.

Roa ended the 2024 season on the 60-day injured list with the Reds after suffering a right shoulder strain. The right-hander was claimed off waivers by the Marlins in November and he has now officially left his shoulder injury in the past. Roa has yet to make his MLB debut after being selected in the second round of the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Reds and he'll likely start the 2025 season with Triple-A Jacksonville.

Gallen allowed one run on one hit and struck out two over one inning in Monday's spring game against Cleveland.

Gallen threw 15 pitches (nine for strikes), including a changeup that Gabriel Arias sent back over the fence in left-center field. The right-hander told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he felt better than his most recent live batting practice session, but the changeup that Arias hammered was "kind of flat." Gallen and Corbin Burnes are considered co-aces -- each has thrown one Cactus League inning -- and manager Torey Lovullo is still deciding which one will start Opening Day.

Adon (biceps) pitched a scoreless inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

Adon ended the 2024 season with a biceps injury but has since returned to health. Saturday's performance was a strong start to camp for the 26-year-old, who posted a 6.75 ERA and 1.50 ERA with six strikeouts a year ago over 10.2 innings (eight games).

Mikolas wants to throw fewer balls in the zone on two-strike counts this season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Mikolas has a microscopic 4.1 percent walk rate over the last two seasons, but he's also surrendered more two-strike hits than anyone in baseball over that span. The goal for 2025 is to try to get hitters to chase with two strikes, which might lead to a few more walks and a higher WHIP but also hopefully more strikeouts. Mikolas is entering the final year of his three-year, $55.75 million contract and will enter the campaign with a spot in the Cardinals' rotation.

Graceffo is under consideration for a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Graceffo gave up a solo homer in two innings of work against the Mets in his Grapefruit League debut Monday, but he topped out at 97.1 mph with his fastball and induced four whiffs on six swings on his curveball. Manager Oliver Marmol referred to the appearance as "pretty electric." Graceffo has been a starter throughout the minors, but his progress has stalled out at Triple-A Memphis the last two years and a full-time shift to the bullpen might be the best thing for him and the Cardinals at this point.

Horton (shoulder) faced four batters during a brief bullpen session Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It was a short but meaningful appearance on the mound for Horton, who was facing live hitters for the first time in about nine months. The young righty was ultimately shut down last year due to a Grade 2 right subscapularis strain, and he's slowly building himself back up in camp. Horton, who was drafted seventh overall by the Cubs back in 2022, is one of the team's top pitching prospects and could be closing in on his MLB debut this season. The lost 2024 campaign may slow Horton down a bit, but if he looks good at Triple-A Iowa early in the year, he could start to force the issue, though Chicago would have to open up a spot on its 40-man roster to make room for the 23-year-old.