MLB Player News

Young will start Saturday in the Diamondbacks' Cactus League opener versus the Rockies, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old southpaw started 15 games for Arizona during his rookie season in 2019, posting a 3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 71:27 K:BB across 83.1 innings. With the Diamondbacks' offseason signing of Madison Bumgarner and the return of Luke Weaver from an elbow injury, Young will compete for a back-end spot in a crowded starting rotation this spring and may be more likely to find a long-relief role in the bullpen or a trip back to the minors coming out of camp.

Howard (knee) completed his first bullpen session of spring training Wednesday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Howard is a little behind the Phillies' other rotation candidates after tweaking his right knee last week, but his ability to quickly get back on the mound suggests the injury isn't anything worrisome. The Phillies likely won't iron out a date for Howard's Grapefruit League debut until he completes a simulated game or tosses a live batting practice session, either of which should happen within the next week. Rather than the knee issue, Howard's lack of a 40-man roster spot and his limited experience above the lower levels of the minors seemingly represent bigger obstacles to him making the Phillies' Opening Day rotation.

Cabrera is one of several pitchers that could temporarily fill Miles Mikolas' (forearm) spot in the rotation while the latter is sidelined, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera has garnered plenty of starting experience during a minor-league career that dates back to 2015, and he even logged a pair of starts during his initial big-league stint last season. The 23-year-old southpaw is therefore a candidate to take Mikolas' spot while the latter recovers from a flexor tendon injury over the next month-plus, but Cabrera faces competition from a crowded field of candidates that includes Kwang-Hyun Kim, John Gant, Ryan Helsley and Daniel Ponce de Leon.

Reyes, who impressed during live batting practice Monday, is on a starter's schedule this spring and could be a candidate for one of two open spots in the Cardinals' starting rotation, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Following the news earlier Tuesday that Miles Mikolas could miss at least a month with a sore flexor tendon, the Cardinals officially have two open spots in the starting rotation behind the top trio of Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and Adam Wainwright. Former ace Carlos Martinez and highly regarded South Korean import Kwang-Hyun Kim are considered the odds-on favorites for those roles, but Rogers notes a short-term stint as a starter might be an ideal way to acclimate the oft-injured but promising Reyes to the rigors of a big-league rotation.

Ponce de Leon spent the offseason smoothing out his delivery in an effort to generate better control, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has posted a solid 3.31 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 24 big-league appearances, but he also generated an unsightly 4.8 BB/9 in 2019. Ponce de Leon therefore went to work on his delivery this offseason, especially on offspeed pitches, which he seemed to have the most trouble locating last season. With Miles Mikolas now set to miss at least one month while dealing with a sore flexor tendon, Ponce de Leon is also a candidate for a temporary spot in the starting rotation, although he still has a better chance of slotting back into a bullpen role.

Pivetta will start the Phillies' Grapefruit League opener Saturday against the Tigers, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

A popular sleeper pick this time last season due to some promising peripherals, Pivetta had a disaster of a 2019 campaign, experiencing demotions both to the minors and to the bullpen while struggling to a 5.38 ERA. The Phillies didn't make any additions to their shaky rotation over the offseason, so Pivetta enters camp as a starter again and appears to be competing with Vince Velasquez for the final spot in the rotation. Highly rated prospect Spencer Howard (knee) looms to take that spot at some point, however, and he could enter the conversation fairly early in the year.

Yamamoto is scheduled to start the Marlins' Grapefruit League opener Saturday versus the Mets, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 23-year-old will get an early opportunity to secure a back-end spot in Miami's Opening Day rotation after a generally solid rookie season in which he struck out more than a batter per inning while posting a 4.46 ERA across 78.2 frames. Yamamoto's main focus this spring will likely be in showing improved control, an area where he struggled mightily down the stretch last season. He issued at least three walks in his final three starts of 2019, ending the campaign with a bloated 11.1 percent walk rate.

Nelson is dealing with back tightness in addition to the previously reported groin soreness, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Both issues have been classified as minor, and neither seems to be related to the shoulder woes that wrecked Nelson's previous two seasons. Still, it would obviously be preferable for a pitcher to have zero injury worries this early in camp, rather than two. Nelson already entered camp in a tough fight for a roster spot, so any time lost to these issues will only decrease his chances of making the team.

Alzolay is competing for the Cubs' fifth starter role, though he is considered to be behind Tyler Chatwood in the race at the start of camp, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Chatwood has the edge in experience, having pitched 828 innings at the MLB level versus just 12.1 for Alzolay. The latter had a little bit of prospect hype as he advanced through the minors, so he's worth keeping an eye on, but it doesn't seem like he'll be much of fantasy factor to begin the season. That could change if Chatwood stumbles and Alzolay works his way into the Chicago rotation.

Gallegos will receive the opportunity to compete for the Cardinals' closer job in spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The wide-open battle also includes John Brebbia, Alex Reyes and Ryan Helsley, among others, though any competition for the ninth-inning vacancy could come to a quick end if the Cardinals shift Carlos Martinez -- who is getting the opportunity to fight for a rotation spot -- back to the bullpen. If Martinez's shoulder can hold up to starting duty, however, Gallegos would probably represent the most alluring fantasy target in the St. Louis bullpen, though the ample reliable relief arms on hand could prompt manager Mike Shildt to take a committee approach to save situations. Gallegos notched only one save in 2019 but still had utility in mixed leagues thanks to his dazzling ratios (2.31 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 11.3 K/9).