MLB Player News
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Mike Soroka SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Michael Soroka: Dominant in first start
Soroka (1-0) earned the win over Detroit on Monday, allowing four hits and issuing one walk while striking out 10 batters over five scoreless innings.
Soroka dazzled throughout the start, racking up 12 whiffs and even recording the first immaculate inning of the 2026 campaign in his fifth and final frame. The right-hander was rolling at the time he was pulled, retiring eight straight batters (including six by strikeout), but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo opted not to push the hurler any further after he reached 89 pitches. Soroka has struggled with injuries for much of his career and hasn't reached 100 big-league innings since 2019, so it's reasonable for Arizona to be cautious with his pitch counts. With that being said, Soroka averaged over a strikeout per frame each of the past two campaigns (during which he was deployed as both a starter and reliever), and Monday's outing makes him an intriguing option for fantasy managers in need of starting pitching.
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Foster Griffin SP | WAS
Nationals' Foster Griffin: Works through five in win
Griffin (1-0) earned the victory Monday against the Phillies, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out five over five innings.
It was just about a dream start to the game for Griffin as he was handed a 4-0 lead before he even threw his first pitch Monday. He handled that run support well, holding down the Nationals lineup in his five innings of work aside from a two-run home run surrendered to Rafael Marchan. That's an encouraging start to the season for the 30-year-old Griffin in his first MLB start since 2022.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Padres' Walker Buehler: Takes loss in Padres debut
Buehler (0-1) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over four innings in a loss to San Francisco on Monday.
After signing with the Padres on a minor-league deal in mid-February, Buehler pitched well enough during spring training to earn a spot in the team's Opening Day rotation. The right-hander got through two scoreless innings in his regular-season debut, but Buehler fell behind on a solo homer off the bat of Harrison Bader in the third frame. Things got worse for Buehler in the fourth, as the Giants struck for two more runs on three singles and a walk. Overall, Buehler threw 43 of 72 pitches for strikes and notched eight whiffs. He's likely to get more opportunities to start, though Walker will probably need to pitch better to remain in the rotation when Griffin Canning (Achilles) and Joe Musgrove (elbow) eventually return from the IL.
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Edward Cabrera SP | CHC
Cubs' Edward Cabrera: Fires six scoreless in 2026 debut
Cabrera (1-0) earned the win Monday against the Angels, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out five across six scoreless innings.
Cabrera dazzled in his regular-season debut with the Cubs after he was acquired from the Marlins over the offseason. The right-hander generated 15 whiffs on 80 pitches and averaged 96.4 mph with his fastball. Not a single batter reached scoring position against Cabrera on Monday. His next start is scheduled for Sunday in Cleveland.
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Kyle Harrison SP | MIL
Brewers' Kyle Harrison: Strikes out eight in 2026 debut
Harrison allowed one run on four hits and one walk across five innings in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Rays. He struck out eight.
Harrison's lone blemish was a leadoff home run surrendered to Yandy Diaz in the top of the first inning. Acquired from the Red Sox over the offseason, Harrison's debut was an encouraging one after he spent much of 2025 at the Triple-A level with the Giants and Red Sox. Harrison has the stuff to be a factor in mixed fantasy leagues, and his next start is scheduled for Sunday in Kansas City.
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Tomoyuki Sugano SP | COL
Rockies' Tomoyuki Sugano: Impressive in team debut
Sugano took a no-decision Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
Sugano fared well in his Rockies debut versus a formidable Toronto lineup, but he came just one out short of being eligible for the win Monday. The right-hander posted a respectable nine whiffs on the evening, though one of his hits surrendered was a home run off the bat of George Springer in the third inning. Sugano is unlikely to project as an attractive fantasy option in starts at hitter-friendly Coors Field in 2026, and he'll be an option to avoid in most formats at home versus the Phillies his next time out.
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Bryce Elder SP | ATL
Braves' Bryce Elder: Fires six scoreless in victory
Elder (1-0) picked up the win Monday against the Athletics, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out five across six scoreless innings.
With all of the injuries in the Atlanta rotation, Elder opened the season in the starting five and breezed his way through his first outing of 2026. He needed just 83 pitches (52 strikes) to get through six frames and surrendered only one extra-base hit. Elder's next start should come Sunday against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
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Chris Paddack SP | MIA
Marlins' Chris Paddack: Thrashed for eight runs in loss
Paddack (0-1) took the loss Monday against the White Sox, allowing eight runs on eight hits and no walks in four innings. He struck out six.
Despite getting what appeared to be a soft matchup versus the lowly White Sox, Paddack completely came apart following two scoreless frames to begin his outing. Chicago plated four runs in each of the subsequent innings, though Paddack was at least able to fan six and register 15 whiffs to provide something of a silver lining Monday. Paddack's next start is lined up to come in New York against the Yankees, and he won't be a recommended streaming option for that one.
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Connor Phillips SP | CIN
Reds' Connor Phillips: Tallies first save Monday
Phillips earned the save Monday against the Pirates, walking two in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
Closer Emilio Pagan was likely unavailable after working each of the past two days for Cincinnati, opening the door for Phillips to claim his first save opportunity of the year. Monday marked Phillips' first career major-league save, though the right-hander doesn't figure to see very much ninth-inning work in 2026 when Pagan or other Reds high-leverage arms are available.
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Colin Rea SP | CHC
Cubs' Colin Rea: Picks up save Monday
Rea allowed two runs on four hits across three innings of relief and earned the save in Monday's 7-2 win over the Angels. He struck out four.
New Chicago starter Edward Cabrera tossed six scoreless innings in his team debut, and with the Cubs up 6-0 at that point, they let Rea close things out to save other arms in the bullpen. The veteran righty allowed a two-run home run to Yoan Moncada in the seventh inning, but then tossed blanks in the eighth and ninth. Rea has never had more than one save in a season during his MLB career, and he's unlikely to have too many more in 2026 from his long-relief role.