MLB Player News

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.

Manager Oliver Marmol announced Sunday that Mikolas will be the Cardinals' starter for Opening Day against the Dodgers on March 28, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Presumed Opening Day starter Sonny Gray (hamstring) won't be ready to pitch, so Mikolas will instead receive the nod. The 35-year-old retooled his slider during the offseason after a disappointing 2023 that saw him post a 4.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 137:39 K:BB across 201.1 innings.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Gray (hamstring) won't be an option to start Opening Day but may not require a stay on the injured list to begin the season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander quickly resumed throwing after he suffered a right hamstring strain March 4, and he's scheduled to face hitters in a simulated session Sunday. Miles Mikolas was named St. Louis' Opening Day starter, but Gray could still be an option to pitch later in the first week of the season if he continues to progress with no setbacks.

Ynoa (elbow) struck out one and worked around one hit and one walk over one inning of relief Saturday in Atlanta's 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh in Grapefruit League play.

Ynoa made his first appearance in a game since August 2022, as he spent the entire 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander contended with some soreness earlier in camp, but after getting back on the mound Saturday, he looks like he'll enter the 2024 campaign with his health intact. Because of the time he missed, Ynoa could be placed on the injured list to begin the season, though he has a minor-league option remaining and could alternatively be sent to Triple-A Gwinnett if Atlanta doesn't have a spot for him in its Opening Day bullpen and wants to keep him to get stretched out as a starter in the minors.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Sunday that Meyer could still be a rotation option to open the season for the Marlins, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The 25-year-old's dismissal to minor-league camp Tuesday appeared to be the end of his bid for the rotation, but injuries for Eury Perez (elbow), Braxton Garrett (shoulder) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) leave Miami without most of its presumed starting unit. Meyer pitched seven scoreless frames during Grapefruit League action and is the organization's top prospect, but he didn't pitch at all last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Nelson allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Rangers.

Nelson may have sewn up the fifth starter job with this effort. The three walks were the most he's allowed in five Cactus League starts, but he managed to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning. He was pulled from the game in the fourth inning only to come back and start the fifth, giving him five up-and-downs and a pitch count of 78, per Michael McDermott of SI.com. Both Nelson and Tommy Henry will get one more spring start before a decision is made as to which one will fill out the rotation.