MLB Player News

Blackburn (1-0) was credited with the victory in the Athletics' Cactus League win over the Giants on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on a solo home run and recording three strikeouts over two innings.

Outside of the one mistake pitch that led to a J.D. Davis solo home run, Blackburn was highly effective while placing 22 of his 33 offerings in the strike zone, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The right-hander posted just a 4-7 record across 21 appearances (20 starts) last season, but that underwhelming mark was accompanied by a serviceable 4.43 ERA. Blackburn, who avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $3.45 million deal this winter, is expected to helm Oakland's starting rotation.

Gilbert did not factor into the decision in the Mariners' Cactus League loss to the Royals on Wednesday, firing two scoreless innings during which he issued a walk and recorded three strikeouts.

The talented right-hander put together a nearly perfect performance as he begins a process of trying to be more creative with his pitch mix in deeper counts and attacking right-handed hitters, who have a .741 OPS against him thus far in his career. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports Gilbert feels the most comfortable he has to date entering a season, partly due to his experience and the addition of a splitter that he is hoping will make him less predictable. "I have more options this year," Gilbert said. "The main thing is just not getting yourself boxed in, especially in this league. I have to really find a way to get myself out if I get myself in a jam with guys on and I'm behind in the count, being able to get out of that. And I think I have the weapons to do that now."

Skubal tossed two scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He walked one and struck out two.

Skubal cruised in his first tune-up start of the spring, as he logged 29 pitches and didn't allow a hit. The talented lefty underwent flexor tendon surgery in August of 2022, which delayed his debut last year by a few months. That means the team will likely build him up slowly in camp with the goal of having him available for a larger regular-season workload. Skubal's career high in innings is 149.1, which he recorded back in 2021.

Mize gave up two earned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one over 1.2 innings Tuesday in the Tigers' 6-4 win over the Blue Jays in Grapefruit League play.

Mize tossed 35 pitches (17 strikes) in his spring debut, which also marked his first official MLB game in 22 months following a prolonged recovery from Tommy John and back surgeries. The 26-year-old's fastball topped out at 97.3 miles per hour and averaged 95.8 mph, a couple ticks up from his average over his two starts during the 2022 regular season. While the velocity readings are encouraging for Mize, sharpening his command and control will be the greater concerns for him as the spring unfolds. Mize isn't assured a spot in Detroit's Opening Day rotation, and even if he does secure a starting gig, he could be piggybacked by another pitcher early on during the season as the Tigers look to manage his innings in 2024.

Martin (elbow) threw his second bullpen session of the spring Monday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Working his way back from Tommy John surgery, Martin threw 20 fastballs in the session and sat in the 84-to-86 mile-per-hour range. He will incorporate changeups during his next bullpen session next Monday and before the end of spring will progress to throwing off the mound twice per week. The 27-year-old is unlikely to be an option for the White Sox before the second half.

Manoah gave up four runs on three hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. He failed to strike out a batter and hit three batters with pitches.

The 26-year-old right-hander had neither control nor command, managing to throw only 17 of his 38 pitches for strikes in his first spring start and immediately reviving worries that his 2023 struggles are not yet behind him. If there was a positive takeaway from Tuesday's outing, it was that he was touching 95 mph with his fastball, a step up from last season. Manoah still has a lot to prove this spring to be anything more than a fantasy dart throw however, and if he continues having difficulty finding the plate in Florida, there's no guarantee he even opens the season in the big-league rotation.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay indicated recently that he would like to see Miller gradually move up the bullpen hierarchy rather than anointing him as closer right away, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

It sounds like the plan is for Miller to be used in 2-to-3 inning stints initially this spring before scaling down his workload as Opening Day nears. While there's little doubting the 25-year-old has the best stuff in Oakland's bullpen, the A's want to be careful with him since he had a UCL sprain last year and will be making the transition from starter to reliever. Miller is still probably the first A's reliever that should be drafted in fantasy, but Dany Jimenez, Trevor Gott, Lucas Erceg and perhaps others could be in the mix for saves ahead of him initially.

Anderson (knee) is scheduled to start Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Anderson missed the final two weeks of the 2023 regular season due to left knee soreness, but he appears to have had a normal offseason and will toe the rubber for the Angels' fifth spring training game. After inking a three-year, $39 million deal with the Angels in November 2022, Anderson wasn't able to meet expectations in his first season in Anaheim, as he delivered a 5.43 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 119:64 K:BB in 141 innings. His contract should still give him plenty of security in the rotation in the early part of the upcoming season, but if Anderson continues to deliver middling results in his second year in Anaheim, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Angels shifted him to the bullpen and gave a younger pitcher a look in a starting role.

Verlander (shoulder) felt good during a bullpen session Tuesday but isn't yet ready to face hitters, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander was already working with a tight window to be ready for Opening Day, and the fact that he's not yet able to face hitters increases the likelihood that he'll begin the season on the shelf. While he's still not ruling Verlander out for the season opener, Astros manager Joe Espada admitted Wednesday that "obviously we're kind of running out of days here." The veteran right-hander has been throwing without issue in camp after his shoulder didn't bounce back well during his offseason work, but he simply just needs more time to build up. The coming days should paint a clearer picture as to Verlander's availability for Opening Day.

Crawford allowed one run on three hits and struck out one over two innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Cardinals.

Crawford made his Grapefruit League debut ahead of what is expected to be a role in Boston's starting rotation. Tuesday's effort was a good first step toward becoming a rotation staple, but the right-hander needs to work on extending himself deeper into games. He averaged 77.4 pitches over his 23 starts in 2023, and manager Alex Cora told Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe that Crawford's stuff will play, but he has to maintain it for 100 pitches. The pitcher acknowledged the need to face opponents a third time and pitch into the sixth and seventh innings.