MLB Player News

Cease allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings in a Cactus League start against Cincinnati on Saturday.

Cease tossed 43 pitches -- 32 of which were four-seam fastballs and sliders -- in his first appearance this spring. The veteran righty gave up a solo home run to Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the second frame but otherwise kept the Reds from crossing the plate. The Padres have not yet announced their Opening Day starter, but Cease is probably the leading candidate after posting a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB in 189.1 regular-season innings last year.

Tidwell struck out five batters over two perfect innings and recorded an immaculate inning in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

The 23-year-old right-hander needed nine pitches to strike out Josh Lowe, Eloy Jimenez and Jose Caballero in his second frame, after fanning Brandon Lowe and Christopher Morel to close out the first inning. Tidwell's prospect status tumbled last season when he was beset by control issues at Triple-A, but he posted a 2.41 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 44:11 K:BB over 37.1 innings at Double-A prior to that to earn the promotion. If Tidwell has corrected the issues that were preventing him from finding the plate consistently, he could be a factor in the Mets' big-league rotation at some point during the 2025 campaign. Per Adam Berry of MLB.com, Tidwell has trimmed his arsenal back to five pitches -- four-seam and two-seam fastballs, a changeup, a slider and a sweeper -- in an effort to put last year's stumble behind him.

Mena (forearm) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning in Friday's 6-1 win over the Royals in Cactus League play.

Mena didn't pitch after July 25 and finished last season on Triple-A Reno's injured list due to a forearm strain, but the 22-year-old right-hander looks to be healthy again for spring training. Before getting hurt last season, Mena got the chance to make his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks on July 3 and gave up four earned runs over three innings in a spot start versus the Dodgers. The right-hander is expected to remain on a starter's development track, but he doesn't appear to be a serious candidate for Arizona's Opening Day roster and will likely begin the season in the rotation at Reno.

The Rockies announced Sunday that Criswell is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2025 season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Criswell wasn't known to be contending with a right elbow or forearm injury in spring training, though it likely explains why he had yet to make his Cactus League debut. The 25-year-old right-hander reached the big leagues for the first time in 2024, appearing in 13 games while logging a 2.75 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 27:9 K:BB in 19.2 innings. Criswell had been expected to compete for a spot in the Rockies' Opening Day bullpen this spring before going down with the season-ending injury.

Gomber was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Sunday against the Mariners due to left shoulder soreness, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw said that his arm speed isn't at the level he wants it to be at this time of the spring, but he didn't express any major concern about the shoulder issue preventing him from being ready for Opening Day. Assuming he misses just one turn through the spring rotation, Gomber should have plenty of time to ramp up and complete his throwing progression before the March 28 season opener versus the Rays.

Nola struck out two and allowed one hit and no walks over two scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the right-hander was focused on commanding his fastball and changeup and completely avoided using his knuckle-curve, which was his most-used pitch last year at 32.9 percent. Opposing batters hit .279 against his changeup in 2024, and turning that into a more reliable offering could help him improve upon the 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 197:50 K:BB he posted across 33 regular-season starts last season.

The Cardinals reassigned Mathews to minor-league camp Sunday.

Though Mathews is regarded as one of St. Louis' top pitching prospects, he was always facing an uphill battle to win a spot in the Opening Day rotation after having made just four starts above the Double-A level. The 24-year-old southpaw should still make his MLB debut at some point in 2025, but for now, the Cardinals will send him to minor-league camp to open up more innings in Grapefruit League play for other rotation candidates. He'll continue to stay in a starter's schedule at minor-league camp, with Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com noting that Mathews will cover three innings Sunday in a game on the back fields.

Skenes allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out four across three innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game.

Skenes had a slow start to his first spring training outing, allowing three baserunners and his only earned run in the first inning. He was sharp thereafter and surprisingly threw 54 pitches, though the longer outing allowed him to work in his cutter and sinker -- offerings he developed over the offseason, per Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Henry (lat) has made two Grapefruit League appearances this spring, tossing three scoreless innings and scattering three hits and no walks while striking out seven.

The 25-year-old righty didn't pitch in the minors after June 26 last season due to a lat strain. Henry has worked as a starter for most of his minor-league career, but he told Andrew Golden of The Washington Post that he'll be making a move to long relief in 2025 as the Nationals aim to keep him healthy. Henry possesses a spot on the Nationals' 40-man roster but is most likely to open the campaign at Triple-A Rochester or Double-A Harrisburg despite his strong showing so far during spring training.

Senga will make his first start of spring training Monday against the Marlins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has been building up in spring games and is now ready to make his first Grapefruit League appearance Monday. Senga is scheduled to pitch one inning before moving to the back fields to round out his throwing program.