MLB Player News

Houck (0-1) took the loss Friday versus the Rangers, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two batters in 5.2 innings.

Houck finished the spring schedule with 17 earned runs allowed in 13.2 innings and did little to turn the tide during his first regular-season outing. He managed to keep Texas off the scoreboard through the first two innings, but an early home run from Jonah Heim put him in an early hole. Boston's offense quickly responded with a run of their own, but another round-tripper from Heim in the fifth put the Rangers back in front for good. It doesn't seem like things are about to get any easier for Houck, as he's lined up to face a Baltimore offense during his next start that's already slugged seven home runs through its first two games.

Leiter (1-0) earned the win Friday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out four batters over five innings.

After finishing last season with an 8.83 ERA and 1.71 WHIP over 35.2 innings, Leiter turned in the best start of his young MLB career Friday. The only damage done against the 24-year-old righty came on an RBI single off the bat of Wilyer Abreu in the fourth inning, but Leiter immediately got out of the jam by inducing a double play in the next at-bat. It's too early to tell if his strong outing is a sign of what's to come this year or just an outlier, but he certainly has plenty of momentum heading into his start next week in Cincinnati.

Morton (0-1) gave up four runs on seven hits and one walk over 3.1 innings Friday in a loss to the Blue Jays. He had three strikeouts.

The 41-year-old Morton became the oldest starting pitcher to open a game for the Orioles, but aside from that little bit of history, this was one to forget for Morton. He needed 23 pitches to get through the first inning while allowing two hits in the frame and was at 41 pitches after two innings. He was chased out of the game in the fourth inning after surrendering base hits to the first three batters he faced followed by a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. Morton departed after 80 pitches, and reliever Albert Suarez allowed two of Morton's inherited runners to score, ultimately saddling him with the loss. Baltimore will look to Morton to eat up innings in 2025, and the right-hander has been durable, averaging 174 innings pitched over the last six full regular seasons. He is tentatively lined up for a home start against Boston next week.

Gausman (1-0) struck out four in six innings, allowing two runs, three hits and one walk in an 8-2 win over the Orioles on Friday

The former Oriole retired the first seven batters he faced before the eighth batter, Jackson Holliday, blasted a solo home run to put Gausman and the Blue Jays behind 1-0. Gausman allowed his second and final run an inning later on a Tyler O'Neill sacrifice fly, but that would be it for Baltimore. Toronto's offense got going in the bottom of the fourth and put up five runs, which was more than enough for the 34-year-old righty to nab the victory. A model of consistency, Gausman will aim for his sixth straight year with an ERA under 4.00 during the 2025 season. He is tentatively lined up for an outing against the Nationals next week.

Pepiot didn't factor into the decision in Friday's Opening Day win versus the Rockies. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.

With Shane McClanahan (triceps) on the shelf, it was Pepiot who helped launch a new chapter in Rays history with their opener at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training facility that will be the Rays' home for 2025. Pepiot looked overpowering at times but was wild in the fourth inning. After hitting Michael Toglia with an errant curveball, the righty threw a wild pitch that advanced Toglia another 90 feet. He would eventually cross home plate on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Farmer. However, Tampa's offense came to life late and kept Pepiot out of the loss column. He is tentatively slated to face the Pirates his next time out.

Bello (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Bello missed all of spring training after straining his right shoulder in mid-February. He's made good progress in his throwing program and is slated to pitch at least two times during his rehab assignment with Worcester. There's optimism in Boston's clubhouse that Bello could return from the 15-day IL when first eligible April 11, which is when the Red Sox would begin a three-game road series against the White Sox.

The Tigers transferred Madden (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

A right rotator cuff strain has kept Madden out since early March, and his move to the 60-day IL will ensure he remains out until late May. His spot on the 40-man roster will be given to Brewer Hicklen, who was acquired from Milwaukee on Friday.

Rodriguez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Rodriguez revealed afterward that it was the second time he's thrown from the mound since he received a cortisone shot for his right elbow inflammation. The right-hander is still relatively early on in a ramp-up process that is likely to take several more weeks, but he is moving in a positive direction.

The Rangers optioned Corbin to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Corbin signed a one-year deal with Texas on March 18, so rather than having him rush through his throwing progression, he will begin the year in the minors to continue building up at a more comfortable pace. He's expected to make two starts at Round Rock before potentially slotting into the Texas rotation for the team's series in Seattle that runs from April 11 through 13. Corbin is coming off a 2024 season with the Nationals in which he submitted a 5.62 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 174.2 innings.

The Rangers placed Bradford (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Bradford has been diagnosed with a left elbow sprain since being scratched from a Cactus League start March 12, with manager Bruce Bochy relaying that the southpaw would be shut down from throwing for four weeks. Even if Bradford is cleared to begin a throwing program by mid-April, he'll likely need at least another month to get stretched back out and complete a rehab assignment. Any setback along the way would make him a candidate to move to the 60-day IL.