MLB Player News

Berrios took the loss in Sunday's WBC game against Venezuela, coughing up six runs (five earned) on five hits and two walks over just one inning. He struck out one.

The start was reminiscent of Berrios' struggles in 2022 for the Blue Jays as the right-hander missed his spots in the strike zone and got hit hard, with Anthony Santander's three-run homer being the biggest blow. Per Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star, Berrios has been working on some mechanical tweaks to improve his command, but it doesn't look like those efforts have paid off just yet. The 28-year-old had a 3.52 ERA and 26.1 percent strikeout rate in 2021 and his raw stuff isn't in question, but those numbers collapsed to 5.23 and 19.8 percent last year. Whether he can regain his prior form could be one of the keys to Toronto's fortunes this season, as well as those of fantasy GMs gambling on a rebound.

Manoah allowed three runs on two hits and four walks over 3.1 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He struck out five.

The right-hander had trouble finding the plate but still got stretched out to 67 pitches, with 40 of them going for strikes. Manoah came into Monday's start with one walk in five innings this spring, so the performance can be chalked up to just one of those days. He otherwise appears on track for the regular season -- Manoah has struck out out 11 batters in 8.1 frames in camp and has yet to serve up a homer.

Skubal was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Tigers on Tuesday as he continues his recovery from left flexor tendon surgery.

The move frees up a 40-man roster spot for waiver claim Freddy Pacheco. Skubal has been throwing on flat ground for a while but is expected to miss at least the first couple months of the season.

Blackburn might not be ready for Opening Day due to a fingernail avulsion on his pitching hand, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Blackburn is still able to play light catch, but he'll have to wait for the nail to heal before he can do anything else. The injury appears unrelated to the flexor tendon sheath tear in his right middle finger which ended his 2022 campaign. If healthy, Blackburn might be the Athletics' Opening Day starter.

Gibson has allowed two earned runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out six over nine Grapefruit League innings.

Gibson has made three appearances in spring training, and he's performing just fine. The veteran right-hander signed a one-year deal with the Orioles in December, and he should be a lock for the rotation, especially given his encouraging outings so far. He struggled to a 5.05 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 144:48 K:BB across 167.2 innings with the Phillies last season, and at 35 years old, it's tough to imagine a significant improvement in his numbers this year.

Paxton (hamstring) played long toss and did some dry throwing from a mound Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

More specifically, Paxton went through his throwing motion but didn't actually throw a ball when he stepped on the mound. Paxton is progressing slowly but surely from a right hamstring strain, but it's not clear when he might be ready to face hitters or pitch in a game. He's expected to open the season on the injured list.

McCullers revealed Tuesday that he's dealing with a "strain of the forearm muscle, very low grade," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers added that doctors "were hesitant to even call it a strain." While a bit comforting that the right-hander's strain is minor, it's nonetheless worrisome that he's dealing with it again this spring after it bothered him for much of last season and during the playoffs in 2021. McCullers will play catch again at low intensity Wednesday as he's being ramped back up slowly. It seems a safe bet that he'll miss at least the first month or so of the season.

Waldichuk has allowed nine earned runs on nine hits and seven walks while recording four strikeouts across six innings over three Cactus League appearances (two starts).

Waldichuk has made a less than convincing case for a rotation spot this spring given his poor numbers. Two of the nine hits the southpaw has conceded have left the yard as well, but Waldichuk, who posted a 2-2 record, 4.93 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across his first seven big-league starts at the tail end of last season, should still have at least a couple more Cactus League opportunities to right the ship before Opening Day.

Zulueta was optioned Monday to minor-league camp by the Blue Jays, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Zulueta came up short in his bid to make the Toronto roster out of camp despite not allowing a run with a 3:2 K:BB in his three Grapefruit League appearances. The hard-throwing 25-year-old could be one of the first arms that the Blue Jays turn to early this season, as he's ranked as one of the top pitching prospects in their system.

Bradley was optioned to minor-league camp Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Bradley is the top pitching prospect in the Tampa Bay system, but the right-hander will open the season in the minors -- likely with Triple-A Durham. The 21-year-old can miss bats with multiple pitches and can locate them for strikes, so it's just a matter of time before he's helping the Rays' pitching staff.