MLB Player News

Kelly (1-0) recorded the win in Friday's 8-1 rout of the Cubs, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out one.

It was far from a dominant outing for the 36-year-old righty to kick off the season, but Kelly minimized the damage from his free passes and got more than enough offensive support. He left the mound after 85 pitches (51 strikes). Kelly will likely need to be sharper in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Yankees.

Taillon (0-1) took the loss Friday, giving up six runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings as the Cubs fell 8-1 to the Diamondbacks. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Six of the nine hits off the right-hander went for extra bases, including a pair of homers by Eugenio Suarez. Taillon left the mound after 80 pitches (53 strikes), and his 2025 campaign is off to a much bumpier start than his 2024 season -- he allowed three earned runs total over his first four outings last year. Taillon will look to bounce back in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week against the Athletics.

Cease didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 win over Atlanta, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out seven.

The right-hander exited after 91 pitches (63 strikes) and dominated at times, striking out six of seven batters between a first-inning double by Austin Riley and a third-inning single by former teammate Jurickson Profar. Cease lost focus after that, however, walking the next two batters in the third and running up his pitch count. It was overall a promising beginning to the campaign for the NL Cy Young candidate despite the lack of length, and Cease lines up to face the Guardians at home in his next start.

Lopez came away with a no-decision in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Padres, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out one.

The right-hander didn't display the same kind of dominance or efficiency he flashed in his breakout 2024 campaign and threw only 58 of 94 pitches for strikes in his season debut, before exiting with the score tied 3-3. On the bright side, Lopez's velocity didn't seem to be an issue -- he sat 94-96 mph with his fastball most of the night and topped out at 98.1 mph against Manny Machado in the third inning. Lopez is scheduled to face another tough opponent next week in a road clash with the Dodgers.

Megill (1-0) came away with the win Friday against the Astros after allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out six batters in five innings.

Megill took a perfect game into the fourth inning Friday, but a quick pair of singles and a sacrifice fly from Yordan Alvarez gave Houston what would ultimately be their only run of the day. Megill needed 77 pitches to get through his five innings and averaged 96.4 mph on his 39 fastballs, which is a tick up from the 95.5 mph he averaged last season. Overall, it was a very good showing from the 29-year-old righty, and he'll get a chance to build on it during the Mets' first home series next week against the Jays.

Gillispie (0-1) surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits in five innings, with four punchouts and four walks while taking the loss to the Pirates on Friday.

Making his first career start in the show, Gillispie kept the Pirates off the board through three innings and was pitching well, but the tide turned in the fourth inning. The 27-year-old issued back-to-back walks to Oneil Cruz and Joey Bart before veteran Andrew McCutchen delivered an RBI double to left, which scored Cruz. Bart would come around to score on a sacrifice fly a few batters later, and the righty allowed a two-run homer to Cruz an inning later. Gillispie had just eight career innings under his belt before this outing and is filling in for injured Marlins starters Edward Cabrera (finger) and Ryan Weathers (forearm). He is tentatively scheduled to pitch next week against the Mets.

Keller (1-0) picked up the win Friday against the Marlins, striking out four over six innings of work while allowing five hits, one walk and one run.

Keller was in control for the most part and picked up a quality start. The 28-year-old retired 10 Marlins in a row at one point before allowing his only run of the outing, an RBI double off the bat of Graham Pauley. Keller posted a respectable 4.25 ERA to go with a 1.30 WHIP in 2024 and begins 2025 as Pittsburgh's No. 2 starter. The right-hander is lined up for a road start against the Rays his next time out.

Freeland didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Rays, striking out seven and giving up two hits across six scoreless innings.

Freeland needed just 67 pitches to record 18 outs but was pulled after six innings as he builds up his pitch at the start of the season. The left-hander attacked the strike zone with 53 of his 67 offerings going for strikes. Freeland would like to forget his 2024 campaign in which he produced a bloated 5.24 ERA (his highest since 2019), and this was a great way to begin. His bullpen let him down late, however, costing him the win as the Rockies fell 3-2. Freeland is tentatively lined up for a tough matchup on the road at Philadelphia next week.

Kershaw (toe/knee) will face live hitters Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Saturday will mark the first time Kershaw has thrown against a live opponent since undergoing surgeries on his left knee and left big toe during the offseason. The Dodgers are going to progress the veteran lefty through his rehab slowly, but if all goes according to plan, he'll be able to head out on a rehab assignment by the end of May.

Pfaadt signed a five-year, $45 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks on Friday that includes a club option for 2031 and a mutual option for 2032, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Pfaadt's extension won't kick in until 2026, but it will buy out all three of his arbitration years and possibly his first three years of free agency if all options are exercised. The 26-year-old finished last season with a 4.71 ERA and 1.24 WHIP alongside a 185:42 K:BB in 181.2 innings (32 starts); however, his 3.60 FIP is much more indicative of how well he performed on the mound. His first start of the new year is slated to come Saturday versus the Cubs, against whom he allowed two earned runs over 14 innings with a 13:1 K:BB in two appearances last season.