MLB Player News

Rogers gave up three hits and a walk over five scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out four.

Facing a St. Louis lineup that lacked its biggest bats but still featured big-league hitters like Tyler O'Neill and Willson Contreras as well as top prospect Jordan Walker, Rogers tossed 53 of 71 pitches for strikes as he held the opposition scoreless for the fourth time in six spring outings. The southpaw has a sharp 17:3 K:BB through 18 Grapefruit League innings, and he seems ready to try and recapture the form that saw him post a 2.64 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 25 starts in 2021.

Rodon (forearm) threw a 15-pitch, all-fastball bullpen session Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

It was his first time on the bump since he went down with a left forearm strain in early March. Rodon is slated to play catch Friday and throw another bullpen session in a few days, mixing in some breaking balls that time. The southpaw is expected to need 2--to-4 bullpen sessions and a couple live batting practice sessions before being cleared for a rehab assignment.

Rodon (forearm) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

It will be his first time throwing off a mound since he was diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain back on March 9. Rodon is expected to throw at least two bullpen sessions before progressing to a couple live batting practice sessions and then a rehab assignment. That would seem to rule him out until at least late April, although a clearer timetable should be available as he continues his progression.

Manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Crawford (undisclosed) and Josh Winckowski are both expected to be part of the Red Sox' Opening Day roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

One of the two will be in the rotation until Garrett Whitlock (hip) is ready, although manager Alex Cora wouldn't say who. Crawford was scratched from a scheduled Grapefruit League start Thursday due to undisclosed reasons, but it would appear whatever he's dealing with isn't a concern. Winckowski is making the start in his place.

Maeda (elbow) threw a live bullpen session Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He gave up five earned runs and two home runs in his last spring outing March 19 and has a 6.23 ERA this spring with a 8:7 K:BB ratio in 8.2 innings.

Maeda hadn't thrown a competitive pitch before this spring since August of 2021 when he underwent Tommy John surgery. By all accounts he's healthy and ready for the start of the regular season, though e's struggled with his control this spring, which could be just the result of a veteran getting in his work and not as worried about results. However, it could also be a sign his command isn't sharp in his initial return from the procedure. Watch his final spring outing and performance early in the season, but he looks set to begin the year in the Minnesota rotation, and there hasn't ye been talk of a six-man rotation to ease him into action.

Woodford is expected to begin the season in the Cardinals' rotation after Adam Wainwright was diagnosed with a groin strain Thursday, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright is expected to miss several weeks, so Woodford could get a handful of starts. The young righty has had an excellent spring, showing more velocity while posting a 2.04 ERA and 18:5 K:BB across 17.2 frames. The lack of strikeout upside makes him a mostly unappealing fantasy option, but he could turn out to be useful for streaming purposes.

Wainwright was diagnosed with a groin strain Thursday will begin the season on the injured list, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright suffered the injury Tuesday during a workout with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The injury is expected to sideline him for "several weeks," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told John Denton of MLB.com. Jake Woodford is likely to be Wainwright's rotation replacement.

Ashcraft struck out 10 "B-Team" Padres in Wednesday night's spring training start over six innings. After the start he exuded about the progress he has made with his slider, a pitch he's using a new grip for, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "Everything is working how we want," Ashcraft said. "The slider is the best it's ever been for me."

Between the reports of Ashcraft hitting 100 mph and now his new-and-improved slider, he's graduated to the level of last-round dart-throw intrigue. He obviously needs to face tougher competition, but he now has 25 strikeouts in 17.1 spring training innings.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Gonsolin's (ankle) time on the injured list will span "a few weeks," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Roberts said Friday that Gonsolin would begin the season on the IL due to his sprained ankle, and Roberts has now provided a better idea of how long the 28-year-old righty will be sidelined. While he's out, Gonsolin's spot in the rotation will be filled by either Ryan Pepiot or Michael Grove.

Manning allowed an unearned run on six hits across four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta. He walked two and struck out six.

Manning allowed plenty of baserunners but was mostly able to avoid trouble. He still has a rough 6.43 ERA this spring, though his last two starts have been better, as he's allowed no earned runs across 7.2 innings with 10 strikeouts. Manning should slot in as the Tigers' fourth starter and could be ready to take a step forward after showing some promising signs during an injury-shortened 2022 campaign.