MLB Player News

Bubic is seen as the frontrunner for Kansas City's fifth starter role, MLB.com reports. He gave up one run over two innings with two strikeouts in his spring debut Sunday.

Bubic also debuted a new sinker, which he hopes to use against lefties, the MLB.com report adds. It was Bubic's first spring training start in two years as he spent the first three months last season rehabbing from April 2023 Tommy John surgery. The lefty thrived out of the bullpen last season, working his way into high-leverage innings and collecting seven holds and a save. His 32.2 percent strikeout rate was by far his career best, but it's not clear he'll be able to handle a starter's workload or maintain that high a strikeout rate with more usage.

Festa threw two scoreless innings Sunday against Pittsburgh with two strikeouts and no walks in his spring debut. He pitched exclusively out of the stretch, which he plans to do this season, MLB.com reports. He also debuted a new sinker during the outing.

Festa is competing with Chris Paddack, Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews for the final two spots in the rotation. Paddack and Woods Richardson are the favorites, but Festa could force his way into the rotation with a strong spring. Festa showed promise last season with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7 percent swinging strike rate, but he recorded a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP) in 14 games.

Alcantara allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

The right-hander touched 99 mph and threw 13 of 17 pitches for strikes in his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October of 2023. Alcantara has already been announced as Miami's Opening Day starter for the March 27 game against the Pirates. Craig Mish of the Miami Herald doesn't expect the 29-year-old to have any pitching restrictions this season despite it being his first year back from the procedure.

Susana topped out at 103 mph with his fastball during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports, but the right-hander threw only 20 of 34 pitches for strikes as he gave up a hit and two walks over a scoreless sixth inning. He struck out two.

One of the Nationals' top pitching prospects, Susana has yet to pitch above High-A as he continues to be developed as a starter. He'll turn 21 just before Opening Day, and his 157:48 K:BB over 103.2 innings between Single-A and High-A last season highlights both his tremendous upside and the amount of work he still needs to do to get his control and command to a level that will allow him to stick in the rotation.

Irvin tossed a perfect inning in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The 28-year-old right-hander needed only eight pitches to breeze through his first game action of the spring. Per Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports, one of those eight pitches was a slider, an offering Irvin is trying to add to his arsenal in an effort to get more whiffs. "I struggled a lot with getting in-zone swing and miss last year," Irvin said after Saturday's outing. "[The slider] is something that will kind of balance out the really slower curveball and the harder fastball. And then my cutter and changeup are both a little harder, too. I wanted something that's in that middle ground there." Irvin posted a 4.41 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 156:52 K:BB over a career-high 187.2 innings in 2024.

Waldron surrendered one run on two hits and no walks while striking out two batters over two innings in a Cactus League contest against Oakland on Saturday.

Waldron is one of several pitchers competing for the final spot in San Diego's rotation, and he began his exhibition slate with a decent outing. After allowing a pair of hits and a run through three batters, the knuckleballer settled down to retire the final five batters he faced. Even if Waldron does land San Diego's fifth-starter role, he isn't a particularly intriguing fantasy option given his modest strikeout rate and 4.91 ERA over 146.2 frames last year.

Bellozo struck out two in a perfect inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The right-hander got the start in the Marlins' spring opener and tossed 10 of 16 pitches for strikes. Bellozo was a surprising contributor in 2024, posting a 3.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 44:21 K:BB over 13 starts in his big-league debut, but the 25-year-old isn't guaranteed a rotation spot this time around with Sandy Alcantara healthy and Cal Quantrill now in the fold. Bellozo is expected to compete in camp with top prospect Max Meyer and Adam Mazur for the fifth starter spot on the Opening Day roster.

Kochanowicz allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out three batters over two innings in a Cactus League start against Seattle on Saturday.

Kochanowicz is vying for the Angels' fifth-starter opening, so each of his outings this spring could have an impact on his role to begin the regular season. The right-hander began his spring debut Saturday with a 1-2-3 frame but then struggled in the second inning, allowing a pair of singles and a walk to yield two runs before striking out the final two batters he faced. Reid Detmers, who may be Kochanowicz's top competition for a rotation spot, is slated to pitch for the Angels against Cleveland on Sunday.

Rodon tossed 2.2 innings against Toronto in Grapefruit League play Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one batter.

It wasn't a great exhibition debut for Rodon, though he wasn't hit particularly hard -- all five knocks against him were singles. The veteran lefty did log a promising workload with 48 pitches, and his changeup usage was up from his norm last season, which could be an indication of his plans to adjust for the coming campaign after opponents belted 21 homers off his four-seamer last year. Rodon is expected to slot third in the Yankees' rotation behind Gerrit Cole and Max Fried.

Sale tossed two perfect innings with zero strikeouts in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

Atlanta's southpaw ace tossed 14 of 21 pitches for strikes, per David O'Brien of The Athletic, topping out at 95 mph with his fastball and not even featuring his plus-plus slider, which helps explain the lack of whiffs. Sale is happy with where he is with his mechanics at this stage of the spring, and after winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2024 while becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to record a Triple Crown by leading the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and Ks (225), he's on track to get the Opening Day assignment for Atlanta on the road against the Padres on March 27.