MLB Player News

Ashcraft struck out two and walked one over a scoreless inning during Sunday's Cactus League game against the Mariners.

Ashcraft was charged with taking care of the third inning Sunday, and while his day started with a walk to Cal Raleigh, he struck out the next two batters and induced a groundout to end the frame. The 28-year-old is expected to begin the regular season in a high-leverage role, though this is the southpaw's first spring working as a reliever. He recently spoke on his focus entering camp, stating, "I've got to keep pounding the zone like I was last year and let stuff happen. I'm a ground ball guy," per Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati. "Stay after them. Don't back down. You have to go in there and shut the door."

Sandoval's early-spring progression in camp indicates it's possible he opens the season on the injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Sandoval is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that prevented him from pitching in 2025, but the southpaw recently threw a live batting practice session. However, Sandoval isn't among the scheduled starters for the first six Grapefruit League games that manager Alex Cora revealed to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com last Thursday. The competition for the final spot in the rotation includes Sandoval, Kutter Crawford (wrist), Connelly Early, Johan Oviedo and Payton Tolle.

Tolle allowed one run on one hit and struck out one over two innings in Saturday's spring game against the Twins.

Tolle mixed in secondary offerings to kick off the Grapefruit League slate for Boston, which is the team's goal for the left-hander. He added sinkers, curves, changeups, cutters and one slider to the mix among his 20 pitches (13 strikes). The one run allowed came on a Royce Lewis home run off his four-seamer, after he couldn't put the Twins third baseman away with a changeup. Other than that, it was a fine outing for the 23-year-old, who is competing for the final spot in the rotation against Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early and two veterans that didn't throw a pitch in 2025, Kutter Crawford (wrist) and Patrick Sandoval (elbow).

Holiday (elbow) is throwing bullpen sessions in the Cardinals' camp, Brian Walton of TheCardinalNation.com reports.

A third-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Holiday has yet to make his professional debut following Tommy John surgery last May. The right-hander remains in the rehab phase and is likely looking at a season debut around June 1.

Cantillo allowed two runs on three hits while striking out two over 1.1 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Brewers.

Cantillo started a split-squad game to begin his candidacy for one of three available spots in Cleveland's rotation. After giving up two hits and a run in the first inning, the left-hander was removed to ensure he could get a second up-and-down. Cantillo then allowed a home run to lead off the second frame but was able to build his pitch count up to 33 (22 strikes). He is competing with Logan Allen, who started the Guardians' other game Saturday, Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick for spots behind Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams.

Snelling tossed a perfect first inning in the Marlins' Grapefruit League game against the Mets on Saturday.

Getting the start in Miami's spring opener, Snelling faced Marcus Semien, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette and retired them on just 10 pitches (six strikes). The young left-hander doesn't have a clear path to a spot in the Opening Day rotation following the signing of Chris Paddack, but after an astonishing close to the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Jacksonville in which he posted a 1.27 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 81:17 K:BB over 63.2 innings, Snelling could force the Marlins to make a tough choice with a strong performance in camp.

Allen allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over two scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against the Reds.

Allen kicked off his quest to claim one of three available spots in the Guardians rotation. The left-hander worked around a double and a walk in the first inning before leaving after 32 pitches (19 strikes) in the Cactus League opener. This might be Allen's only spring start before he departs camp to join Panama for the World Baseball Classic. Beyond locks Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams, Cleveland will evaluate Allen, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick this spring in the battle to round out the rotation.

An MRI on Ryan's back revealed only inflammation, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

This is a best-case scenario for Ryan and the Twins after the right-hander was scratched from his first scheduled spring training start Saturday. It's uncertain when exactly Ryan will be able to resume mound work.

Lowder allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four over two innings in Saturday's spring game against Cleveland.

Lowder was the second of three pitchers competing for the Reds' fifth spot in the rotation used in their Cactus League opener. He followed Chase Burns (two scoreless innings, three walks) and was followed by Julian Aguiar (two innings, one run). For Lowder, who missed all of 2025 with forearm and oblique injuries, this was his first game action in a big-league setting since September of 2024. The right-hander threw 37 pitches (23 strikes).

Kremer took the loss during Friday's 8-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates, allowing two runs on three walks in two innings. He struck out one.

Following a clean first inning, Kremer gave up two runs in the second frame after walking the bases loaded with no outs. The 30-year-old right-hander is in the mix to be Baltimore's No. 5 starter to open the season, but he has plenty of competition this spring in Tyler Wells, Cade Povich and Brandon Young, Kremer is set to exit Orioles camp soon to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.