MLB Player News

Scherzer gave up one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings and struck out six during Saturday's split-squad game against the Tigers.

Mad Max has been absolutely dominant in camp so far, posting a 14:0 K:BB over nine innings. The 40-year-old right-hander is coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign with the Rangers and can't be counted on as a 200-inning workhorse any more, but Scherzer seems determined to prove he can still carve through a lineup when he is on the mound. He may have some personal milestones in his sights as well in 2025 -- Scherzer needs 93 more strikeouts for 3,500 in his career, and 103 would put him past the legendary Walter Johnson on MLB's all-time list.

Sears gave up one run over three innings with four strikeouts in Saturday's Cactus League win over Arizona. He has a 3.38 ERA with a 8:4 K:BB in eight innings this spring.

Sears looks to be in regular-season form as Opening Day approaches. He's locked in as the No. 3 starter for the A's after leading the team in innings and wins last season. While Sears isn't dominant (18.1 percent strikeout rate last season), he does features good control (6.5 percent walk rate).

Schwellenbach gave up three runs on six hits and a walk over three innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out four.

After beginning his spring with two scoreless outings, Schwellenbach stumbled a bit in his third. The 24-year-old right-hander has produced an impressive 9:1 K:BB through eight Grapefruit League innings as he builds up ahead of Opening Day, and there's been no hint in camp he's headed for a sophomore slump after his breakout 2024 performance.

Dollander allowed five runs on two hits and four walks across 1.2 innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.

Dollander had a tough beginning to his spring from a run prevention standpoint, but he did manage a 7:1 K:BB across five innings. However, that changed Saturday when he struggled significantly with his control. Dollander entered the spring as a candidate to earn a rotation spot, but it's unclear if his current form will affect his chances.

Strider (elbow) will throw at least one more live batting practice session before getting into a spring game, either in Grapefruit League action or in a minor-league contest, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The ace right-hander looked very good in his first live BP session Friday, tossing two simulated innings as he continues his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his elbow. "I think it's gone super well," Strider said about his rehab after the BP session. "In hindsight, there's always going to be things we could have done differently, places where we should have slowed down and places where we should have sped up. But I think it's been a really seamless process so far." If Strider is able to begin building up by the final week of camp, it's possible he could come off the IL and rejoin the Atlanta rotation by the end of April, although the team's schedule presents an added wrinkle on that front. Atlanta will be playing in Coors Field on April 28-30, hardly an ideal environment for a pitcher to make his return from a serious arm injury.

The Padres optioned Bergert to minor-league camp Sunday.

Bergert was added to the Padres' 40-man roster during the offseason and could be a candidate to make starts for the big club at some point in 2025. He figures to begin the season at Triple-A El Paso after he spent the entire 2024 campaign at Double-A San Antonio, turning in a 4.78 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 87:33 K:BB over 98 innings.

The Giants optioned Seymour to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Seymour was added to the Giants' 40-man roster over the winter, but he didn't make a serious run at claiming a spot in the big club's Opening Day rotation this spring. He'll return to Sacramento, where he turned in a 4.82 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 132:60 K:BB over 134.1 innings in 2024.

The Giants optioned Ragsdale to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The right-hander was added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely bet to make San Francisco's Opening Day roster. Ragsdale had a 5.03 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 57:26 K:BB across 53.2 frames in his first taste of Triple-A last year.

The Rangers reassigned Plassmeyer to minor-league camp Sunday.

Plassmeyer made three appearances at the big-league level with the Phillies between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but he pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level in the Pirates organization in 2024, logging a 7.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while striking out 83 batters over 67.1 innings. He caught on with Texas in December on a minor-league deal and received an invitation to big-league spring training, but he didn't perform well enough in camp to earn a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. He'll likely head to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the upcoming season.

Perez allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in his Cactus League start Wednesday against the Brewers.

Perez is viewed as a veteran leader in an otherwise relatively inexperienced White Sox rotation. Davis Martin is expected to draw the Opening Day start, but Perez is also in consideration. Even after his shaky outing Wednesday, the southpaw stated he was happy with his stuff and was specifically working on getting the feel for his curveball, per Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times.