MLB Player News

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.

Grove is expected to open the season in a multi-inning relief role for the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Gavin Stone beat out Grove for the fifth spot in the Dodgers' rotation. The team is expected to use a six-man rotation, or at least a variation of one, and Grove figures to be in the mix there, perhaps in a bulk relief role. The Dodgers could just mix-and-match in the sixth spot until Walker Buehler (elbow) and/or Emmet Sheehan (shoulder) are ready.

Stone is likely to open the season as the Dodgers' No. 5 starter, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Stone earned the rotation spot with an impressive Cactus League performance which saw him yield just one run with a 9:1 K:BB over 9.2 innings of work. The 25-year-old was knocked around last season with the Dodgers, posting a 9.00 ERA and 22:13 K:BB across 31 frames. However, Stone is a former top prospect who collected a 32.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors. He should be better equipped for success in the big leagues in 2024 and makes for a fine late-round fantasy option.

Cobb (hip) struck out five over two hitless innings in a minor-league game Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cobb threw 18 of his 27 pitches for strikes in what was his first game appearance since he had left hip surgery last October. The veteran right-hander's next outing figures to come during Cactus League play next week. A timetable for Cobb rejoining the Giants' rotation isn't clear yet, but a return before the end of April is looking distinctly possible.

Perez reported soreness in his elbow Thursday following his appearance in Wednesday's spring game against Washington, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Perez had to leave his appearance Wednesday after experiencing discomfort with the broken nail on his right middle finger. Now, Perez's elbow issue poses another threat to potentially delaying his start to the regular season. Perez will undergo further imaging and testing over the next few days to determine the severity of his injury, but it appears increasingly likely that Perez will miss the beginning of the regular season.

Ynoa (elbow) is available to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday against the Pirates in relief, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Ynoa missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September of 2022. He started throwing bullpen sessions in mid-February, but was downgraded to long tosses while dealing with right elbow soreness.

Williams gave up two runs on seven hits over five innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out five.

Only one of the hits off Williams went for extra bases, an opposite-field solo shot for DJ Stewart in the first inning, and the veteran right-hander built up to 68 pitches (48 strikes). Williams has been hittable this spring, but his 6.30 ERA in 10 innings is backed by a sharp 11:0 K:BB. He seems on track for a spot at the back of the Nationals' rotation to begin the season.

Houser allowed four runs on four hits over five innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The ball was carrying to left field at Clover Park, and Luis Garcia was able to slice a solo shot over the fence in the first inning before Lane Thomas clubbed a three-run blast in the fifth. Otherwise Houser had little trouble with the Washington lineup, firing 44 of 64 pitches for strikes. The former Brewer has been sharp this spring, posting a 14:1 K:BB through 12 innings, and he's on track to open the season in the Mets' rotation after producing a 4.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 96:34 K:BB over 111.1 innings last year and earning a one-year, $5 million contract with New York in January.

Weathers gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.1 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out four.

The 24-year-old southpaw is competing for an Opening Day rotation spot with the Marlins potentially down Eury Perez (finger), Braxton Garrett (shoulder) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) to begin the season, so while Weathers' overall results Friday weren't all that impressive, the most important takeaway is that he built up to 79 pitches (50 strikes). Weathers has overall had a strong spring, posting a 21:4 K:BB through 18 innings, and the solo shot he gave up to Jose Fermin in the fourth inning Friday has been the only homer he's allowed.

Glasnow tossed 5.1 scoreless and hitless innings in a Cactus League contest against San Francisco on Tuesday. He struck out eight batters and allowed one walk.

A day after being named the Dodgers' Opening Day starter for their March 20 matchup with the Padres in South Korea, Glasnow finished his spring slate in dominant fashion, retiring 16 of the 17 batters he faced and tossing 70 pitches while holding the Giants without a hit. The right-hander looked every bit like an ace this spring, allowing just one run on four hits while posting a 14:3 K:BB over 10 frames. Glasnow may not be quite ready for a full workload in the regular-season opener given that the Seoul Series is taking place over a week earlier than Opening Day for teams besides the Dodgers and Padres, but he otherwise appears to be in fine form as he embarks upon his first campaign with Los Angeles.