MLB Player News

Lowder struck out two over two scoreless innings in Thursday's Spring Breakout game against Texas.

Lowder was the star of the day, according to Keith Law of The Athletic, who remarked how efficient the right-hander was. The Reds' 2023 first-round pick showcased his fastball (94-95 mph), a plus changeup (86-89) and a plus slider that Law said had more bite that it did last spring at Wake Forest. The only batter that reached base did so on an error. Outside of the breakout game, Lowder has made two other spring appearances, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out two over three innings.

Scherzer (back) has been cleared for baseball activities, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Scherzer joined his teammates this week in camp after spending time at home rehabbing away from the club. He'll begin by tossing medicine balls to loosen up, then move onto sprinting, jumping and eventually throwing. June remains the target date for the right-hander's return.

Whitlock allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five over 4.1 scoreless innings in Friday's spring game against the Twins.

This was the best of Whitlock's five Grapefruit League starts and a reminder that he's not out of the competition for one of the two available slots in the rotation. He threw 62 pitches (44 strikes) and put batters away after getting ahead in the count. "The swings and misses from the get-go, that's a game changer," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "He's been working hard with his cutter and the slider/sweeper. The good thing about him is he's always ahead. It's about putting them away. Not only inducing them to weak contact, but swings and misses are good, too." Whitlock has a 3.45 ERA with 16 strikeouts and two walks over 15.2 spring innings. Tanner Houck, Cooper Criswell and, to an extent, Josh Winckowski are also competing for a rotation spot.

Gray (hamstring) will face hitters in a simulated session Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Gray will pitch to hitters before Sunday's Grapefruit League game as the next step in his rehab process, but the hitters will not be permitted to swing. If all goes well, the right-hander may move on to throwing batting practice or a full simulated game. Gray's status for Opening Day remains uncertain, though the Cardinals are optimistic the 34-year-old will be able to pitch in St. Louis' opening series against the Dodgers.

German signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Friday and was invited to major-league spring training, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Despite throwing the 24th perfect game in MLB history last season, German turned in only a 4.56 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 108.2 innings for the Yankees. The right-hander will be given a chance to prove himself during the final weeks of spring training, and he will make $1.25 million this season if he makes the MLB roster. His new deal also includes a $2.25 million club option for 2025.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday that he views Ross primarily as a starting pitcher, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

He didn't confirm Ross would be in the Brewers' starting rotation for Opening Day, but Murphy's statement does suggest that Ross will be sent to Triple-A Nashville and stay stretched out rather than begin the year in Milwaukee's bullpen should the 30-year-old righty lose out on a big-league rotation job. Ross hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021 and has surrendered five runs across seven innings so far this spring with a 9:6 K:BB.

Manager Aaron Boone on Friday named Cortes the Yankees' starter for Opening Day against the Astros on March 28, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

The Yankees had to alter their pitching plans with Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to begin the season on the injured list, and Cortes will end up taking the ball for the opener. The veteran lefty was limited to 12 starts last season due to a shoulder strain and had a 4.97 ERA across 63.1 innings, but New York would benefit if he can return to the form that saw him post a 2.61 ERA between 2021 and 2022.

Astros manager Joe Espada announced Friday that Valdez will be the team's Opening Day starter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Valdez was the obvious choice with Justin Verlander (shoulder) on the shelf. The veteran left-hander held a 2.51 first-half ERA but a 4.66 ERA after the All-Star break last season. He will be taking on the Yankees at home March 28.

Lucchesi was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The 30-year-old appeared to have a decent chance of making the Mets' Opening Day rotation after Kodai Senga (shoulder) was shut down, but Lucchesi came into camp behind most of the organization's pitchers and sat below 90 mph with his fastball during his lone game appearance of spring training. The left-hander pitched to a 2.89 ERA in nine starts for the Mets last season but is poised to open 2024 at Triple-A.

Urquidy pulled himself from an appearance in a minor-league game Friday due to right elbow discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Urquidy -- who threw 43 pitches in the outing before exiting -- is being examined by the Astros trainers Friday. The team reportedly was already on the lookout for rotation help with Justin Verlander (shoulder) opening the season on the injured list, and a serious injury to Urquidy could increase the urgency to sign someone like Blake Snell.