MLB Player News

Lugo (1-0) earned the win Sunday over Atlanta, allowing five hits over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out three.

It was a strong start to the year for Lugo, who held Atlanta to a lone extra-base hit en route to the Royals' first win this season. Lugo is looking to turn things around after an up-and-down 2025 campaign where he finished 8-7 with 125 strikeouts and a 4.15 ERA, his highest in five seasons. Lugo is tentatively scheduled to face the Brewers at home in his next outing.

Hoffman earned the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Athletics, allowing one hit and no walks with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

Hoffman was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and threw nine of 10 pitches for strikes to slam the door. It was a nice rebound after the 33-year-old blew his first save chance Friday, and he's racked up six punchouts through two appearances this season.

Okamoto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Athletics.

Okamoto put the Blue Jays up 4-0 with a 420-foot blast off Luis Morales in the fourth inning. The 29-year-old has carried a successful spring into his first major-league regular season, hitting safely in each of his first three contests. He totaled 248 homers across 11 seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and should be a key power bat in the heart of Toronto's lineup moving forward.

Erceg converted a save in Sunday's 4-1 win over Atlanta, striking out one batter while allowing a base hit over a scoreless inning. inducing a game-ending double play ball.

Erceg was pitching on back-to-back days, but threw only 12 pitches on Saturday. Teammate Carlos Estevez blew the save Saturday in spectacular fashion and was unavailable to pitch due to an ankle injury, but he had diminished velocity throughout the spring, and manager Matt Quatraro suggested prior to Sunday's game that Estevez might be on shaky ground as the team's closer. After delivering a relatively stress-free save chance that culminated in a game-ending double play, Erceg is worthy of rostering on speculation in the event he ends up displacing the struggling Estevez in the ninth inning on a more permanent basis.

Hoskins isn't in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.

Hoskins will sit down for a second consecutive game after going 3-for-6 with two walks and a run scored over the first two games of the series. Kyle Manzardo will start at first base while Hoskins sits, putting Jose Ramirez in the DH spot and Daniel Schneemann at third base.

Johnson is slated to make his first MLB start in Monday's game against the Astros in Houston, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Last spring, Johnson -- a second-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft -- bypassed a minor-league assignment and began his professional career as a member of the Angels bullpen, but he struggled over 14 appearances before being optioned to High-A Tri-City in early May. He transitioned back into a starting role and finished with a 1.88 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 65:10 K:BB in 57.1 innings. Sporting an improved changeup this spring, Johnson collected a 3.05 ERA and 20.5 K-BB% over 20.2 innings in the Cactus League to secure a spot in the Los Angeles rotation. The 23-year-old's lack of track record at the big-league level makes him difficult to roster in most fantasy lineups, but his outstanding spring should at least be enough for managers to keep him on their radars.

Palacios will start at second base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Palacios was excluded from the lineup in Thursday's season opener against southpaw Matthew Liberatore, but the utility player will stick in the starting nine for a second straight matchup with a right-handed pitcher. Until Gavin Lux (shoulder) returns from the injured list, Palacios is primed to fill the strong side of a platoon at second base with Ben Williamson.

Feduccia will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Rays.

Feduccia was excluded from the Rays' Opening Day lineup against southpaw Matthew Liberatore, but the 28-year-old backstop will draw a second straight start Sunday against a righty. Though the Rays aren't likely to go with a strict platoon at catcher, Feduccia's left-handedness might be enough to give him the early edge over Nick Fortes in playing time.

Gimenez went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's extra-innings win over the A's.

The 27-year-old has come flying out of the gate this season, going 6-for-8 in two games with a triple, a steal and four RBI. Gimenez is shifting over to shortstop on a full-time basis this season after mainly playing second base during his big-league career so far -- the last time he saw more action at the six was in 2021 with Cleveland. Gimenez won't stay that hot at the plate for long, but he should have no trouble improving on last year's .598 OPS if he stays healthy.

Fortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Fortes is on the bench for a second straight matchup, with both coming against right-handed starting pitchers. The left-handed-hitting Hunter Feduccia could be the Rays' preferred catcher versus righties, though he and Fortes are unlikely to be used in a strict platoon.