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Drew Smyly SP | CHC
Cubs' Drew Smyly: Struggles in final spring start
Smyly allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits across four innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the White Sox. He walked one and struck out three.
Smyly was hit hard in his last spring tune-up, which raised his Cactus League ERA to 6.06. That doesn't give the veteran lefty a ton of momentum heading into the regular season, though his track record suggests he should rebound, particularly after he posted a 3.47 ERA for the Cubs across 106.1 innings last year. Smyly lines up to make his 2023 debut Monday against the Reds.
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Freddy Peralta SP | TB
Brewers' Freddy Peralta: Fires 4.2 scoreless frames
Peralta tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in Tuesday's exhibition season finale. He allowed four hits and posted a 5:1 K:BB.
Peralta was locked in during the spring, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB in 14.0 innings over four starts. He is lined up to start the Brewers' home opener, which will come April 3 against the Mets.
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Blade Tidwell RP | SF
Mets' Blade Tidwell: Promoted to High-A for 2023
Tidwell will begin the season with High-A Brooklyn, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
The 21-year-old righty made quick work of the lower levels, logging a 1.93 ERA and 1.18 WHIP between rookie and Single-A ball. Tidwell has been lauded as one of the top pitching prospects in the Mets organization, so he may be in line for another promotion during the season.
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Julio Teheran SP | BAL
Padres' Julio Teheran: Moved to minor-league camp
The Padres assigned Teheran to minor-league camp Sunday.
Teheran latched on with San Diego on a minor-league contract last November, and he got into five spring contests, posting a 5.17 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB over 15.2 innings. A two-time All-Star with Atlanta, Teheran has pitched only one major-league inning since a disastrous 2020 campaign during which he posted a 10.05 ERA and 1.76 WHIP across 31.1 innings with the Angels. Per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, the right-hander has a clause in his contract giving him the right to accept another big-league offer, but it appears he'll stick with San Diego and will likely open the season at the Triple-A level.
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Johnny Cueto SP | LAA
Marlins' Johnny Cueto: Lined up as No. 5 starter
Cueto (arm) is tentatively scheduled to start the Marlins' fifth regular-season game next Monday against the Twins, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Cueto came down with some general arm soreness earlier this month, but he threw 61 pitches over 4.2 innings in a minor-league game last Friday and is set to take the mound again Wednesday in Jupiter. It's looking like the veteran right-hander will indeed be a normal-functioning member of the Miami rotation to begin the 2023 campaign.
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Dylan Bundy SP | NYM
Mets' Dylan Bundy: Works two-inning sim game
Bundy threw a two-inning simulated game Tuesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Bundy is in the process of getting stretched out after just landing a minor-league contract from the Mets this past Saturday. He should be able to slide into the rotation at Triple-A Syracuse sometime in mid-to-late April and will function as organizational starting depth for New York in 2023.
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Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Mets' Carlos Carrasco: Throws in minor-league game
Carrasco (elbow) threw 70 pitches Tuesday in a minor-league game, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Carrasco was scratched from a minor-league start last week due to what was called "elbow maintenance." There doesn't seem to be much -- if any -- concern around the veteran right-hander, who is lined up to make his first regular-season start for the Mets next Monday at the Brewers.
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Trevor Williams RP | TEX
Nationals' Trevor Williams: Lined up as No. 4 starter
Williams will start the Nationals' fourth regular-season game next Monday against the Rays, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
He'll follow Patrick Corbin, Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore in the Nats' season-opening starting rotation. Williams signed a two-year, $13 million contract with Washington over the winter after posting a steady 3.21 ERA and 84:23 K:BB across 89.2 innings (nine starts, 21 relief appearances) last year for the Mets. He could carry fantasy streaming appeal in the right matchups.
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MacKenzie Gore SP | TEX
Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Starting third game of season
Gore will start the Nationals' third game of the regular season Sunday against Atlanta, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
It'll be Patrick Corbin on Opening Day, Josiah Gray in the second game, Gore in the third and Trevor Williams in the fourth. Gore wrapped up his spring with 3.2 scoreless innings Tuesday afternoon against the Yankees, issuing two walks but striking out four. He still carries a lot of long-term upside at age 24, but the former top prospect still has a lot to prove as he finally debuts in Washington.
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Johan Oviedo SP | BOS
Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Confirmed for rotation spot
Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Tuesday that Oviedo will open the season in the starting rotation, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Shelton revealed that news during Tuesday's spring finale against the Twins, just as Oviedo was finishing up a strong five-inning outing during which he struck out seven hitters. The 25-year-old will be filling in for JT Brubaker (forearm) initially, but he has a chance to stick around long term if he shows well out of the gate. Oviedo posted an encouraging 3.23 ERA in seven starts down the stretch last season with the Pirates after being acquired from the Cardinals. If he can improve his command, there might be fantasy streaming appeal in favorable matchups.