MLB Player News

Loperfido will start in left field and bat fifth in Thursday's opener against the Angels.

Loperfido beat out Zach Cole for the Astros' left-field job, and he's occupying a favorable spot in the batting order versus right-hander Jose Soriano. The 26-year-old Loperfido has an intriguing power/speed skill set but will have to make enough contact to keep a regular job. He has a 33.3 percent strikeout rate in his first 122 major-league games.

Heineman has won a spot on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star report.

The 34-year-old switch hitter will slot in behind Alejandro Kirk on the depth chart. Heineman appeared in 64 regular-season games for Toronto last season, slashing a career-best .289/.361/.416 with three homers, 20 RBI and 25 runs.

Rogers is expected to begin the season as one of the primary setup men for the Blue Jays ahead of closer Jeff Hoffman, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star report.

After signing a three-year, $37 million contract with Toronto in December, it's no surprise that Rogers will have a high-leverage role. The veteran right-hander has recorded at least 30 holds in three straight seasons, posting a 1.98 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 48:7 K:BB over 77.1 innings in 2025 between the Mets and Giants.

Paredes will start at third base and bat third in Thursday's opener versus the Angels.

Jeremy Pena (finger) is on the active roster but not quite ready to play yet, so Paredes will occupy the hot corner while Carlos Correa slides over to shortstop. When the Astros' roster is fully healthy, it's going to be more difficult for Paredes to find a regular spot in the lineup.

The Blue Jays announced Wednesday that Miles won a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

A Rule 5 pick out of the Giants system, Miles has yet to pitch above the Single-A level and didn't take the mound at all in 2025 while he recovered from Tommy John surgery. The 25-year-old right-hander showed enough this spring to stick on the 26-man active roster, however, posting a 3.72 ERA and 11:5 K:BB in 9.2 innings and topping out at 98.1 miles per hour with his sinker in his final spring outing. Miles will begin his big-league career in a low-leverage role, but his premium velocity could allow him to move up the depth chart if he shows he can harness it effectively.

Little has won a spot in the Blue Jays' Opening Day bullpen, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star report.

The 29-year-old will head into the season as the top left-handed option for manager John Schneider. Little dazzled this spring, posting a 0.00 ERA and 11:4 K:BB in six innings, and he racked up a career-high 30 holds in 2025 while producing a 3.03 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 91:45 K:BB in 68.1 innings.

Pena (finger) is not in the lineup for Thursday's opener against the Angels.

Per Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Pena has progressed enough in his recovery from a fractured right ring finger to avoid the 10-day injured list, but he's not quite ready to play in major-league games. Pena is at the Astros' nearby Triple-A Sugar Land affiliate Thursday morning getting in some live at-bats, and it's unclear whether he will be available off the bench Thursday or if Houston will play a man short. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. With Pena out, Carlos Correa will slide over to shortstop and Isaac Paredes will start at third base.

Nance has claimed a spot in the Blue Jays' Opening Day bullpen, Gregor Chisholm and Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star report.

The 35-year-old grabbed one of the last spots in the bullpen despite a 6.75 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 6:3 K:BB in 5.1 spring innings, but his lack of minor-league options likely tipped the scales in his favor. Nance was more impressive in 2025, delivering a 1.99 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 32:7 K:BB over 31.2 innings for Toronto with two wins and five holds in 30 appearances.

Jackson is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.

Though Jackson beat out a number of competitors for the final position-player spot on the Orioles' Opening Day roster, he looks like he'll have to settle for a part-time role to begin the season, even while Jackson Holliday (hand) and Jordan Westburg (elbow) are on the injured list. Coby Mayo is expected to be Westburg's primary replacement at third base, while the Orioles could opt for a more of a timeshare between Jackson and Blaze Alexander at the keystone in Holliday's absence. The Orioles will turn to Alexander at second base for the opener.

O'Neill will start in right field and bat sixth in Thursday's opener versus the Twins.

It's righty Joe Ryan on the bump for the Twins, but the right-handed-hitting O'Neill will nonetheless get the call in right field as he attempts to extend his major-league record Opening Day home run streak to seven. Dylan Beavers has been battling a knee/quad injury recently, which also could have played into Orioles manager Craig Albernaz's decision to start O'Neill. The two players are expected to share the right-field job this season.