MLB Player News

Gomber was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Sunday against the Mariners due to left shoulder soreness, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw said that his arm speed isn't at the level he wants it to be at this time of the spring, but he didn't express any major concern about the shoulder issue preventing him from being ready for Opening Day. Assuming he misses just one turn through the spring rotation, Gomber should have plenty of time to ramp up and complete his throwing progression before the March 28 season opener versus the Rays.

Nola struck out two and allowed one hit and no walks over two scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the right-hander was focused on commanding his fastball and changeup and completely avoided using his knuckle-curve, which was his most-used pitch last year at 32.9 percent. Opposing batters hit .279 against his changeup in 2024, and turning that into a more reliable offering could help him improve upon the 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 197:50 K:BB he posted across 33 regular-season starts last season.

The Cardinals reassigned Mathews to minor-league camp Sunday.

Though Mathews is regarded as one of St. Louis' top pitching prospects, he was always facing an uphill battle to win a spot in the Opening Day rotation after having made just four starts above the Double-A level. The 24-year-old southpaw should still make his MLB debut at some point in 2025, but for now, the Cardinals will send him to minor-league camp to open up more innings in Grapefruit League play for other rotation candidates. He'll continue to stay in a starter's schedule at minor-league camp, with Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com noting that Mathews will cover three innings Sunday in a game on the back fields.

Rocker allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over one inning in Saturday's spring start against the Cubs.

This was Rocker's second Cactus League start and looked very much like his first, when the right-hander gave up four runs in an inning. The main difference in the two starts is that Rocker was pulled early in the first inning and once again an inning later Saturday. He entered camp in the mix for a rotation spot but owns a 36.00 ERA through two starts.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that Povich is currently considered the Orioles' seventh starting pitcher, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Assuming everyone stays healthy throughout spring training, Baltimore's five-man rotation of Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano is set, while Hyde labeled Albert Suarez as the No. 6 starter. Povich appears poised to begin the campaign at Triple-A Norfolk, but he's off to a strong start in spring training with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings through two starts. The left-hander made 16 starts for Baltimore as a rookie last year and had a 5.20 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 69:34 K:BB across 79.2 innings, and it's likely just a matter of time before he receives another look in 2025.

Cantillo allowed four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two over one inning in Saturday's spring start against the Cubs.

Cantillo was dialed in during his first Cactus League start, but the left-hander struggled to command his fastball the second time out and kept falling behind hitters. He was eventually pulled with one out in the first inning before coming back to start the second. He then walked three batters and left his second frame with two outs. It was a stark contrast to Cantillo's first spring outing, when 18 of his 21 offerings landed in the zone.

Bello (shoulder) will throw another bullpen session Monday, and manager Alex Cora said the organization is "still shooting for him to be on the Opening Day roster, but obviously it's March 2 now," Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was briefly shut down at the start of camp due to shoulder soreness, so he's a bit behind in his preparations for the start of the regular season. Bello still has more than four weeks to ramp up ahead of Opening Day and has a realistic chance to be available -- especially since he probably wouldn't be pitching in the first couple games of the season anyway -- but he may need a clean buildup the rest of the way to avoid an IL stint to begin the campaign.

Giolito (elbow) will make his first start of spring training Thursday against the Blue Jays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Giolito has been building up early in camp in simulated settings but is now on the cusp of making his first Grapefruit League start for the Red Sox. The right-hander missed the entirety of last season while recovering from an internal brace procedure, but it appears he'll be ready to claim a spot in Boston's season-opening rotation.

Skenes allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out four across three innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game.

Skenes had a slow start to his first spring training outing, allowing three baserunners and his only earned run in the first inning. He was sharp thereafter and surprisingly threw 54 pitches, though the longer outing allowed him to work in his cutter and sinker -- offerings he developed over the offseason, per Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Henry (lat) has made two Grapefruit League appearances this spring, tossing three scoreless innings and scattering three hits and no walks while striking out seven.

The 25-year-old righty didn't pitch in the minors after June 26 last season due to a lat strain. Henry has worked as a starter for most of his minor-league career, but he told Andrew Golden of The Washington Post that he'll be making a move to long relief in 2025 as the Nationals aim to keep him healthy. Henry possesses a spot on the Nationals' 40-man roster but is most likely to open the campaign at Triple-A Rochester or Double-A Harrisburg despite his strong showing so far during spring training.