MLB Player News

Birdsong has a 2.89 ERA and a 13:1 K:BB this spring, including an outing against minor leaguers that doesn't count toward his Cactus League stats, and he is in the mix for a rotation spot, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

It seemed like Birdsong would be behind Kyle Harrison and maybe even Landen Roupp in the competition for the fifth starter's spot, but Birdsong has pitched well enough to keep his name in the mix. In fact, Birdsong was so efficient in his most recent appearance Monday, throwing 45 pitches over three scoreless innings, that he went back out to the bullpen to keep throwing in order to meet his pitch count requirement, per delos Santos. Birdsong threw 129.1 innings last season, significantly more than Roupp (76.2 innings) and also more than Harrison (124.1 innings), and is up over 10 unofficial innings this spring, so he won't miss out on the rotation due to any any durability concerns. Birdsong's control was poor in 2024, particularly in the majors (13.7 BB%), but if he has indeed taken a step forward in that aspect of his game, he could be in for a breakout 2025 season.

Gore is on schedule to pitch the first game of the season for the Nationals against the Phillies on March 27, although manager Dave Martinez has yet to officially name the left-hander his Opening Day starter, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Gore dominated the Astros on Tuesday afternoon in only his second Grapefruit League start of the spring, allowing two hits and three walks over 5.1 scoreless innings while striking out six, although he was facing a Houston lineup that featured top prospect Cam Smith as its biggest name. Gore produced career bests with a 3.90 ERA, 10 wins, 181 strikeouts and 166.1 innings last season, and the third overall pick in the 2017 Draft could be poised to take another big step forward in 2025.

Megill gave up two hits and a walk over four scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out five.

The 29-year-old right-hander was essentially gifted a rotation spot to begin the season when Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) went down with injuries, but Megill has earned the assignment so far this spring with a 1.35 ERA and 7:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. He's always had intriguing stuff, highlighted by a 27.0 percent strikeout rate over 78 regular-season innings in the majors last year, but to this point in his career a true breakout has eluded him.

Tidwell topped out at 99 mph with his fastball in big-league camp this spring, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

The 23-year-old right-hander saw his control desert him at Triple-A last season as he issued an ugly 53 walks in 85 innings, but Tidwell reported to spring training in better shape and made a strong impression with both improved command and improved velocity. If those results hold up at Triple-A Syracuse to begin the 2025 campaign, Tidwell could be among the first pitchers called up when the Mets' rotation is in need of reinforcements.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Monday that he envisions using Brito in a long-relief role this season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Shildt's comments effectively remove Brito from the competition for the No. 5 starter role, leaving Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron, Randy Vasquez and Stephen Kolek as the remaining candidates for the final spot in the rotation. Brito previously made 13 big-league starts for the Yankees in 2023, but he worked exclusively in relief over his 26 regular-season appearances for the Padres last season, logging a 4.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB in 43.2 innings.

Smith-Shawver has a 3.38 ERA and 10:3 K:BB through eight Grapefruit League innings this spring as he attempts to win a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day rotation.

Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson were viewed as the favorites for the final two spots coming into camp, as both are out of minor-league options. Anderson has struggled to find the plate, however, stumbling to a 5:9 K:BB in his eight spring innings, although he's minimized the damage by giving up just two hits. If Atlanta eventually decides Anderson isn't up to the task, it could open the door for the 22-year-old Smith-Shawver to break camp on the 26-man roster. More likely, the young righty will return to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he posted a 4.86 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 104:40 K:BB over 87 innings in 2024.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Wednesday that Rutledge will be used as a multi-inning reliever moving forward, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

A first-round pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Rutledge has seen spot duty in the majors the last two seasons but really struggled last year at Triple-A Rochester, posting a 6.40 ERA with a 13.7 percent walk rate. Rutledge's stuff should play up in relief and the new role also figures to mask some of his control problems.

Pfaadt allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over three innings in Tuesday's spring game against the Royals.

Pfaadt didn't start the game and came on to pitch innings five through seven after Merrill Kelly and Justin Martinez got the Diamondbacks through the first four frames. This was Pfaadt's third Cactus League outing and decidedly better than his previous appearance when he was chased after 1.1 innings. Despite working out of the bullpen Tuesday, Pfaadt remains in the mix for the final spot in the rotation, along with Ryne Nelson and Jordan Montgomery.

Kelly allowed five hits while striking out one over 3.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Royals.

Kelly threw 48 pitches in his third Cactus League start, the same number of pitches he threw the last time out, March 7, against the Mariners. He navigated first-inning trouble with the help of his defense; a baserunner was caught attempting to steal and a second one was picked off by Kelly, the third time he's picked off a runner this spring. After three spring outings, Kelly has a 2.35 ERA over 7.2 innings.

Montgomery's next spring outing will come on a back field at camp Thursday instead of in a Cactus League game, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Montgomery was shelled in his spring debut last Saturday, recording just one out while allowing five earned runs. The Diamondbacks have indicated that the poor showing didn't factor into the decision to have him bypass pitching in a second Cactus League game. Instead, the team sees potential rain in the forecast for Thursday, and it wants to ensure Montgomery gets his work in during the day. The left-hander needs the work due to a finger injury early in camp that left him behind other candidates for the rotation.