MLB Player News

White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed over the weekend that Burke will start the team's season opener March 27 versus the Angels in Chicago, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Burke made just four appearances (three starts) for the White Sox at the tail end of the 2024 season, but he dazzled in those outings with a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 19 innings. He's been shakier this spring in allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and five walks over 10.2 innings, but with few appealing alternatives on hand, Burke was awarded the Opening Day assignment. The 25-year-old righty has shown bat-missing ability at every stop of his professional career, but the strikeout stuff has often been accompanied by walk rates north of 10 percent. Though Burke turned some heads during his brief taste of the big leagues in 2024, expect more volatility in his performance during his first season as a full-time starter in the majors.

Gasser (elbow) has advanced his throwing program to flat-ground throws from 120 feet, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The next step for Gasser -- who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery -- could be to throw from the mound. Gasser is eyeing a return in August or September of this season.

Cavalli (elbow) is expected to start the season on the injured list, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Cavalli is considered healthy this spring after being limited to just 8.1 innings over the last two seasons following March 2023 Tommy John surgery. However, he has not made any Grapefruit League appearances and the Nationals plan to manage his workload in the first half of the season. Cavalli could be a factor with the big club after the All-Star break, but the club will bring him along slowly.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on Wednesday named Bibee the team's Opening Day starter for their March 27 matchup versus the Royals, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Bibee will be opposed by Cole Ragans in the American League Central showdown. The 26-year-old Bibee has looked sharp this spring, tossing nine scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Bibee finished the 2024 regular season with a 3.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 187:44 K:BB across 173.2 frames.

Spence will begin the season in the Athletics' bullpen, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The A's will go with Joey Estes as their fifth starter over Spence, who allowed nine runs (eight earned) with a 7:3 K:BB over 11.2 innings this spring. Spence is likely to operate in long relief and should be the first guy called upon when the Athletics are in need of a fill-in starter.

Estes will open the season as the fifth starter in the Athletics rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

He'll receive the spot over Mitch Spence, who will begin the season in the bullpen. Estes spent the bulk of the 2024 campaign in the rotation, finishing with a 5.01 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 92:27 K:BB over 127.2 innings. His leash on a starting job could be fairly short.

Canning gave up a run on three hits and a walk over 4.2 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out nine.

The right-hander built up to 71 pitches (45 strikes) in a dominant outing that was blemished only by a Josh Lowe solo shot in the first inning. Canning was never able to reach his potential with the Angels, but he may have figured something out with the help of the Mets' coaching staff. Over 10 Grapefruit League innings he's delivered a stunning 16:2 K:BB, and Lowe's homer marked the first run he's allowed this spring.

Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Jones has already had imaging on his sore right elbow and is waiting on a second opinion, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

A second opinion on an injury typically isn't sought out if the first opinion is favorable, so the news is less than ideal. However, Tomczyk added that "I don't want to be an alarmist" and was quick to point out that the team is still in the information-gathering stage. Jones will not pitch again during spring training and a stint on the injured list is highly likely, but the bigger concern here is if the right-hander needs surgery. More on Jones' status should be known in the coming days.

Nunez struck out one in a scoreless inning during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

The right-hander was brought along slowly in camp after arm trouble derailed his second half in 2024, but Nunez looked just about ready for Opening Day in his first game action of the spring Monday. He needed just 11 pitches (eight strikes) to breeze through some Tampa Bay minor-league hitters in the seventh inning, and per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Nunez topped out at 98 mph with his fastball. "I was very grateful to get back out there," Nunez said through an interpreter after the game. "I feel healthy, I feel strong. I'm trying to avoid having any setbacks... I'm just trying to continue to push forward." Nunez was a breakout bullpen star in the first half of last season, and he finished the campaign with a 2.31 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 48:8 K:BB through his first 35 big-league innings. If he can stay on the mound, the 28-year-old could be a key setup man for Edwin Diaz in 2025.

Gillispie allowed one run on two hits and two walks over four innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 27-year-old right-hander built up to 51 pitches (26 strikes) as he looks to secure the spot in the Marlins' rotation created with Edward Cabrera (blister) set to begin the season on the IL. Gillispie made his big-league debut with the Guardians in 2024, working eight innings over three relief appearances with a 2.25 ERA and 8:5 K:BB, and his numbers at Triple-A also showed a bit of promise as he struck out 119 batters in 113.1 innings for Columbus. Pitching for Miami won't provide Gillispie with much fantasy appeal, but he could be worth a dart throw in NL-only formats.