MLB Player News

Hendricks (0-1) took a loss against the Rangers on Saturday, yielding five runs on nine hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out two.

Hendricks managed to escape a jam in the first inning but served up two-run home runs in the second and third frames and was chased in the fourth after giving up another tally. The soft-tossing right-hander managed just two whiffs on 72 pitches. Hendricks figures to be startable in more favorable matchups, but this performance is a reminder that he's a volatile option against better offenses.

Kikuchi (0-1) took the loss to the Rays on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings.

One of the three runs charged to Kikuchi crossed the plate after he exited the game, but it was a middling performance, which doesn't inspire much confidence with a trip to New York to face the Yankees coming up this week. Kikuchi gave up a homer to Randy Arozarena and then a single to Isaac Paredes to get the hook with just one out in the fifth inning. The left-hander took a big step forward last season with a career-best 3.86 ERA and there should be plenty of better days ahead in 2024, but there will also likely be more days like Saturday where he just doesn't have his good stuff.

Littell (1-0) earned the win over the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out six.

It wasn't the most dominant outing in terms of swings and misses (11), but Littell got the whiffs when he needed them with two strikes. A waiver claim by the Rays last May after the Red Sox designated him for assignment, Littell has somehow turned himself into a viable No. 3 starter for Tampa Bay, though fantasy managers will face a tough decision this upcoming week with a trip to notoriously hitter-friendly Coors Field on tap.

Weathers (0-1) allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over four innings to take the loss to the Pirates on Saturday.

Weathers was outshined by youngster Jared Jones, who had 22 swinging strikes to Weathers' 13. Weathers threw 94 pitches in total and looked much more like the pitcher we've seen over the years than the one who had a 3.00 ERA and 21:4 K:BB over 18 innings this spring. The Marlins need him with a myriad of injuries to the starting rotation, but Weathers has to be considered a high-risk gamble every time out, at least until he shows something more at the major-league level. He lines up for a road start in St. Louis next week.

Jones (1-0) earned the win over the Marlins on Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 5.2 innings.

The right-hander lived up to the hype in his major-league debut, notching 22 swings and misses on 89 pitches. According to MLB's Sarah Langs, 22 swings and misses are the most by a pitcher in their MLB debut in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). Jones reached as high as 99.9 mph with his fastball and looked every bit the part of a breakout pitcher. He's only 22 years old, but Jones has pitched 120-plus innings each of the past two years and could in theory push past 150 frames as a regular member of the Pirates' rotation. He tentatively lines up for a tough test at home against the Orioles next week.

Corbin allowed four runs on seven hits -- including two home runs -- over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Reds on Saturday. He struck out two and issued one walk.

Corbin in Great American Ball Park went about as expected. He allowed a solo home run to Jeimer Candelario in the fourth inning and a two-run shot to Luke Maile in the fifth, after posting the fifth-worst HR/9 among qualified starters last season. Now 34 and in the final year of his contract, Corbin should be a hard pass for any fantasy manager that cares about preserving their ratios.

Greene allowed two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out seven over 4.2 innings in a no-decision Saturday against the Nationals.

It wasn't quite the 2024 debut he or the Reds had in mind, as Greene needed 100 pitches to record 14 outs, though he induced 17 swinging strikes and routinely touched triple digits with his fastball. Greene is looking to take the next step this season and more consistency with his command and control would go a long way. He lines up for a home start against the Mets next weekend.

Kershaw (shoulder) played catch on flat ground Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw isn't expected to pitch for the Dodgers until after the All-Star break, but it's a positive sign that he's throwing again. The team will be careful not to push the veteran left-hander too hard, though he's been picking up the intensity in his throwing program recently and expects to resume mound work sometime during May, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Perez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Saturday marks the first time Perez has thrown off a mound since experiencing inflammation in his right elbow. He threw 20 pitches during his first session and used his entire arsenal of pitches, with everything seeming to go smoothly. He'll likely require a few more mound sessions before moving to facing live hitters, and a minor-league rehab assignment should come after that.

Cabrera (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Cabrera has been sidelined since March 10 due to a right shoulder impingement he suffered while warming up for a Grapefruit League game, and Sunday will mark his first time testing his shoulder in a game setting. The 25-year-old righty is only scheduled to throw three innings -- or about 50 pitches -- Sunday, so he will certainly require more rehab starts as he builds up to a typical starter's workload.