MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Saturday that Rodon (forearm) is feeling good after throwing, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rodon was able to throw Friday, and he continues to make strong progress from the forearm muscle strain he was diagnosed with March 9. The left-hander is still a lock to begin the 2023 campaign on the injured list, but there's a good chance he'll only miss two-to-three starts, which would be a major win for fantasy players and for a Yankees team that has dealt with significant injury concerns during the Grapefruit League season.

Civale allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four over 3.2 innings in Friday's Cactus League loss to the Reds.

Civale has given up six runs over 9.2 innings across four spring starts, but he's also posted a respectable 11:3 K:BB. Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Civale was able to stay in Friday's game after taking a liner off of his right foot, so that shouldn't be a concern going forward. He posted a career-worst 4.92 ERA over 20 starts (97 innings) in 2022, but there's been no indication that he's at risk of losing his place in the rotation yet, though he will be at the back end of the starting list for the Guardians.

Kikuchi gave up two runs on one hit and three walks over 3.1 innings in Friday's split-squad game against the Phillies. He struck out three.

The southpaw got stretched out to 76 pitches, but only 46 of them went for strikes. Kikuchi looked good early in camp but his control has begun to desert him again with Opening Day growing closer, and he now has a 16:9 K:BB through 13 spring innings despite a superficially strong 1.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. The 31-year-old has a career 5.02 ERA and 3.67 BB/9 since coming to MLB in 2019, and there's been no real sign this spring he's going to be any more reliable in 2023.

Garrett has a minor-league option remaining and appears to be behind Edward Cabrera in the battle for the Marlins' fifth starter job, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Cabrera also has better numbers this spring, although neither pitcher has dominated -- Garrett has a 7:3 K:BB through 9.1 innings to Cabrera's 4:2 K:BB in five spring frames. Garrett posted a 3.58 ERA and 90:24 K:BB through 88 innings in 17 big-league starts last season, and even if he begins 2023 at Triple-A Jacksonville, he could see significant action for Miami over the course of the summer.

Shuster gave up three hits and a walk over four scoreless innings while striking out seven in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Facing a Boston lineup that was a roughly even mix of Opening Day starters and players fighting for bench jobs, Shuster made an impressive statement as he fights with fellow rookie Dylan Dodd for the fifth starter spot in the Atlanta rotation. Shuster has certainly earned his big-league debut with a 16:2 K:BB through 12.2 spring innings, but Dodd has also dominated in camp and the two young lefties remain neck and neck heading into the final days of spring training. It's possible both rookies will begin the year on the 26-man roster if Kyle Wright (shoulder) has any further setbacks or delays in his recovery after receiving a cortisone shot back in January.

Carrasco gave up one run on two hits and a walk over four innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out seven.

It's the first time in four spring starts Carrasco didn't serve up a homer, which might be a more encouraging sign than the strikeouts -- even if it did come against a Miami lineup containing few regulars. The veteran right-hander worked up to 57 pitches (41 strikes) and has an impressive 14:2 K:BB through 13 Grapefruit League innings. Carrasco should get in one more spring start before Opening Day, when he'll be the No. 3 or No. 4 starter in the Mets' rotation.

Gore gave up five runs on nine hits and two walks over four innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out three.

Facing a Houston lineup that was a mix of Opening Day starters and guys competing for bench roles, Gore's command wavered all afternoon, particularly against Jeremy Pena as the shortstop tagged him for home runs in the third and fourth innings. Gore's talent is undeniable, but until the young southpaw shows some consistency he'll be a risky fantasy option. Through 14 innings this spring, he has a 9:6 K:BB and has served up three homers.

Heaney allowed a solo home run and struck out eight over five innings in a game against minor leaguers Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Heaney increased his innings count during what has been a good week for Texas starting pitching. Both Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom returned to the spring rotation after missing time due to side injuries. Jon Gray threw four shutout innings Thursday before Eovaldi's 3.1 scoreless Friday, and Martin Perez helped Venezuela eliminate the favored Dominican Republic in the WBC. Heaney should take up residence somewhere in the top three spots and could be an option for Opening Day given the delays experienced by deGrom and Eovaldi.

Mahle gave up three home runs in a row and four runs total in 3.2 innings Friday against the Orioles and his fastball velocity was in the 89-93 mph range after being in the 90-94 mph range in his previous outing. However, Mahle said his shoulder felt fine. "I felt pretty good with where I was at today. I know I gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs, but whatever. I felt pretty good," he told The Athletic.

In Mahle's March 11 start against the Red Sox, he had 13 pitches of 93-94 mph, and he threw just two pitches of 93 mph and zero 94 mph pitches in Friday's outing. It might be nothing, but it's at least mildly concerning that his velocity is trending down. Mahle struggled with a sore shoulder last year, ending his season in early September. All the reports on his shoulder have been positive this spring, but monitor his final spring outings.

Eovaldi (side) allowed four hits and struck out five over 3.1 scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against the Brewers.

This was Eovaldi's second Cactus League start but first since he sustained a side injury at the beginning of the month. The right-hander's fastball, which averaged 95.8 mph last season, sat in the upper 90s, touching 99 mph multiple times, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "I felt like I was ahead in the counts, felt like I used all my pitches," the pitcher said. "The only thing I need to work on doing better at is executing with two strikes." With Jacob deGrom ready to start Sunday, it looks like the Rangers' projected rotation is healthy as the regular season looms. As suggested earlier by manager Bruce Bochy, both Eovaldi and deGrom could be on restricted counts early.