MLB Player News

Mahle allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in Tuesday's start against the Guardians.

Mahle was back in a major-league setting, making his fourth Cactus League start, after spending time with minor leaguers following a minor forearm issue. While Mahle worked his way back from forearm soreness, the Texas pitching staff was hit hard by injuries to Cody Bradford (elbow) and Jon Gray (wrist). That means Mahle becomes an even more important piece in the rotation. The right-hander looks ready for the regular season with a 3.21 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 14 Cactus League innings.

Ortiz allowed four runs on two hits and six walks while striking out two over four innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Rangers.

It was another rocky outing for Ortiz, who made his fifth Cactus League start. The free passes continued a trend that has seen him walk 11 batters over his last 10.1 spring innings and 12 overall in 14.2 innings. Unsurprisingly, the walks have wreaked havoc on his spring ERA (11.66). Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt told Tim Stebbins of MLB.com that the right-hander's stuff plays when he's in the zone, but Ortiz needs to work on being more consistent with his delivery. "Because when we see him in the zone, we see what he can do. And that's to be an elite pitcher," Vogt said. Ortiz is short on experience in the majors, having appeared in 59 games (34 starts) since his debut in 2022. He'll continue to work with pitching coach Carl Willis to bring out the 2024 version of Ortiz, who posted a 3.32 ERA in 37 games (15 starts) for Pittsburgh.

McCullers (forearm) threw one inning without allowing a hit or a run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

McCullers took the mound for the first time since the 2022 World Series after working through several different arm injuries. He threw 13 pitches as a first step in what will likely remain a lengthy ramp up to return to big-league action. Nevertheless, it was a positive sign of his potential to make an impact with Houston in 2025.

Kirby (shoulder) hopes to begin playing catch in the next few days, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

After receiving an injection last week, Kirby has since resumed strengthening exercises but will remain in Arizona for three more weeks to continue his rehab. The Mariners shut Kirby down from throwing on March 7 due to right shoulder inflammation, and the star right-hander's timetable for a return remains up in the air a bit. With Kirby's throwing program still yet to begin, it sounds like fantasy managers shouldn't plan on having him available until mid-April at the earliest. "I'm hoping to get back up there by the middle of April," Kirby said.

Povich picked up the win after throwing five hitless innings with three walks in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays. He struck out six.

Battling with Albert Suarez for Baltimore's final rotation spot in Grayson Rodriguez's (elbow) stead, Povich dazzled against Toronto's regular lineup to stake his claim to open the season as a starter. Although the 24-year-old left-hander stumbled with five runs allowed in last Friday's Grapefruit League start, Povich carries a 3.07 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 15 strikeouts over 14.2 innings this spring, including three scoreless outings. Povich acknowledged after Tuesday's game that it could have been his last spring appearance, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, but the aforementioned Suarez is scheduled to start Friday's exhibition contest against the Tigers for his final audition before the Orioles decide on their fifth starter.

Cecconi was diagnosed with a mild left oblique strain Tuesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Cecconi's injury will put an early end to his spring after just three appearances, during which he allowed 11 runs (10 earned) over 5.1 innings. The right-hander has already begun rehab, though he hasn't yet been cleared for throwing and will begin the season on the injured list. Once he receives the green light to start a throwing program, a clearer return timeline may emerge.

Corbin will not join the Rangers in Arizona for the final few days of camp as he awaits the imminent birth of his child, but he will meet the team in Texas, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Corbin inked a one-year deal with Texas on Tuesday, but his first game action with the new club will have to wait. The Rangers wrap up their Cactus League schedule March 22 before heading home to Arlington to play two exhibition games against the Royals on March 24 and 25.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that he's hopeful Scherzer (thumb) can pitch in a game this weekend, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Scherzer is dealing with a nagging right thumb issue that, according to Schneider, felt "probably a little bit better than I think he expected" Tuesday. The pitcher has said the injury begins to flare up on him around 50 pitches, but he's trying to get a better handle on it while working with a hand specialist, doctors and trainers. Scherzer is considered day-to-day.

The Rangers placed Gray (wrist) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Patrick Corbin, who was inked to a one-year contract Tuesday. Gray now won't be eligible to make his season debut until late May as he recovers from a fractured right wrist.

Corbin agreed to a one-year, major-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday.

The rumor mill was pretty quiet on Corbin throughout the offseason, but he secured a big-league deal with Texas, as Jon Gray (wrist) and Cody Bradford (elbow) are facing extended absences. Corbin has rated as the worst regular starting pitcher in baseball over the past four years and finished the 2024 campaign with a 5.62 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 139:54 K:BB across 174.2 innings. The left-hander brings some veteran stability to a depleted rotation with at least 31 starts in each of those four seasons, but he isn't likely to be fantasy relevant given his recent track record.