MLB Player News

Kelly allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in Saturday's spring start against the Giants.

The Giants tagged Kelly for three consecutive home runs in the fourth inning of his final Cactus League start, but the right-hander told Manny Randhawa of MLB.com that this was the best he's felt all camp. The Diamondbacks' rotation order hasn't been set beyond Opening Day starter Zac Gallen, but Kelly is considered to be part of the top three, which also includes Corbin Burnes. That means he'll likely make his next start Thursday or Friday against the Cubs.

Cease pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against Cincinnati on Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out nine batters without issuing any walks.

Cease was dominant in the outing, as he induced 18 whiffs on 74 pitches and topped out at 99 mph on the radar gun. The veteran righty finished his spring in superb form, tossing 10 scoreless frames and striking out 17 batters over his final two starts. Michael King has been named the Opening Day starter for San Diego, so Cease will pitch in the team's second contest of the regular season, which will take place Friday, March 28 at home against Atlanta.

Hart pitched 4.2 innings in a Cactus League game against Cleveland on Saturday, allowing six runs on five hits and no walks while striking out four batters.

Hart was tagged by Carlos Santana for a two-run home run in the first inning and then served up another two-run shot to Brayan Rocchio in the fourth. The southpaw did manage to retire nine straight batters at one point between the two long balls, but this was nonetheless not a very promising performance. Hart is competing for one of two Opening Day rotation spots, with Randy Vasquez and Stephen Kolek the other pitchers in the equation. Among the three, Hart has been the least impressive this spring -- he has a 9.39 ERA and 1.57 WHIP to Vasquez's 3.38 ERA and 1.88 WHIP and Kolek's 2.19 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. However, it's worth noting that Hart also has only two Cactus League appearances under his belt, as he was set back early during the exhibition slate due to the flu.

Gomber (shoulder) completed 3.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits, in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Gomber made his first official Cactus League appearance since Feb. 25 as he continues to return from a sore shoulder. He's likely to begin the season on the injured list as he continues to build up his pitch count, but Saturday's outing was a positive indication that he will be able to return at some point in mid-April.

Quintana will likely need two additional starts before he is able to make his 2025 debut, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Quintana was signed in early March and has since made two Cactus League starts. The most recent came Saturday, when he completed three innings of work. Though the team's plans haven't been made official, this report suggests Quintana would be able to take the mound at some point during the second week of April.

Manager Rob Thomson said Suarez's back is feeling better after playing catch again Saturday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies still haven't determined if Suarez will make his first start or head to the IL to begin the season, but Thomson said that decision will be made by Monday. The 29-year-old lefty is slated for another round of catch Sunday, which might help the team decide on his fate.

Cabrera (finger) will throw a bullpen session Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera is already slated to begin the season on the injured list, but the fact he's trending toward mound work before Opening Day is good news considering his throwing session Monday reportedly didn't go well. If he gets through his bullpen session with no issues, the plan is for Cabrera to pitch in a sim game Wednesday, at which point a return timeline may be established.

Roupp remains neck-and-neck with Hayden Birdsong for the fifth-starter role, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

With Kyle Harrison having been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, Birdsong and Roupp are now the final candidates for the last starting spot. The 26-year-old Roupp has recorded a 3.75 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 14:1 K:BB over 12 Cactus League innings this spring, and he was considered the frontrunner coming into camp. The right-hander made 23 appearances (four starts) for the Giants in the 2024 campaign, during which he logged a 3.58 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 47:26 K:BB over 50.1 frames. The Giants are expected to get a look at both candidates during Sunday's tune-up game against Triple-A Sacramento, which may help decide the competition.

Birdsong remains neck-and-neck with Landen Roupp for the fifth-starter role, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Birdsong and Roupp are the final candidates for the fifth-starter spot after the Giants optioned Kyle Harrison to Triple-A Sacramento. Birdsong has made four appearances during Cactus League play, recording a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 18:0 K:BB over 12 frames. The 23-year-old made 16 starts for San Francisco during the 2024 campaign, registering a 4.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 88:43 K:BB over 72 innings. The Giants will likely take a look at both candidates during Sunday's tune-up game against Triple-A Sacramento, which may help decide who wins the final starting spot.

Brito has "backed off throwing" due to a sore right elbow, per MLB.com.

Brito began spring training competing for a spot in San Diego's rotation, but manager Mike Shildt announced in early March that the right-hander would be tabbed for a long-relief role. Now it's unlikely Brito will be ready for Opening Day, as he experienced diminished velocity and elbow soreness in his most recent spring outing, which took place back on March 4. If Brito begins the campaign on the injured list, Alek Jacob would have a clearer path to a roster spot as a long reliever.