MLB Player News

Skubal allowed three runs on eight hits across four innings of work in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He walked one and struck out five.

Skubal skipped his last spring start, with him tossing a simulated game instead, but he got back into his normal routine Saturday. The lefty wasn't at his sharpest, though he's still had a strong spring with a 3.00 ERA over three appearances, and he's already been announced as Detroit's Opening Day starter. Skubal had a delayed start to 2023 as he recovered from an injury, and he ultimately posted a stellar 2.80 ERA and 0.90 WHIP across 80.1 innings. The lefty could be ready for a bigger breakout in 2024, as he's poised to take on a larger workload.

Rogers gave up three runs on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He struck out four.

It wasn't the crispest performance from the 26-year-old lefty, but he built up to 70 pitches (44 strikes) and appears just about ready for the regular season. Rogers has posted a strong 10:2 K:BB through 8.2 spring innings and hasn't allowed a homer, and after making only four starts in 2023 due to multiple injuries, he heads into the current campaign as one of the Marlins' healthiest rotation options.

Wicks appears to be the favorite to land the No. 5 spot in the Cubs' rotation to start the year, with Javier Assad shifting to the bullpen, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Wicks, Assad and Hayden Wesneski have been competing for the last starting spot in camp, with the former doing enough to stand out. The lefty has a strong 2.60 ERA across 17.1 Cactus League innings, and he showed flashes of promise during his MLB debut last season. Wicks may endure some ups and downs as a young starter, though he has interesting fantasy upside as long as he remains in the rotation.

White walked one and struck out three in a scoreless inning of work during Saturday's Spring Breakout game against the Cardinals.

The 19-year-old southpaw got the start in the prospect showcase game over Noble Meyer and rewarded the Marlins' confidence in him by striking out the side, fanning both Thomas Saggese and the Cards' potential Opening Day center fielder, Victor Scott. White saw very little action in his pro debut last year after being selected 35th overall in the 2023 Draft, throwing just 3.2 innings for Single-A Jupiter, but his arsenal -- mid-90s fastball, changeup and slurvy breaking ball from a three-quarter arm slot -- could allow him to shoot up prospect lists quickly if his control and command hold up.

Lodolo (tibia) may open the season on the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo, whose start Friday was rained out, had his scheduled pushed back a day. A delayed start to spring action due to a tibia injury gave Lodolo little margin to ramp up for the start of the regular season. The left-hander started Saturday and allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over 2.2 innings. Goldsmith indicates Lodolo could return off the IL on April 10.

France (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one run on four hits and one walk over 2.1 innings Saturday in the Astros' 6-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.

France fell short of the three innings he had expected to cover in his spring debut, but he reached the 50-pitch mark and was able to generate 11 swings and misses on the day. Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, France's delayed buildup during spring training while he battled shoulder inflammation isn't expected to derail his bid for the Opening Day rotation, especially after a spot opened up for him due to Justin Verlander (shoulder) being set to begin the campaign on the injured list. Kawahara notes that France has been working on adding a sinker to his arsenal in 2024 to provide another weapon to combat right-handed hitters. Though he held lefties to a .678 OPS over his 136.1 innings as a rookie in 2023, righties posted a .789 OPS while the right-handed France leaned mostly on a four-seam fastball, cutter and sweeping slider in those matchups versus same-handed hitters.

Manager Dave Martinez on Sunday named Gray the Nationals' starter for Opening Day against the Reds on March 28, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Gray has 12 strikeouts over 7.1 innings during Grapefruit League play but has also allowed six runs and issued five walks. The 26-year-old posted a career-best 3.91 ERA last season, though his 1.46 WHIP and 4.5 BB/9 were less encouraging. Nonetheless, he'll start Opening Day for Washington, with Patrick Corbin set to take the mound in Game 2.

Morton gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over five innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out seven.

He appears just about ready for the start of the season. Morton did serve up two homers Saturday, a two-run shot by Jack Suwinski in the first inning and a solo shot by Billy McKinney in the third, but they were the first two long balls he's allowed this spring, while Morton's 10:3 K:BB through 7.2 Grapefruit League innings highlights his still-impressive strikeout upside. The 40-year-old delivered a 3.64 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 183:83 K:BB over 30 starts and 163.1 innings for Atlanta in 2023.

Manager Oliver Marmol announced Sunday that Mikolas will be the Cardinals' starter for Opening Day against the Dodgers on March 28, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Presumed Opening Day starter Sonny Gray (hamstring) won't be ready to pitch, so Mikolas will instead receive the nod. The 35-year-old retooled his slider during the offseason after a disappointing 2023 that saw him post a 4.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 137:39 K:BB across 201.1 innings.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Gray (hamstring) won't be an option to start Opening Day but may not require a stay on the injured list to begin the season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander quickly resumed throwing after he suffered a right hamstring strain March 4, and he's scheduled to face hitters in a simulated session Sunday. Miles Mikolas was named St. Louis' Opening Day starter, but Gray could still be an option to pitch later in the first week of the season if he continues to progress with no setbacks.