MLB Player News

The Dodgers optioned Knack to Triple-A Oklahoma City on March 22.

Knack was included on the Dodgers' 31-player travel squad for the two-game Seoul Series in South Korea with the Padres, but he went unused out of the bullpen in both of the contests and was sent to minor-league camp once the team returned to the United States. The 26-year-old righty will be a mainstay in the Oklahoma City rotation this season and could make his big-league debut if the Dodgers require a spot starter or long man out of the bullpen at any point.

Paxton is scheduled to start Monday's series opener versus the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

The oft-injured southpaw has opened both of the past two seasons on the injured list, but he made it out of spring training unscathed and is set to make his Dodgers debut Monday as the team's No. 5 starter. Paxton, who received a $2 million bonus by virtue of being included on the Opening Day roster, will now be guaranteed $9 million in 2023 and can pocket up to $4 million in incentives based on number of games started. The 35-year-old built up to five innings and 80 pitches in his final spring start March 26, so he should be capable of working deep enough into Monday's outing to qualify for a win.

Gray tossed 3.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out two batters in Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.

Gray made his return to the mound after missing his final outing of the spring with a stiff neck, struggling to find any groove against Chicago. The right-hander gave up a three-run homer to Christopher Morel in the first inning. He later allowed three straight batters to reach base in the fourth inning, giving up two more runs and ultimately exiting the game with two outs in the frame. Gray will look to get back on track in his next start, which is tentatively set to be Saturday at home versus the Astros.

Matz did not factor in the decision Sunday after allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three in the Cardinals' loss to the Dodgers.

Matz rolled through five shutout frames before the Dodgers finally got a couple of runs home in the sixth inning. He threw 51 of 81 pitches for strikes and forced 11 swings-and-misses, including seven with the changeup. The 32-year-old posted a solid 3.86 ERA over 105 frames last year and will be relied upon at the back end of the Cardinals' rotation this season. Matz is currently projected to face the Marlins next.

Carrasco didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Oakland, lasting five innings and yielding three runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Carrasco was solid outside of a rough first inning when he allowed two runs on three hits. While the 37-year-old is expected to stick in the Guardians rotation until Gavin Williams (elbow) returns from the 15-day IL, there shouldn't be high expectations for Carrasco after he generated an ugly 6.80 ERA in 90 innings with the Mets last season. He's tentatively scheduled to make his next start against the Twins in Minnesota.

Stone allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk over five-plus innings and did not factor in the decision Sunday. He struck out six while the Dodgers beat the Cardinals.

Stone struck out the side in the first inning and yielded just one run through four frames. He gave up another in the fifth and was charged with a third run after walking the leadoff batter in the sixth. Stone's velocity was up across the board, with his fastball averaging just over 95 mph. He forced 16 whiffs on 85 pitches, including nine with a dominant changeup. Stone is currently projected to make his next start against the Cubs.

Anderson is scheduled to start in Tuesday's game against the Marlins at LoanDepot Park.

Anderson is opening the season fifth in the Angels' rotation order coming off a poor debut season for Anaheim in 2023 in which he went 6-6 with a 5.43 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 119:64 K:BB over 141 innings. The lefty showed better in Cactus League play this spring (3.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 20:3 K:BB in 16.2 innings), but fantasy managers outside of AL-only or deeper mixed leagues may want to see Anderson turn in better results in the games that count before trusting him as a streaming option.

Blackburn didn't factor into the decision Sunday versus the Guardians, throwing seven scoreless innings on three hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Blackburn was excellent in his first start of the season, retiring his first 12 batters and giving up no extra-base hits. He got out of a jam in the fifth inning, getting Gabriel Arias to fly out with the bases loaded. Despite the impressive outing, Blackburn didn't get the win after the Athletics bullpen surrendered three runs on three hits, a hit-by-pitch and a fielding error in the eighth frame. Blackburn will have an opportunity to build on his scoreless debut with tentative matchups against the Tigers and Nationals scheduled for his next two starts.

France didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Yankees, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out five.

France came one out shy of notching a quality start in his 2024 debut and was pulled after retiring the first two batters he faced in the sixth at 94 pitches. While Sunday's performance was by no means a disappointment, the second-year big-leaguer will likely have to do more to stick in the Astros rotation once Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) are healthy. France's next start is tentatively scheduled to come during a road series against the Rangers.

Wicks pitched four innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out six batters in Sunday's 9-5 win over the Rangers. He did not factor into the decision.

Wicks had a quite the mixed bag of a performance Sunday. On one hand, striking out six batters over four innings is impressive, but on the other hand, he also allowed eight batters to reach base. The defense behind Wicks committed two errors, so he had to work a little harder to make it through four frames. The left-hander is tentatively set to return to the mound Saturday for a tough matchup at home versus the Dodgers.