MLB Player News

Lively will start Thursday's season opener versus the Royals in Kansas City, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Lively had been expected to make his 2025 debut during the Guardians' second series next week in San Diego, but he'll instead draw the Opening Day nod after Tanner Bibee was scratched from the assignment due to a stomach illness. The 33-year-old right-hander will be pitching on five days' rest after covering six innings and 81 pitches in his final Cactus League start March 21.

The White Sox placed Thorpe (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Travis Jankowski, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move. Thorpe will miss all of the 2025 season while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Bibee has been scratched from his scheduled start Thursday against the Royals due to acute gastroenteritis, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Bibee is recovering from a bout with food poisoning and will get some extra time off to recuperate. Ben Lively will be pushed up in the pitching schedule and will get the Opening Day nod in place of Bibee, who could still make his season debut later on in the three-game series in Kansas City, depending on how quickly he bounces back from the stomach bug.

The Pirates placed Jones (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Jones has damage to the UCL in his right elbow but will attempt to treat the injury with rest and rehab rather than surgery. He will be shut down from throwing for six weeks before ramping back up. The righty will be a candidate to be shifted to the 60-day injured list when/if the Pirates need a roster spot, as it's unlikely he'll be back before June.

The Marlins recalled Bellozo from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.

Bellozo will fill a rotation slot while Ryan Weathers (forearm) and Edward Cabrera (blister) open the season on the injured list. The right-hander is slated to make his season debut Saturday against the Pirates.

The Marlins placed Weathers (forearm) on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a left flexor muscle strain.

Weathers is expected to be shelved for at least the first month or so of the season with the injury. According to MLB.com, Weathers has resumed gripping exercises with the baseball, but he's not yet doing any throwing. With Weathers and Edward Cabrera (blister) on the shelf, the Marlins have included Connor Gillispie and Valente Bellozo in their Opening Day rotation.

The Marlins placed Cabrera (finger) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Cabrera threw a simulated game Wednesday and hopes to be ready to rejoin the Miami rotation by mid-April as he recovers from a blister on his right middle finger. Connor Gillispie and Valente Bellozo will fill rotation spots to begin the season while Cabrera and Ryan Weathers (forearm) are on the shelf.

The Phillies placed Suarez on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to low-back stiffness, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Suarez has resumed throwing on flat ground as he overcomes a back issue but is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season. Taijuan Walker will occupy a spot in the Philadelphia rotation until Suarez is ready to make his 2025 debut.

Gray (illness) will make his scheduled Opening Day start Thursday against the Twins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gray dealt with the flu for a week that sapped him of some strength and might have contributed to his decreased velocity this spring. However, he's feeling better and has been cleared to take the ball for the opener. The veteran right-hander held a 3.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 203:39 K:BB across 28 starts during his first season in St. Louis in 2024.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kopech (shoulder) is "sort of in a holding pattern" with his throwing, per MLB.com.

Kopech is dealing with a right shoulder impingement and will open the campaign on the injured list. He had been throwing bullpen sessions as of early March, but given Roberts' comments, it's unclear what the righty reliever's throwing program looks like at the moment. Kopech notched six regular-season saves for Los Angeles after being acquired from the White Sox in late July last year, but he's been slated for a setup role when healthy this season with newcomer Tanner Scott expected to work as the Dodgers' primary closer.