MLB Player News

Elder gave up three runs on four hits over three innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles. He struck out three without walking a batter,

The 24-year-old right-hander wasn't hit particularly hard, giving up a double to Ryan O'Hearn in addition to three singles, but it was still his second straight shaky performance to begin the spring. Elder is battling Reynaldo Lopez and AJ Smith-Shawver for Atlanta's fifth starter role to begin the season, but he may need to turn things around quickly to stay in the mix despite the fact that he made 31 big-league starts in 2023 and delivered a respectable 3.81 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that Miley is dealing with shoulder soreness, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Murphy previously said Miley has a 50-50 chance at being ready by Opening Day, though the nature of Miley's injury had not been revealed at the time. Miley played catch Saturday without reporting any issues, but the Brewers will continue to build him up slowly given Miley's age and injury history. If the 37-year-old lefty is ready to go for the start of the season, he figures to follow Freddy Peralta as the second starter in the Brewers' rotation.

Heaney allowed one hit and struck out five over three innings in an intrasquad game Friday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Heaney upped his pitch count to 44 pitches (30 strikes) in what amounted to his second significant appearance this spring. He made a Cactus League start last Sunday, which got off to a rocky beginning with a four-pitch walk and a hit batsman.

Giolito allowed four runs on two hits and three walks while striking out one over 2.1 innings in Friday's spring start against the Twins.

Giolito retired seven of the first nine batters he faced before running into trouble in the third inning, when he allowed a single and two walks and was removed after 48 pitches. Unfortunately for his pitching line, reliever Jordan DiValerio gave up a grand slam. Giolito told Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe that he believes getting up-and-down a third time was a factor in the third inning. "My stuff felt pretty good, especially the slider," Giolito said. "But in the third inning, I kind of got ahead of myself and got out of sync." This was his second start of the spring after he threw two scoreless innings his first time out.

Manoah felt soreness in his shoulder during a bullpen session Friday and will not start Sunday against Boston, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Manoah said he didn't recover properly following his last spring training start and had to end Friday's session early due to the discomfort in his shoulder. An MRI didn't reveal any structural damage, which lowers the risk of a long-term absence, but the Blue Jays will push back Manoah's next Grapefruit League appearance and approach his injury on a day-to-day basis.

Eovaldi allowed one run on two hits and struck out five over three innings in Thursday's spring start against the Brewers.

Despite the blemish of giving up a run, Eovaldi was pleased with his second Cactus League start, per Stefan Stevenson of SI.com. "My fastball command was a lot better this time around," Eovaldi said. "I'm making the mechanical adjustments that I needed to after the [first] outing where I can just repeat my delivery a little bit better." The right-hander, projected as the team's Opening Day starter, threw all four pitches in his repertoire. Eovaldi felt so good that he threw another 12 pitches in the bullpen, upping his total pitch count for the day to 50.

Spiers allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings in Friday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Spiers made his second Cactus League appearance, entering for multiple innings following starter Brandon Williamson. The right-handed Spiers retired the first two batters in the fourth inning then allowed three two-out runs, including a solo home run. Arizona touched Spiers for another run in the sixth. He's one of many candidates for the final rotation spot but a lack of meaningful experience at the upper levels of the minors could lead to Spiers opening at Triple-A Louisville.

Williamson allowed three runs on five hits and struck out three over three innings in Friday's spring start against Arizona.

This was Williamson's second Cactus League appearance and first start. The Diamondbacks touched him for runs in the first two innings, before the left-hander ripped off a perfect third frame. Williamson was included as the fifth starter in the latest roster projection from Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. That represents a change from Sheldon's first projection, which had Nick Lodolo (tibia) at the back end of the rotation. Recent news that Lodolo will undergo additional testing clouds the final spot.

Ashcraft walked one and struck out two over two hitless and scoreless innings in Thursday's spring start against the Dodgers.

Ashcraft's first Cactus League start was delayed in deference to his September toe surgery. The right-hander wasted little time in showing is stuff was sharp. Ashcraft struck out Mookie Betts on a 99-mph fastball, then Jason Heyward broke two bats during his plate appearance. Ashcraft told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he has to work on keeping the slider in the zone and was pleased with the one changeup -- a new pitch -- he threw.

Cecconi allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out one over two innings in Friday's spring start against the Reds.

Cecconi, who is among the group battling for the fifth starter job, may have fallen behind his main competitors, Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson. One so-so spring outing shouldn't be the deciding factor, but both Henry (five scoreless innings) and Nelson (one run, five innings, 10 strikeouts) have been impressive early.