MLB Player News
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Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Grabs Opening Day nod
The Cubs have named Boyd their Opening Day starter, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
He'll be tasked with facing the Nationals and Cade Cavalli on March 26. Boyd earned the Opening Day nod following a terrific first season in Chicago which saw him collect a 3.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 154:42 K:BB across 179.2 regular-season innings.
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Max Meyer SP | MIA
Marlins' Max Meyer: Dazzles on Wednesday
Meyer struck out six over three scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, allowing one hit and one walk.
The right-hander fired 30 of 48 pitches for strikes as he continues to get built up ahead of the regular season, and he topped out at 97.1 mph on a first-inning four-seamer to Jose Altuve. Meyer has yet to allow a run over seven spring innings with a 12:1 K:BB and he's flashed ace-level upside before, but after throwing only 64.2 innings in 2025, simply staying on the mound and taking a regular turn in the Marlins' rotation would be an accomplishment.
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Martin Perez SP | ATL
Braves' Martin Perez: Stretches out to four innings
Perez gave up three runs on four hits and a walk over four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out six.
The veteran southpaw entered the game to begin the fifth inning and went the rest of the way, tossing 51 pitches (34 strikes), With Joey Wentz (knee) out of the picture, Perez is in line to work as Atlanta's sixth starter out of the gate as the team plays 13 straight games to kick off its campaign. Over 11 games (10 starts) for the White Sox in 2025, Perez produced a respectable 3.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB in 56 innings.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Fans five against Rays
Strider allowed two hits and a walk over four scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out five.
The right-hander built up to 61 pitches (43 strikes) and mostly sat 94-95 mph with his fastball, topping out at 96.5 mph. Strider might not get back his pre-injury heat -- he was averaging 97.2 mph with his four-seamer as recently as 2023 -- but he's expanded his arsenal with a curveball in addition to his slider and changeup, and he looked comfortable with all four offerings Wednesday. Strider is looking to rebound from an uncharacteristically shaky 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 23 starts in 2025.
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Andrew Abbott SP | CIN
Reds' Andrew Abbott: Deals with traffic Wednesday
Abbott allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings in Wednesday's spring start against Milwaukee.
Abbott labored early and required 69 pitches to get those 11 outs in his fourth Cactus League start and first since being tabbed to start Opening Day, March 26, against the Red Sox. After allowing a walk and three hits (including a two-run home run) in a 25-pitch first inning, he got into immediate trouble in the second when the first two batters singled. The lefty squelched the threat with a pick-off and double-play grounder. Abbott then had less eventful third and four innings.
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Ryne Nelson SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Begins four innings Wednesday
Nelson allowed three runs one two hits and one walk while striking out four over 3.1 innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Athletics.
Nelson was able to work his pitch count to 56 (37 strikes) and generated 10 whiffs but was also taken deep twice in his third Cactus League start. He was removed in the middle of one inning to ensure that he got a fourth up-and-down. The right-hander has allowed five runs while striking out 10 and walking one over eight spring innings.
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Carlos Carrasco SP | ATL
Braves' Carlos Carrasco: Dismissed from camp competition
Atlanta reassigned Carrasco to minor-league camp Wednesday.
Atlanta has already lost four potential starters (Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawver and Joey Wentz) to long-term injuries, but those absences aren't enough to clear room in the Opening Day rotation for Carrasco. Coming off a 2025 season in which he posted a 7.09 ERA over 11 appearances (nine starts) in 45.2 innings in the big leagues, Carrasco was forced to settle for a minor-league deal with Atlanta this winter. The 38-year-old righty will bring plenty of experience to the rotation at Triple-A Gwinnett but likely won't be in store for another look in the majors unless Atlanta loses more starters to injury.
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Zac Gallen SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Set for Opening Day assignment
The Diamondbacks named Gallen as their starter for Opening Day against the Dodgers on March 26.
Merrill Kelly had previously been tapped to start Opening Day for Arizona, but he will not be ready at that point as he recovers from a back injury. As a result, Gallen -- who re-signed with the Diamondbacks at the start of spring training -- will be making his fourth consecutive Opening Day start. Gallen had a disappointing 2025 campaign, finishing with a 4.83 ERA and 175:66 K:BB over 192 innings.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Maintains velocity in third start
Strider struck out five and gave up two hits and one walk over four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League start against the Rays.
Making his third start of the spring, Strider built up to 61 pitches (43 strikes) and delivered his best performance to date. He induced nine swinging strikes -- including five with his slider -- and retired eight of 12 batters via either strikeout or groundout, with another out coming on a pickoff. Perhaps more importantly, the velocity gains Strider noticed in his previous start last Thursday carried over into Wednesday's outing. He peaked at 96.5 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball and averaged 94.8 mph overall, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
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Quinn Priester SP | MIL
Brewers' Quinn Priester: Visiting doctor for wrist issue
Priester is scheduled to meet with a specialist in Dallas on Thursday to receive further consultation on his lingering right wrist injury, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Though Priester hasn't been shut down from throwing during spring training, he's yet to make his Cactus League debut while he's struggled to get over the hump in his recovery from wrist soreness, an injury that previously hampered him late in the 2025 season. Priester is hopeful that the upcoming meeting with the specialist will provide more insight on how best to treat the injury, but with the start of the regular season just two weeks away, the right-hander seems to be trending toward at least an abbreviated stint on the injured list to begin the campaign.