MLB Player News

Rodon allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over 4.2 innings in Friday's spring game against Milwaukee.

Rodon allowed a first-inning solo home run, his first run allowed during Cactus League play, then was charged with another after leaving the game. He finishes up the spring with two runs allowed on nine hits and one walk while striking out 16 over 13.2 innings. The left-hander will serve as Chicago's fifth starter.

Cole pitched 5.2 innings against Baltimore in a Grapefruit League game Friday, allowing no runs on two hits and no walks while striking out five.

Cole threw 88 pitches in his final warmup before taking the mound for the Yankees on Opening Day. He finishes spring play with a 2.45 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 24:3 K:BB across 18.1 innings and has looked every bit the ace that fantasy managers who invested a first-round draft pick on the right-hander expect him to be.

Ryu has been named the Blue Jays' Opening Day starter, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Ryu posted a 3.60 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 10 innings across three Grapefruit League starts this spring, and manager Charlie Montoyo confirmed Friday the southpaw will take the mound against the Yankees on April 1. Ryu made 12 starts for the Blue Jays last year and recorded a 2.69 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 72:17 K:BB in 67 innings.

Kikuchi threw 91 pitches in a simulated game Friday afternoon and allowed five hits and three walks while recording seven strikeouts, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Kikuchi has already logged 8.1 innings of Cactus League action across three starts, and Friday's workload pushed him to the brink of regular-season readiness. The southpaw lines up to next take the ball for the Mariners' third game of the regular season against the Giants on Saturday, April 3.

Wacha allowed an earned run on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman across five innings in a Grapefruit League loss to Atlanta on Thursday. He struck out five.

The right-hander continued his spring dominance while facing an Atlanta lineup that had plenty of regulars. Wacha now has a minuscule 0.75 ERA across 12 innings, and he'll take the mound once more in Grapefruit League play against the Tigers on Tuesday before opening the regular season as the No. 3 starter.

German appears to be lined up as the Yankees' fifth starter after Deivi Garcia was optioned Friday, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

German significantly outperformed Garcia this spring, making the Yankees' decision seemingly a fairly easy one. Garcia struck out 14 batters in 14 innings, but he also walked eight and allowed seven runs (six earned). Meanwhile, German tossed nine scoreless innings, striking out 13 while walking just one. He showed what he was capable of in 2019, backing up a respectable 4.03 ERA with a 25.8 percent strikeout rate and 6.6 percent walk rate, though exactly how much he'll resemble that pitcher this year after missing last year while suspended for domestic violence remains to be seen.

Rodriguez (arm) is scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

The Red Sox announced Friday that the left-hander was pushed back from starting Opening Day after experiencing a dead arm period, and Saturday's bullpen session should provide a better picture of his early-season outlook. Rodriguez is without a timeline for his return, but a strong bullpen session could allow him to avoid the injured list to begin the season.

Manoah struck out four over two perfect innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

It's a bit of a step down in competition from dominating Yankees regulars, but Manoah continues to mow down whoever he's faced this spring, The 23-year-old was never in contention for a spot on the Opening Day roster given his limited pro experience, but Manoah has opened a lot of eyes with his 0.00 ERA and 15:0 K:BB through seven Grapefruit League innings, and a 2021 big-league debut isn't out of the question if he keeps dealing in the high minors.

Matz gave up two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. He struck out three.

The southpaw got stretched out to 81 pitches (55 strikes) and he appears just about ready for Opening Day. Matz had a shaky track record with the Mets, but he's posted a 1.76 ERA and 15:2 K:BB over 15.1 innings this spring, and the Jays are counting on him to provide some consistent innings from the back half of the rotation in 2021.

Urena has officially won a spot in the Tigers' rotation, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Urena made just five starts last season and didn't look good, struggling to a 15:13 K:BB and 5.40 ERA with the Marlins. He owns a 1.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 9.1 innings so far this spring, though his 2:4 K:BB tells a different story. It's tough to get very excited about him for fantasy purposes, as he owns a career 4.60 ERA and 15.9 percent strikeout rate.