MLB Player News

Manager Rob Thomson announced Sunday that Wheeler will be Philadelphia's starter for Opening Day against Atlanta on March 28, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The right-hander inked a three-year, $126 million extension with the Phillies in early March and will be their first pitcher to officially take the mound in 2024. Wheeler had a 3.61 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 212:39 K:BB across 192 innings last season, and he's looked like himself through three spring starts with two runs allowed and a 9:3 K:BB in nine frames.

Winn (elbow) is scheduled to pitch in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Though Winn was able to get stretched out while pitching Wednesday in a minor-league spring training game, he'll be making his Cactus League debut Sunday after he moved through his throwing progression slowly earlier in camp due to a sore right elbow. Winn can't afford any setbacks in his recovery at this stage of spring training, but if he makes it through his appearance Sunday and another during the upcoming week unscathed, he should be ready to fill a spot in the Giants' Opening Day rotation.

Taillon said Sunday his back has responded well to rest and treatment, and he plans to throw off a mound Tuesday or Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

The right-hander's back didn't initially respond well after he was scratched from his start March 9 due to back tightness, but his status has apparently improved significantly over the past few days. Taillon has yet to see game action this spring as he focused on his mechanics early in camp, so even if completely healthy he may not be fully ramped up for the start of the regular season.

Ziegler (quadricep) struck out two over a perfect seventh inning to earn the save Friday in the Mets' 4-2 win over the Nationals in a Spring Breakout game.

In a game featuring exclusively prospects from the Nationals' and Mets' farm systems, Ziegler was one of the more impressive performers. The 21-year-old closed the 2023 season on Single-A St. Lucie's 60-day injured list after suffering a torn right quadricep tendon while completing his rehab from the surgery he underwent last spring to remove bone spurs from his elbow. He previously missed time with biceps tendinitis in 2022, limiting Ziegler to just 17 total starts over his first two seasons in the professional ranks. He appears fully healthy heading into the 2024 campaign, however, as he displayed a sharp fastball that hit 97 miles per hour Friday and also had his looping curveball working effectively, per Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record.

Rogers gave up three runs on four hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He struck out four.

It wasn't the crispest performance from the 26-year-old lefty, but he built up to 70 pitches (44 strikes) and appears just about ready for the regular season. Rogers has posted a strong 10:2 K:BB through 8.2 spring innings and hasn't allowed a homer, and after making only four starts in 2023 due to multiple injuries, he heads into the current campaign as one of the Marlins' healthiest rotation options.

Wicks appears to be the favorite to land the No. 5 spot in the Cubs' rotation to start the year, with Javier Assad shifting to the bullpen, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Wicks, Assad and Hayden Wesneski have been competing for the last starting spot in camp, with the former doing enough to stand out. The lefty has a strong 2.60 ERA across 17.1 Cactus League innings, and he showed flashes of promise during his MLB debut last season. Wicks may endure some ups and downs as a young starter, though he has interesting fantasy upside as long as he remains in the rotation.

White walked one and struck out three in a scoreless inning of work during Saturday's Spring Breakout game against the Cardinals.

The 19-year-old southpaw got the start in the prospect showcase game over Noble Meyer and rewarded the Marlins' confidence in him by striking out the side, fanning both Thomas Saggese and the Cards' potential Opening Day center fielder, Victor Scott. White saw very little action in his pro debut last year after being selected 35th overall in the 2023 Draft, throwing just 3.2 innings for Single-A Jupiter, but his arsenal -- mid-90s fastball, changeup and slurvy breaking ball from a three-quarter arm slot -- could allow him to shoot up prospect lists quickly if his control and command hold up.

Lodolo (tibia) may open the season on the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo, whose start Friday was rained out, had his scheduled pushed back a day. A delayed start to spring action due to a tibia injury gave Lodolo little margin to ramp up for the start of the regular season. The left-hander started Saturday and allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over 2.2 innings. Goldsmith indicates Lodolo could return off the IL on April 10.

Manager Dave Martinez on Sunday named Gray the Nationals' starter for Opening Day against the Reds on March 28, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Gray has 12 strikeouts over 7.1 innings during Grapefruit League play but has also allowed six runs and issued five walks. The 26-year-old posted a career-best 3.91 ERA last season, though his 1.46 WHIP and 4.5 BB/9 were less encouraging. Nonetheless, he'll start Opening Day for Washington, with Patrick Corbin set to take the mound in Game 2.

Morton gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over five innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out seven.

He appears just about ready for the start of the season. Morton did serve up two homers Saturday, a two-run shot by Jack Suwinski in the first inning and a solo shot by Billy McKinney in the third, but they were the first two long balls he's allowed this spring, while Morton's 10:3 K:BB through 7.2 Grapefruit League innings highlights his still-impressive strikeout upside. The 40-year-old delivered a 3.64 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 183:83 K:BB over 30 starts and 163.1 innings for Atlanta in 2023.