MLB Player News

Baltimore optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Multiple reports earlier Monday indicated that Rodriguez wasn't going to be part of the Orioles' Opening Day rotation, and now he's officially been sent down to the minors. While the top prospect endured some struggles this spring, the odds are good that he'll get off to a strong start with Norfolk and join the O's rotation sooner rather than later.

Bradish is expected to begin the season as a member of the Orioles rotation after Grayson Rodriguez was informed Monday that he won't be part of the 26-man Opening Day roster, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Neither Bradish nor Tyler Wells pitched particularly well in spring training, but with Rodriguez likely to head to Triple-A Norfolk and John Means (elbow) likely out until at least mid-season, Baltimore should have back-end rotation spots available for both Bradish and Wells. A string of poor outings ended up taking Rodriguez out of the Opening Day mix, but the talented right-hander remains Baltimore's top pitching prospect and likely won't require much time to iron things out at Norfolk. With that in mind, both Bradish and Wells may need to show improved results in their first few starts of the regular season to lock themselves into a permanent spot whenever Rodriguez is deemed ready for the big leagues.

Oviedo is expected to open the season as the Pirates' No. 5 starter with JT Brubaker (forearm) set to go on the 15-day injured list, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Pittsburgh has yet to provide a timeline for Brubaker to return from what's described as right forearm discomfort, but Oviedo should be poised to make at least two turns through the rotation to begin the campaign. Though he had already been in good position to make the Opening Day roster as a reliever before Brubaker picked up the injury, Oviedo should be equipped to handle something close to a starter's workload in his first outing of the regular season after he covered four innings (55 pitches) in his most recent Grapefruit League appearance Thursday. He'll start the Pirates' spring finale Tuesday versus the Twins and will have another opportunity to build up his pitch count.

The Mets optioned Megill to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Megill and David Peterson had been vying for the right to fill in for Jose Quintana (rib) in the Mets' Opening Day rotation, with Peterson winning out with a much better showing this spring. Megill struggled lately during Grapefruit League play, finishing with a 12:13 K:BB over 17 innings. He'll start Syracuse's season opener Friday and wait for an opening with the big club.

Rodon (forearm) completed a 30-pitch bullpen session Monday and was encouraged by how he felt afterward, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Following a two-week shutdown period, Rodon resumed mound work last Thursday, tossing a 15-pitch side session. He doubled up that pitch count Monday and is expected to throw off a mound once or twice more before advancing to facing hitters. While he continues to work through a left forearm strain, Rodon is expected to be on a build-up program that lasts around a month, so fantasy managers who are stashing him early on during the season shouldn't bank on him being ready to debut until late April in a best-case scenario.

Rodriguez will not be part of the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimore Banner.com reports.

Prior to spring training, Rodriguez cracking the Opening Day rotation seemed like a foregone conclusion. However, Kostka writes that "the internal feeling was that Rodriguez hadn't been consistent enough" during his five Grapefruit League outings. The top prospect struck out 19 over 15.1 innings this spring but also walked seven and held a 7.04 ERA. Rodriguez should be part of Baltimore's rotation soon enough, but for now he'll have to wait.

Hill (illness) will start Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

Hill was uncertain to make another appearance in the Pirates' spring slate after he was scratched ahead of his scheduled outing Sunday versus Atlanta due to the illness, but the veteran southpaw apparently feels well enough a day later to take the mound. JT Brubaker had been scheduled to start Monday but was scratched due to a forearm issue that will result in him opening the campaign on the 15-day injured list. As a result, Hill is now tentatively lined up to start the Pirates' second game of the regular season Saturday in Cincinnati.

Brubaker was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Monday against the Twins and is expected to open the season on the 15-day injured list while he deals with forearm/elbow discomfort, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

The Pirates may send Brubaker in for an MRI in the coming days to get a full scope of his injury, but any elbow-related issue for a pitcher is usually a precursor to an IL stint beyond the minimum 15 days. Until Brubaker gets more tests, however, the Pirates are unlikely to offer up a precise timeline for his return. With Brubaker set to open the season on the shelf, Pittsburgh will likely turn to Johan Oviedo to fill the final spot in its rotation.

Manager Kevin Cash confirmed Eflin will start the Rays' second game of the season Saturday versus the Tigers at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays are expected to roll out Shane McClanahan, Eflin and Jeffrey Springs as their starters for the season-opening series with Detroit, while Drew Rasmussen, Josh Fleming and McClanahan are slated to pick up starting nods in the following series in Washington next week. Eflin, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with Tampa Bay in December, built up to 3.1 innings in his most recent Grapefruit League start March 20, so he could have some light restrictions with his pitch count in his regular-season debut.

Cabrera will be included in the Marlins' Opening Day rotation and is in line to start the team's third game of the season Saturday versus the Mets at LoanDepot Park, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Assuming the Marlins open the season with a five-man rotation, Cabrera looks to have secured the final spot over Braxton Garrett, who is projected to work out of the bullpen until a starting role reopens. Cabrera brings plenty of strikeout upside to the table while leaning on an arsenal that includes a mid-to-high 90s fastball and a low-90s changeup that proved particularly deadly against lefties a season ago, but poor health and high walk and home-run rates have thus far hindered the 24-year-old right-hander in his efforts to establish himself as a full-time starter in the big leagues. He appeared to take significant steps forward late last season and has carried over that success to the spring, making him an appealing target in the middle to later rounds of drafts for any fantasy pitching staff.