MLB Player News

Peterson could begin the season in the Mets' rotation despite giving up three home runs through 6.2 Grapefruit League innings.

The southpaw's 6:2 K:BB this spring looks good, but keeping the ball in the park was a serious issue for Peterson in 2021, and it doesn't look like he's solved it yet. Still, with Jacob deGrom (shoulder) already ruled out to begin the season and Max Scherzer (hamstring) now day-to-day, Peterson could find himself in the Opening Day rotation, making him a roster option in deep mixed and NL-only formats.

Hendricks will start the Cubs' Opening Day matchup against Milwaukee on Thursday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Hendricks has had a lackluster performance this spring, as he's posted a 9.53 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 11.1 innings across four Cactus League starts. Despite his struggles in camp, the right-hander will be rewarded with an Opening Day start for a third consecutive season. Hendricks made 32 starts for the Cubs last year and posted a 4.77 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 181 innings.

Wainwright, who was scheduled to start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Houston, will now pitch in a game on a back field, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Due to a threat of inclement weather Saturday, the Cardinals will alter Wainwright's pitching plans to make sure that he's able to pitch. Saturday's session will serve as a final tune-up for the right-hander before he starts in the Cardinals' Opening Day matchup against the Pirates on Thursday.

Morton will pitch in a minor-league game on the back fields rather than starting Saturday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Yankees, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Morton was scheduled to make his final Grapefruit League start Saturday, but he'll pitch in a different setting due to the threat of inclement weather. Saturday's throwing session should serve as the final tune-up before Morton starts Atlanta's second game of the regular season against Cincinnati on April 8.

Luzardo gave up one run on four hits and two walks over 4.2 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out three.

Jose Altuve took him deep to lead off the bottom of the first inning, but after that Luzardo shut down a Houston lineup that mostly featured Opening Day starters. It was the young southpaw's first run allowed this spring, and he heads into the regular season having posted a 0.77 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10:3 K:BB through 11.2 innings in Grapefruit League play. Luzardo is now on to his third organization since being drafted in 2016, but he might finally be ready to deliver on the promise he showed in the minors.

Kikuchi gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 3.2 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out five.

Roberto Perez took him deep for a solo shot in the fourth inning, but prior to that Kikuchi was looking sharp. He worked his way up to 71 pitches (44 strikes) and appears just about ready for Opening Day as he gets ready to handle No. 5 starter duties for the Blue Jays, but the southpaw's spring has been a microcosm of his big-league performance to date. Kikuchi has an 11:4 K:BB through 8.1 innings but has also served up four homers.

Valdez, who was scheduled to pitch in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, will now pitch in a minor-league game on the back fields, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Due to the threat of inclement weather Saturday, the Astros will alter Valdez's pitching plans to make sure that he's able to get some work in. The southpaw has been named the starter for Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Angels, so Saturday's outing should serve as a final tune-up ahead of the regular season. Brandon Bielak will now serve as the starter in Saturday's Grapefruit League game.

Sale (ribs) said Saturday that he feels good physically but hasn't yet been cleared to resume throwing, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Sale expects that he'll be cleared to throw relatively soon, and he also said he doesn't expect to need a full allotment of time to build up since he was able to throw early in camp. Although the southpaw's updates Saturday provide some encouragement, a better idea of his return timetable is unlikely to come into focus until he officially resumes throwing.

Allard allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three over three innings in Friday's spring training game against the Giants.

Allard entered in the second inning following opener Dennis Santana in what was the left-hander's second Cactus League appearance. His first appearance was as a traditional starter, but at this point, Allard is not expected to be part of the rotation that opens the season. He'll stay stretched out and be able to pitch long relief, spot start or serve as the bulk-innings hurler if the Rangers play around with openers in 2022.

Montas will pitch Sunday in a simulated game on a back field at the Athletics' spring training complex, leaving him in play for a possible Opening Day assignment next Friday against the Phillies, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The hard-throwing right-hander has put together two sharply contrasting starts in Cactus League play thus far, with his most recent turn Sunday against the Mariners qualifying as the one where he pitched to plenty of contact. However, Montas and Sean Manaea remain the top two pitchers in the rotation, and consequently, the realistic candidates to draw an Opening Day start.