MLB Player News

Lowder (elbow) has been throwing off flat ground the last few weeks since being cleared by the medical staff, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Lowder said he's progressing through the throwing program and believes he'll be on the "mound here shortly," although there's been no schedule established. The recently turned 23-year-old right-hander had been a candidate for the rotation, but it now appears likely he'll begin the season on the injured list before eventually heading to Triple-A Louisville. Lowder was impressive in a brief stint in the majors at the end of the 2024 regular season, posting a 1.17 ERA over six starts (30.2 innings).

Abbott (shoulder) made his spring debut in a minor-league game Wednesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. He went two innings and stuck out one.

Abbott retired the first six batters faced, and the relaxed rules on the practice field allowed him to face a fourth batter in his second inning, whom the left-hander walked. Abbott was encouraged by the results. including the ability to throw strikes and the nature of the balls put into play. After throwing 31 pitches in the game environment, he tossed 11 more in the bullpen. Abbott, who missed the final six weeks of the 2024 regular season with a left shoulder strain, was on a slower path this spring and never showed signs of injury or a setback. The Reds will examine him Thursday and figure out the next step. There's one available spot in the rotation, and the club would like to see Abbott work up to five innings. An early off day in the regular season means the Reds would not need a fifth starter for the first turn of the rotation, which would buy some time. Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers are also in the mix.

Bido gave up two runs over five innings with four strikeouts and no walks in Wednesday's spring loss to Arizona. Despite a 9.24 ERA this spring, he still looks set to win the A's fourth starter job, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Bido made a strong impression with a 3.41 ERA and 24.3 percent strikeout rate last season, and A's management entered spring training pretty convinced he'd be part of the rotation. His improvement in Wednesday's start should help alleviate any concerns following the early spring struggles.

Lynch has put himself in contention for the fifth starter role with a strong spring, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. He has a 1.80 ERA with nine strikeouts and no walks in 10 Cactus League innings.

Kris Bubic was seen as the leading candidate for the fifth starter role but has struggled a bit this spring with a 5.59 ERA, although that comes with an 8:2 K:BB across 9.2 innings. It's more likely Lynch begins the season in the bullpen, but he could join the rotation if there's an opening -- and Alec Marsh is currently dealing with a shoulder injury.

Matthews (hip) threw three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one walk in Wednesday's spring loss to Boston. It was his first outing since he suffered a strained hip during a Mar. 6 outing. "He probably had the sharpest outing that we've seen all spring," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Matthews exited his spring start last week due to what appeared to be an ankle injury but turned out to be a hip strain, but it sounds as though he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. He's battling for the fifth starter job but is likely to begin the season at Triple-A St. Paul as Simeon Woods Richardson and Chris Paddack (head) still appear on track to win the No. 4 and No. 5 starter roles.

Falter is projected to begin the season in the Pirates' rotation, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Falter's role was precarious after Andrew Heaney was signed, though Bubba Chandler was since reassigned to Triple-A and Johan Oviedo (lat) placed on the 60-day injured list. That should keep Falter in the rotation to begin the campaign. In two spring starts, he has allowed two earned runs across 4.2 innings with a 7:3 K:BB.

Means (elbow) extended his throwing distance to 75-to-90 feet Wednesday.

Means is still in the early stages of what will be a lengthy throwing program after undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery in June. He likely won't be close to pitching in games until the final month of the season, though there's a possibility the team holds off on deploying him until 2026.

The Cardinals optioned Roby to Double-A Springfield on Wednesday.

Roby had a nice showing this spring, allowing four runs (three earned) with a 10:2 K:BB over nine innings of work. He was never going to make the Opening Day roster, though, after another injury-shortened season in 2024. Roby has some of the best stuff among the Cardinals' pitching prospects but has totaled only 96.2 innings over the last two seasons because of arm problems.

Mikolas limited the Mets to one run on five hits and one walk over five innings Wednesday in Grapefruit League action.

Mikolas was facing a Mets lineup that featured most of their regulars, and he put together a solid effort, getting his pitch count up to 73 and limiting the damage to just an RBI single from Francisco Lindor in his final inning of work. The 36-year-old righty has made at least 32 starts in three straight seasons, but over the last two years his ERA sits at an unsightly 5.04. He is guaranteed a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day rotation.

Birdsong has a 2.89 ERA and a 13:1 K:BB this spring, including an outing against minor leaguers that doesn't count toward his Cactus League stats, and he is in the mix for a rotation spot, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

It seemed like Birdsong would be behind Kyle Harrison and maybe even Landen Roupp in the competition for the fifth starter's spot, but Birdsong has pitched well enough to keep his name in the mix. In fact, Birdsong was so efficient in his most recent appearance Monday, throwing 45 pitches over three scoreless innings, that he went back out to the bullpen to keep throwing in order to meet his pitch count requirement, per delos Santos. Birdsong threw 129.1 innings last season, significantly more than Roupp (76.2 innings) and also more than Harrison (124.1 innings), and is up over 10 unofficial innings this spring, so he won't miss out on the rotation due to any any durability concerns. Birdsong's control was poor in 2024, particularly in the majors (13.7 BB%), but if he has indeed taken a step forward in that aspect of his game, he could be in for a breakout 2025 season.