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Cole Irvin RP | LAD
Orioles' Cole Irvin: Set to open in rotation
Irvin will begin 2024 as the Orioles' fifth starter, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Experience wins out here, as Irvin's 7.30 ERA and 8:10 K:BB over 12.1 innings across four Grapefruit League starts probably didn't merit a rotation spot. His starting role is tenuous at best -- Kyle Bradish (elbow) and John Means (elbow) will miss some time to begin the season, but but he has a strong beginning to his 2024 campaign, Irvin is likely to head to the bullpen or Triple-A Norfolk once one of those pitchers is ready to debut.
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Tyler Wells RP | TB
Orioles' Tyler Wells: Confirmed for rotation
Wells will be the Orioles' No. 3 starter to open 2024, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Wells likely has a bit more job security than Cole Irvin while John Means (elbow) and Kyle Bradish (elbow) work their way back to full health. Wells pitched to a 1.69 ERA over 10.2 innings across three spring starts. He's not guaranteed to stay in the rotation all year given his success in the bullpen in previous seasons, however.
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Blake Snell SP | LAD
Giants' Blake Snell: Slated for MiLB appearance Sunday
Giants manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Snell will pitch in a minor-league game Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Snell threw his first bullpen session Thursday since signing with the Giants and over the weekend will get into some game action. The left-hander has already said he will not be ready for Opening Day as he ramps up his workload following a late signing. It's not clear when he might make his regular-season debut, but the Giants will determine Snell's next steps following Sunday's outing.
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Jameson Taillon SP | TOR
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Out until mid-April
Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Friday that Taillon (back) will begin the season on the injured list and won't be ready to return until at least mid-April, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The right-hander only recently resumed mound work after recovering from the back tightness that scratched him from a spring start March 9, so it's not a shock he won't be ready to begin the regular season. Taillon is throwing a bullpen session Friday and will need some time to build up to a starter's workload, so a mid-April return is likely a best-case scenario.
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Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Guardians' Carlos Carrasco: Makes Opening Day roster
Carrasco has been informed that he has made the Guardians' Opening Day roster.
He has not yet been officially added to the 26-man and 40-man rosters, but Carrasco has been told he'll head north with the big club. The veteran right-hander could even open in the rotation while Gavin Williams (elbow) recovers. Carrasco has posted a 2.57 ERA and 9:6 K:BB over 14 innings this spring.
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Sawyer Gipson-Long SP | DET
Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Opening on injured list
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Gipson-Long (groin) will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The right-hander hasn't pitched in any spring games while recovering from the groin strain he suffered early in camp, so it's not a big surprise he won't be available to start the season. Gipson-Long made his big-league debut down the stretch last year and had a 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB in four starts (20 innings), but he may be pitching for Triple-A Toledo once healthy with Casey Mize and Reese Olson winning the final two spots in Detroit's rotation. Gipson-Long recently progressed to throwing live batting practice, so he could soon move on to building up his workload.
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Alex Cobb SP | DET
Giants' Alex Cobb: Throwing 40 pitches in minors game
Cobb (hip) will throw 40 pitches in a minor-league game Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
He had been slated for his Cactus League debut Friday, but the Giants have elected to have Cobb throw in a more controlled setting instead. A stint on the injured list to begin the season is still expected for the veteran right-hander, but it's looking like he could be ready by mid-April.
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Casey Mize SP | SD
Tigers' Casey Mize: Wins spot in rotation
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced Friday that Mize will be a member of the club's season-opening rotation, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2022 as he spent last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but he pitched well enough during spring training with a 2.35 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 15.1 innings, though he did walk nine batters. Mize lines up to make his first start of the season Apr. 1 or 2 against the Mets with Tarik Skubal, Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty scheduled for the opening series versus the White Sox.
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Reese Olson SP | DET
Tigers' Reese Olson: Secures rotation spot
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced Friday that Olson will be a member of the club's season-opening rotation, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Olson posted a 4.12 ERA over 107 innings as a rookie last season and cemented his rotation spot during spring training with a 3.68 ERA and 14:4 K:BB in 14.2 frames. Tarik Skubal, Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty are set to start in the three-game, season-opening series against the White Sox, lining up Olson to pitch April 1 or 2 versus the Mets.