MLB Player News

The Athletics announced Thursday that Hoglund has been diagnosed with a lumbar spine strain.

The back injury is apparently the bigger issue for Hoglund, who also missed time during spring training with a knee injury. The right-hander was officially placed on the 15-day injured list this week and will miss at least the first couple weeks of the season. Hoglund made his MLB debut last year, registering a 6.40 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 23:11 K:BB across 32.1 innings.

Eovaldi (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Phillies, allowing five runs on eight hits and no walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.

It wasn't Eovaldi's finest performance versus a formidable Phillies lineup, as he yielded three extra-base hits, including two home runs. Additionally, the veteran right-hander matched his season-worst marks in runs and hits allowed from 2025. Eovaldi, who was able to throw 80 pitches in his season debut, will be trying to right the ship and further up his pitch count in Baltimore against the Orioles for his second scheduled start of the season next week.

Murakami went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's 14-2 loss against the Brewers.

Murakami made a great impression in his big-league debut, reaching base three times and launching a 384-foot solo shot to lead off the ninth inning for his first career MLB home run. The 26-year-old also showed strong plate discipline, drawing two walks in the contest and looking comfortable at the plate on a day when Brewers pitchers recorded 20 strikeouts. The homer, which he pulled into the right-field corner, offered an early glimpse of the power that Murakami showcased in Japan, where he hit 246 home runs across eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.

Chapman picked up the save Thursday against the Reds, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Although Chapman failed to record a strikeout, he managed to keep the ball in the yard via three flyouts to nail down a save in his first appearance of the campaign. After posting a career-best 1.17 ERA and 0.70 WHIP over 67 regular-season appearances in 2025, the hard-throwing left-hander is locked in as Boston's top closer to begin the season.

Crochet (1-0) picked up the win Thursday against the Reds, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out eight.

The All-Star southpaw found himself in midseason form in his season debut, firing six shutout frames and also notably escaping a bases-loaded jam to close his final frame. Crochet was also able to throw 80 pitches Thursday, and his final start during spring training saw him hurl 89 pitches. He should build up to closer to a full workload in his next start, which is slated to come in Houston next week.

Smith (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the Brewers, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out two over 1.2 innings.

Smith cruised through a scoreless first inning before unraveling in the second, with the damage highlighted by a bases-clearing double from William Contreras. After laboring through 54 pitches and only recording five outs, Thursday marked the shortest outing of the right-hander's young career. After an All-Star rookie campaign in 2025 that saw him hold a 3.81 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 146.1 innings, Smith will look to move past this disastrous performance and return to his previous form in his next scheduled start, which tentatively lines up to come in Miami.

Burger went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Philadelphia.

Burger, who started at first base and batted cleanup, picked up where he left off in the Cactus League. The righty slugger posted a .327/.413/.592 slash line with four home runs and 14 RBI over 19 games in spring training. His spring production and Opening Day homer suggest a potential rebound campaign for Burger, who endured a trying 2025 season. He dealt with a couple of soft-tissue injuries and eventually underwent offseason surgery to address a condition in his left wrist that bugged him during the season.

Rogers allowed one hit while striking out one over a scoreless inning in Thursday's 2-1 loss against Baltimore.

Rogers was used in the eighth inning in a game the Twins were trailing 2-1. It was a high-leverage situation, but Cole Sands was warming up in case the Twins tied the game or took the lead. Rogers may still figure into the closer mix, but manager Derek Shelton has said he's still figuring out his bullpen and roles will be determined by performance early in the season.

Jax blew the save Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

The Rays had mounted a 7-1 lead in the sixth inning before St. Louis came roaring back in the second half of the frame, and Jax was unable to put out the fire. The right-hander entered the year as one of Tampa Bay's favorites for saves, with Edwin Uceta (shoulder) on the injured list, but Thursday's effort won't do him many favors. That said, Garrett Cleavinger gave up two runs in one-third of an inning, so this closer committee appears to be very much unsettled.

Martin went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Thursday's loss against the Orioles. He started in left field and batted leadoff.

It looks like Martin will bat leadoff against left-handed starters as he platoons in left field with James Outman or Trevor Larnach. Martin did make a mental error by throwing to the wrong base which led to a run, so he could be in the manager's doghouse in the short term.