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  • Bubba Chandler SP | PIT

    Pirates' Bubba Chandler: Improves in second spring outing

    Chandler walked one but did not allow a hit across a scoreless inning in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

    The outing was Chandler's second of spring training, though he's been limited to one frame on each occasion. After allowing one walk, one hit and one run in his first outing, Chandler cleaned things up in his second appearance. The only baserunner reached on a called strike three that was overturned on a challenge to become a walk. Chandler is competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster and is hoping to stretch out his future spring outings to make his case to break camp with the big-league club.

  • Jordan Wicks SP | CHC

    Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Strikes out three in spring start

    Wicks allowed two runs on four hits across 2.2 innings in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Angels. He struck out three.

    Wicks was making his second start of the spring slate, and while he allowed runs for the first time, it's encouraging to see him on the mound and looking comfortable after he dealt with an oblique strain toward the end of last season. If the lefty is fully healthy, he could push for a spot at the back of Chicago's rotation, particularly with Javier Assad (oblique) uncertain for the start of the regular season.

  • Dylan Cease SP | SD

    Padres' Dylan Cease: First spring start coming Friday

    Padres manager Mike Shildt said Cease will make his first Cactus League start Friday versus the Mariners, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

    Through their first seven Cactus League games, the Padres haven't used any of their presumed four locks for the season-opening rotation, but that streak will end Friday when Cease takes the mound. The right-hander is likely the leading candidate to get the Opening Day nod for the Padres after he submitted a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB in 189.1 regular-season innings during his inaugural campaign in San Diego in 2024. Though Cease's name has popped up in trade rumors this offseason amid an ownership shakeup in San Diego, a move elsewhere doesn't appear imminent and may not be revisited until closer to the trade deadline.

  • Tony Gonsolin SP | LAD

    Dodgers' Tony Gonsolin: Looking good in exhibition play

    Gonsolin has pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three batters, over two appearances in Cactus League play.

    Gonsolin missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he appears back to full health this spring. The right-hander was super efficient in his most recent appearance Wednesday, needing just 13 pitches -- all of which were strikes -- to retire six batters. Gonsolin is a candidate to open the regular season as the Dodgers' fifth starter.

  • Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Throws third sim game

    Woodruff (shoulder) threw a simulated game consisting of about 30 pitches Thursday, Sophia Minnaert of FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin reports.

    Woodruff has now faced hitters on three occasions this spring and has built his workload up from around 20 pitches to 30. While Woodruff is being treated as a full participant in spring training, he's still being ramped up slowly following his October 2023 shoulder surgery and is not being viewed as a realistic candidate for the Opening Day rotation. Following his second sim game this past Friday, Woodruff told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com that his fastball was touching 92 miles per hour, which is about three ticks below his average velocity from his last healthy season in 2023. Woodruff could need to complete another sim game or two before the Brewers potentially make room for him in the Cactus League pitching schedule.

  • Roki Sasaki SP | LAD

    Dodgers' Roki Sasaki: Spring debut might come Tuesday

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Sasaki will "potentially" make his Cactus League debut Tuesday versus the Reds, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

    Sasaki tossed a three-inning simulated game against White Sox hitters earlier this week, and his next outing looks as though it might come in an official game setting. The 23-year-old is expected to make his MLB debut March 19, in the second of the Dodgers' two games against the Cubs in Tokyo.

  • Cooper Hjerpe SP | STL

    Cardinals' Cooper Hjerpe: Clean bill of health this spring

    Hjerpe (elbow) allowed one run over an inning of work in his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday versus the Blue Jays.

    Hjerpe didn't pitch after July 2 last season due to left elbow inflammation, but he had a normal offseason and entered Cardinals camp with a clean bill of health, per Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The lefty has had elbow issues in each of his two pro seasons and changed his diet this offseason with the goal of reducing inflammation and soreness in his body. Hjerpe had a 13 percent walk rate but also a 35.2 percent strikeout rate in his 52.1 innings between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield in 2024. He'll rejoin the Springfield rotation for the start of the 2025 campaign as he hopes to stay healthy and cut down on the free passes.

  • Andrew Abbott SP | CIN

    Reds' Andrew Abbott: Throws side session

    Abbott (shoulder) threw a side bullpen session Wednesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    Abbott, who was already on a slower progression due to the shoulder, had added downtime due to an illness that kept him away from the team last weekend. It's unclear when he'll advance to facing hitters in a live batting practice session.

  • Nick Lodolo SP | CIN

    Reds' Nick Lodolo: Wild in spring debut

    Lodolo allowed one run on one hit and three walks while striking out two over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Angels.

    Lodolo looked out of sync as several pitches tailed high and outside, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The lefty's pitch count reached 26 after he issued his third walk, and manager Terry Francona opted to pull him mid-inning and have him come back an inning later. Lodolo was much better in his second frame, retiring the side in order on nine pitches.

  • Diamondbacks' Jordan Montgomery: Another bullpen Friday

    Montgomery (finger) threw 26 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday and plans to throw another one Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

    If Montgomery comes out of Friday's session without issue, the next step will be facing live hitters on the backfields before entering a game setting.

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