MLB Player News

Dunning allowed two hits and one walk in a scoreless relief inning in Friday's spring game against the Cubs.

Dunning made four starts during the Cactus League and recently threw six innings, but there's no room for him in the rotation. The right-hander recently told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that he would like to be a starter but is open to relieving. His eventual role will be as a multi-inning reliever, which will come in handy early when some starters, like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, may be on restricted pitch counts after dealing with injuries this spring.

Heaney allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings in Friday's spring start against the Cubs.

This was Heaney's final Cactus League outing, and the left-hander admitted to not being at his best, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Heaney worked this spring to incorporate his changeup -- an offering he threw just 5.1 percent of the time in 2022. The goal is to have a third pitch to play off his fastball/slider mix. The 31-year-old finished the spring with a 6.75 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over 12 innings. Perhaps tinkering with the changeup played a role in those numbers. Heaney is expected to start the Rangers' fifth game of the season, facing the Orioles on April 4.

Flexen will not open the season in Seattle's starting rotation, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

The Mariners will have Luis Castillo on the mound for Opening Day, and he'll be followed in order by Robbie Ray, Logan Gilbert, Marco Gonzales and George Kirby. That means Flexen will be a multi-inning relief option to begin the season despite a strong 2.65 ERA in 17 innings so far in the Cactus League. If anything was to happen to the names above Flexen would be the obvious replacement.

Gaddis has been informed he's made the Opening Day roster for the Guardians, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Gaddis was roughed up for 15 runs in just 7.1 innings last year in two appearances -- good for an 18.41 ERA -- but he has pitched well in the Cactus League with a 2.77 ERA over 13 innings with a 17:3 K:BB and even 1.00 WHIP. He'll likely be a multi-inning option in low-leverage situations to begin 2023.

Brown (back) played catch without issue Friday in Astros camp, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said after the flat-ground workout that Brown is "feeling a lot better" as he recovers from a bout of lower-back tightness. It sounds like the 24-year-old right-hander might be able to open the 2023 regular season as the No. 5 starter for Houston, but he does have some more hurdles to clear before camp breaks.

Quantrill threw 5.2 hitless innings in Thursday's Cactus League win over the Giants, allowing one walk and striking out five.

Quantrill set down 17 straight Giants to start the game, then walked the last batter he faced. This was a new level of dominance for the right-hander in what's been a challenging spring -- he has a 5.25 ERA and 10:3 K:BB across 12 innings over four starts. Despite the struggles, he's a lock for the Guardians' rotation to open the season, and Quantrill's ability to maintain a good ERA and absorb innings gives him some appeal in fantasy.

Wentz will begin the 2023 season in the Tigers' starting rotation, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.

That's because Michael Lorenzen (groin) is headed for a season-opening stint on the 15-day injured list. Wentz might only get a couple of turns in early April, but he can look to put a good foot forward after delivering a 3.03 ERA across his first 32.2 major-league innings (seven starts) in 2022. He may have streaming appeal in deeper fantasy formats if the matchups are favorable, and he's posted 19:6 K:BB through 14.2 innings this spring, albeit with four homers allowed.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Friday that Lorenzen (groin) will not be ready for the beginning of the season, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.

Lorenzen was scratched from a Grapefruit League start this past Monday due to a mild left groin strain and is going to need a short IL stint before he hops into a starting role with Detroit. Joey Wentz will fill his spot in the meantime.

Kremer is set to open the season as the No. 2 starter for the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Kyle Gibson will handle the Opening Day assignment Thursday at Boston, and then it'll be Kremer's turn to tangle with the Red Sox on April 1. The 27-year-old posted an impressive 3.23 ERA across 125.1 innings for Baltimore in 2022, though he tallied only 87 strikeouts along the way. Lacking in swing-and-miss stuff, Kremer's fantasy upside is limited.

Whitlock (hip) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on March 31, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

It will be Worcester's Opening Day and could be the only rehab outing Whitlock requires before joining the Red Sox' rotation. The right-hander is healthy but has been brought along slowly in camp following offseason hip surgery.