MLB Player News

Winckowski allowed one run on two hits and struck out two over 2.2 innings in Monday's spring start against the Tigers.

Winckowski made his second Grapefruit League start in a bid for the final spot in the rotation. He was pulled after 41 pitches (28 strikes) and has allowed one run over 4.2 innings. The competition includes Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock.

Bradford allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four over three innings in Monday's spring start against the Angels.

Bradford, making his second Cactus League start, allowed a two-out run on a double and a walk in the first inning then retired the final seven batters faced. That includes fanning the side in the second inning. Bradford has done nothing in two spring starts to mar his bid to become the No. 5 starter.

Vines was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday.

Vines has tossed five scoreless innings this spring, which gives you an idea what his odds of earning a roster spot were coming into camp. He'll be part of Gwinnett's rotation and should make some starts for Atlanta in 2024.

Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday.

Hernandez made four appearances with the big club last season and also had one NLDS outing, but he's one of the team's first cuts this spring. The 27-year-old reliever could still wind up spending a good amount of time in the Atlanta bullpen this season.

Romero has allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out three over three Grapefruit League innings.

Romero is a candidate to be a key southpaw in the Cardinals' bullpen this season, but he'll need to navigate the control issues popping up in spring games. He had three saves, three holds and two blown saves while pitching to a career-best 3.68 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 36.2 innings last year. Romero's chances for saves are slim -- he's at best fourth in the pecking order -- but he could be a solid late-innings guy if he can get the walk rate back in order.

King has allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out two over three Grapefruit League innings.

King's already a longshot for high-leverage work, and his early results in spring won't help his cause. The southpaw is a groundball specialist who saw some late-inning work with 12 holds in 35 appearances between the Rangers and the Cardinals last season. He'll need to show solid control and limit opponents to weak contact to have success.

Kittredge has allowed one walk and struck out one over two scoreless and hitless innings in two Grapefruit League appearances.

Kittredge is likely looking to put the last two years behind him, as injuries have limited him to 31.2 innings in that span. He has 15 saves and 12 holds to his name over parts of seven major-league campaigns, but he's topped 50 innings just once. Kittredge figures to be in the high-leverage mix this season, though Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos are the top incumbent closing options for the Cardinals.

Pallante has pitched three scoreless innings over three appearances in Grapefruit League play.

He's allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two. Pallante struggled to a 4.76 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 43:30 K:BB over 62 relief appearances in 2023 after splitting time between the rotation and bullpen in 2022. Pallante added 13 holds last year, but his poor play saw him in a low-leverage role to end the campaign. He'll be looking to get back into the late-innings mix in a crowded bullpen competition for the Cardinals.

The Yankees are bringing Kahnle along slowly this spring after his 2023 season was ended due to right shoulder inflammation, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Kahnle appears to be healthy and has been throwing bullpen sessions, but manager Aaron Boone said Monday that the club might not put him into a Grapefruit League game until toward the end of spring. Boone would not commit to the reliever being ready for Opening Day, saying it depends on how many spring appearances he's able to make. Kahnle has had trouble staying healthy but has been terrific when on the mound, most recently putting up a 2.66 ERA and 48:19 K:BB over 40.2 frames in 2023.

Hicks has allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.1 innings across two Cactus League starts.

The Giants are committed to letting Hicks begin 2024 as a starter, as they lack rotation depth. The numbers so far are not encouraging -- Hicks is struggling with walks and loud contact. Oracle Park should help limit the damage on flyballs, and his elite velocity will lead to plenty of strikeouts. Hicks will need to prove his durability in a starting role, as a return to the bullpen will linger over him if his performance slips or an injury costs him a large chunk of the season.