MLB Player News

Miller (head) reported having a headache Friday, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the club hopes the right-hander will be able to start throwing again soon, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Miller was involved in a scary situation in Thursday's Cactus League opener against the Cubs when a live drive struck him in the head. However, he avoided any fractures and does not have any concussion symptoms yet, although he will remain in concussion protocol to be safe. It's not yet clear when Miller might be ready to pitch in a game again.

Crawford (knee) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Crawford has been eased into things early on in Red Sox camp as he tries to get past patellar tendon soreness, and it's a good sign that he's been cleared for mound work. The right-hander should have enough time to ramp up before Opening Day as he looks to lock down a rotation spot.

Giants manager Bob Melvin announced Friday that Webb will start Opening Day against the Reds on March 27, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The right-hander has firmly established himself as San Francisco's ace, so it's no surprise he'll be taking the ball in the season opener. It won't be the most favorable matchup at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, however. Webb made 33 starts in each of the past two seasons and posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 172:50 K:BB across 204.2 innings during 2024.

The White Sox are considering using Clevinger (neck) in a late-inning relief role, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

It's just one of the roles the team is mulling, as it first wants to see what Clevinger looks like in camp after the hurler was inked to a minor-league contract Thursday. More than 90 percent of Clevinger's 156 career appearances in the majors have come as a starter, but he's had injury difficulties in recent years -- including being limited to just four starts in 2024 due to neck and elbow issues -- so it's possible a bullpen role gives him a better chance to stay healthy. The White Sox do have an opening at closer, should he prove to be effective in relief. The 34-year-old had neck surgery last July and it's not clear whether he'll have any restrictions this spring.

Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros have already ruled Garcia out for Opening Day after he had a couple setbacks last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, he's been throwing for a while without issue and should be able to make some Grapefruit League appearances. Garcia hasn't started a major-league game since May 2023.

Ashcraft will start one of the Reds' split-squad games Saturday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Ashcraft was a rotation lock the last two spring trainings, but that's not the case in 2025. The right-hander was limited to 15 starts with a 5.24 ERA in 2024 and was shut down for the second half of the season with a Grade 1-2 ulnar collateral sprain in his right elbow. He was able to resume throwing in the fall and pitched in an instructional league game, after which Ashcraft had a normal offseason. Saturday's opportunity does give him a bit of a head start on two other rotation candidates, as both Andrew Abbott (shoulder) and Rhett Lowder (elbow) are being brought along slowly to begin spring training. The Reds have also considered Ashcraft as a potential arm for the bullpen.

Gore is no longer scheduled to start Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Astros, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Jake Irvin is now listed as the starter for the first game of the exhibition slate, but there is no reported injury to Gore. Instead, this is a matter of Gore preferring to build up to the point of potentially reaching two innings in his spring debut, and the Nationals accommodating the left-hander's request and keeping him on the side for an additional live batting practice session. Gore still seems like the frontrunner for the Opening Day nod in 2025.

Clevinger (neck) signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox that includes an invitation to spring training Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Clevinger had an injury-marred 2024 season for the White Sox, as he was able to make only four starts due to neck and elbow injuries. When he was last fully healthy in 2023, Clevinger managed a 3.77 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 131.1 innings. If he can stay on the mound throughout spring training, he would seemingly have a decent chance of cracking the Opening Day roster and securing a spot in the rotation.

Matz is scheduled to start the Cardinals' third spring training game Monday versus the Mets, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz is coming off an unproductive 2024 season in which he turned in a 5.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 44.1 frames, with recurring back problems playing a part in his deflated innings count. The veteran lefty was deployed out of the bullpen for much of September, but with Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn reaching free agency this winter and the Cardinals not making any major offseason additions to the pitching staff, Matz should be in good position to open the season as the club's No. 5 starter. Matz is entering the final season of a four-year, $44 million contract and likely won't have much job security if he emerges from camp with a rotation spot. St. Louis has a pair of intriguing young pitching prospects in Quinn Mathews and Michael McGreevy waiting in the wings to step in if Matz falters or gets injured.

Fedde is scheduled to start the Cardinals' Grapefruit League opener Saturday versus the Marlins, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Fedde is unlikely to cover more than one or two innings Saturday, but he'll get gradually stretched out during spring training and should be ready to handle a typical starter's workload to begin the regular season After returning stateside with a revamped repertoire in 2024 following a one-year stint in Korea, Fedde emerged as a viable mid-rotation arm between stops with the White Sox and Cardinals. Over his 31 starts, the 31-year-old submitted a 3.30 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while punching out 154 batters over 177.1 innings.