MLB Player News

Verlander will start the third game of the Mets' season against Miami on April 1, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Starting in the Mets' third game puts Verlander in line to pitch in New York's home opener, which manager Buck Showalter said was the goal. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has been looking like his usual self this spring with a 2.25 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through 16 innings.

Matz allowed one run on three hits and struck out five over six innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game versus the Yankees.

The one run allowed by Matz came on a solo home run by Oswaldo Cabrera. Over 17.2 innings this spring, Matz has a 1.53 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB. After knee and shoulder injuries limited the southpaw in 2022, his strong spring has him poised for a bounce-back season. He's a lock for the Cardinals' rotation, though he has reached 150 innings only three times in his major-league career.

Senzatela (knee) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

It'll be his first time facing live hitters since he suffered a torn left ACL last August. If all continues to go well on the rehab front, Senzatela could hop into the Rockies' starting rotation sometime in early May.

Shuster gave up two runs on two hits and two walks over six innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out two.

Facing most of New York's Opening Day lineup, Shuster wasn't dominant but kept the opposition off-balance, and the young lefty rebounded nicely after allowing two runs in the third inning. His competition for Atlanta's fifth starter job, Dylan Dodd, will get his chance to make a final statement Friday against the Red Sox. Shuster, a first-round pick in 2020, has posted an 18:4 K:BB through 18.2 innings this spring while serving up only one home run.

Cueto (arm) threw 61 pitches over 4.2 innings in a minor-league game Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Cueto had to be scratched from an appearance earlier this week due to some arm soreness, but he has thrown a bullpen session and now made a minor-league appearance since without issue. He's back on track to open the season in the Marlins' rotation.

Gonsolin (ankle) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

It's the first time he's been on the bump since suffering a sprained left ankle back on March 6. Gonsolin could miss most, if not all, of April as the Dodgers take things slowly with his recovery, but he seems to be progressing well.

Overton will begin the season as the Reds' fourth starter, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Overton started well for the Reds last season before a back injury shut him down for multiple months, but his 2.73 ERA in 33 innings was fueled by a .204 BABIP and supported by a mere 11.3 percent strikeout rate. Regression and opposing hitters could both hit him very hard in 2023.

Anderson was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Reds on Friday.

Anderson was promoted to major-league camp earlier this month and was theoretically in the running for a rotation spot, but the likelihood of him nabbing one was never high. He'll represent rotation depth at Triple-A Louisville.

Williamson was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Reds on Friday.

Williamson pitched well early on this spring as he gunned for a spot in the Reds' rotation, but he struggled in recent outings to punch his ticket to Triple-A Louisville. The left-hander still figures to make a decent number of starts with the big club this season.

Gallen will start Opening Day versus the Dodgers on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Gallen will toe the rubber at Chase Field as the Diamondbacks launch their season next week. The right-hander has evolved into Arizona's ace, producing a 2.54 ERA and microscopic 0.91 WHIP with 192 strikeouts over 184 innings in 31 starts with the team in 2022. If Gallen can take another step up in 2023, he'll elevate himself into the Cy Young conversation in the National League.