MLB Player News

Taillon (back) will throw one inning of live batting practice Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

He'll then face hitters again Friday and, if that goes well, will make an appearance in a minor-league game after that. Taillon is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-April with his back injury, and a clearer timetable for his return won't be available until he makes some rehab appearances.

Littell allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 3.1 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

After going most of the exhibition season without a blemish to his ERA, Littell ran into a bit of trouble in his final tuneup. Still, it was an impressive spring as Littell had a 13:3 K:BB and did not allow a homer in 13.1 innings. He quietly had a strong run with the Rays last year and has become a popular mid-to-late pick in recent fantasy drafts. The right-hander will start Tampa Bay's third game of the season, Saturday at home against the Blue Jays, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

General manager Ben Cherington said that Jones will start the Pirates' third game of the regular season Saturday in Miami, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Cherington confirmed that Jones will be part of the Pirates' Opening Day roster, though Pittsburgh still has yet to officially select the 22-year-old right-hander to the 40-man roster. Heading into spring training, Jones looked to be on the outside looking in for a rotation spot with the big club, but he made it impossible for the Pirates to leave him off the roster after he allowed just three unearned runs to go along with a 15:8 K:BB in 16.1 innings during the Grapefruit League. Like most young pitchers, control will likely be a concern for Jones in his first taste of the big leagues, but the strikeout upside he displayed in the spring as well as in every stop of the minors make him a worthy late-round target in fantasy drafts.

Woodruff (shoulder) confirmed Saturday that he won't pitch during the 2024 season but expects to return to full strength for 2025, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. "Honestly, I'm going [to] be the strongest I'll ever be at any point in my career because I'm going [to] have a year and just basically get my body ready for pitching," Woodruff said.

The Brewers non-tendered Woodruff in November, about a month after he underwent surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. He reunited with Milwaukee in February on a two-year, $7.5 million deal, with both parties recognizing that the 2024 portion of the contract would be dedicated to rehab and recovery. Since having surgery in the fall, Woodruff seems to be encouraged with where he stands five months later. He's already started playing catch again and could advance to throwing off a mound at some point during the summer. Milwaukee placed Woodruff on the 60-day injured list Feb. 21, and he'll remain off the 40-man roster for the entire season before being reinstated.

Falter was informed Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Stumpf relays that prospect Jared Jones will be included in the Opening Day rotation, but it's not yet clear whether Falter, Luis Ortiz or someone else will fill the fifth and final starting spot. Falter doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so if he misses out on a rotation spot, he would most head to the bullpen since he would have to be moved off the 40-man roster in order to be eligible to pitch in the minors.

Jones was informed Monday that he's made the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

While the team has yet to confirm that Jones will be part of its rotation, that's the expectation. The hard-throwing right-hander earned a spot by allowing just three unearned runs during spring training, compiling a 15:8 K:BB over 16.1 innings of work. Jones has not yet pitched in the big leagues and doesn't have great control, but the 22-year-old certainly possesses some bat-missing ability.

Gausman (shoulder) will start the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League finale Monday versus the Pirates and expects to throw around three innings or 55 pitches, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Gausman will be making his spring debut Monday after he received the green light to start following a successful side session Saturday. Though the veteran right-hander still won't be fully built up even if Monday's outing goes smoothly, the Blue Jays are optimistic that it will be enough for him to avoid a stint on the 15-day injured list to open the season. Manager John Schneider has already confirmed Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt and Yusei Kikuchi as the starters for the Blue Jays' first three games of the team's season-opening series with the Rays that begins Thursday, while Bowden Francis tentatively lines up to take the hill for Sunday's series finale. That would position Gausman to start the Blue Jays' fifth game of the season, an April 1 road matchup with the Astros. Davidi speculates that he would likely be in line for 65-to-70 pitches in Houston, targeting a more typical starter's workload by his third start of the season.

Quantrill will start the second game of the regular season against the Diamondbacks, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Quantrill was hit hard in his final outing of spring training, but he's still set to follow Kyle Freeland in the rotation as the Rockies' second starter. Positively, he's worked 4.2 innings in each of his last two starts, so he should be able to handle a full workload to begin the campaign.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Miller will start the second game of Los Angeles' home-opening set against the Cardinals that starts Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

In the Dodgers' season-opening two-game series against San Diego in South Korea, Tyler Glasnow started Game 1 and was followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2. However, with the team now back on U.S. soil and approaching the traditional opening series, Miller will follow Glasnow in the rotation while Yamamoto will get the ball third. Miller has had a decent spring, posting a 2.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB over 13 innings and finishing his exhibition slate with four shutout frames against the Angels on Sunday.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Yamamoto will start the third game of the team's initial home series against St. Louis, which begins Thursday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Yamamoto got the start in the second game of the Dodgers' season-opening two-game set in South Korea against the Padres, following Tyler Glasnow in the rotation. While Glasnow will again take the mound for the team's home opener Thursday, he'll be followed by Bobby Miller in the second game of the series before Yamamoto gets the ball Saturday in Game 3. Yamamoto struggled in his MLB debut, lasting just one inning and giving up five earned runs, though it's not clear if that had anything to do with him moving behind Miller for Los Angeles' first home set.