MLB Player News

Clevinger will make his Cactus League debut Saturday versus the Padres, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Major League Baseball announced Sunday that it declined to discipline Clevinger following an investigation into domestic violence charges. The right-hander has been with the White Sox throughout camp and will make his first game appearance this weekend.

Blackburn, whose 2022 season ended in August due to a finger injury, has been working on refining his changeup this spring, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "It gives me another weapon," Blackburn said. "Going forward, being able to throw more changeups to righties will open up a cutter and curveball for me."

Blackburn was a first-time All-Star in 2022 before seeing his career-best season cut short, but it's that injury that has partly inspired his desire to refine his changeup for more frequent use against right-handed hitters. Gallegos notes the physical limitations the right-hander had with respect to throwing all his pitches most of the offseason -- he was only able to use his fastball and changeup for an extended stretch -- led to him tinkering with the latter after only throwing it on 43 occasions during same-handed matchups in 2022. Blackburn didn't have much success with the offering in his first taste of game action since last August on Sunday against the Reds, however, with Blackburn noting a good number of his changeups went "straight into the ground" despite a couple of others prompting swings and misses.

Wright (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday and live batting practice Friday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

If those workouts go off without a hitch, Wright should be able to make his Grapefruit League debut sometime next week. That would allow him to fit in three exhibition starts before camp breaks, and he could then feasibly take the ball in Atlanta's second regular-season series against the Cardinals. The 27-year-old right-hander has been working through a shoulder issue that popped up in January and required a cortisone injection.

Anderson gave up an unearned run on one hit and two walks over 2.1 innings while striking out five in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

Working behind Charlie Morton and entering the game in the fourth inning, Anderson faced a New York lineup that was a mix of regulars like Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres and younger players. The right-hander turned in a much better line than in his first spring appearance, but Anderson still wasn't exactly sharp, and he now sports a 6:5 K:BB through 3.2 Grapefruit League innings. If he can get the walks under control over the next couple weeks, Anderson should lock down the fifth starter role for Atlanta, but if he continues to have trouble finding the plate, Bryce Elder might leapfrog him on the depth chart.

Anderson got promoted Tuesday to the major-league side of Reds camp.

Anderson was re-signed to a minor-league contract just before the start of spring training and has maybe put himself in position to claim an Opening Day roster spot. The veteran right-hander struggled to a 6.38 ERA over seven starts and two relief appearances with Cincinnati last season. If he does make the squad, it will likely be as a long reliever or mop-up man.

Olson (abdomen) has been cleared for all baseball activities, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Olson has been slowed by abdominal soreness this spring. It's not clear when he might make his Grapefruit League debut, but it shouldn't be long.

Matz said after throwing three perfect innings against the Astros on Monday that "I feel the strongest I ever have in my career," Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Matz struck out four while needing just 39 pitches to navigate through his three perfect frames. He touched 95 mph with his sinker, which is more velocity than he typically shows at this point in camp. Matz is looking to bounce back from a disappointing first season in St. Louis which saw him limited to just 48 innings due to injuries.

Means (elbow) threw 20 fastballs at about 50 percent intensity off a half-mound Monday, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reports.

It's a big step for the left-hander in his long road back from Tommy John surgery. Means was pleased with how things went, saying afterward that "it felt like playing baseball again." The veteran southpaw is tentatively projected to rejoin the Orioles' rotation around the All-Star break, but he has many more hoops to jump through before that can become a reality.

The Nationals optioned Adon to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

Adon posted a dreadful 7.10 ERA over 14 starts for the Nationals last season and wasn't viewed as a serious candidate for the Opening Day rotation. The right-hander has displayed plenty of bat-missing ability on the farm but still needs to fine-tune some things before getting another look in the majors.

Manning allowed four runs on four hits across just 1.1 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He walked one and struck out two.

Manning has now made two appearances this spring, allowing five runs on seven hits across 3.1 total innings. It's not a great start, but the righty's goal is likely to just get to the regular season feeling fully healthy, as he's dealt with a number of injuries the past few years. Manning showed flashes in 2022, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 63 innings. However, he only had 48 strikeouts, and he'll need to miss more bats to really take off from a fantasy perspective.