MLB Player News

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker indicated Thursday that the team plans for Strider (elbow) to make his season debut next week, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Strider yielded one run while striking out 13 over 5.1 innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, getting his pitch count up to 90. While Snitker would not officially commit to Strider coming off the 15-day injured list next week, he could just be waiting to make sure the righty bounces back well from the outing Friday. Strider could start as soon as Tuesday in Toronto, but he's been pitching on five days' rest during his rehab assignment, so Wednesday might be the likelier target date.

The Twins could recall Matthews and install him as part of a temporary six-man rotation, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

David Festa is expected to be promoted to start Friday, filling the rotation spot vacated by Pablo Lopez (hamstring). However, Matthews is a candidate to get a look in the majors soon as well as the Twins look to build in some extra rest for their other starters. Matthews has been dynamite in his first two starts with Triple-A St. Paul this season, allowing two runs with a 13:1 K:BB over 10 innings. It's not yet clear when he might start for the Twins, but he's a good candidate to stash in fantasy leagues where he's still available.

Gibson struck out four batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks over 3.1 innings in his season debut for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

Due to his late signing in spring training, Gibson didn't have enough time to get fully stretched out prior to Opening Day, prompting the Orioles to option him to Triple-A. Gibson remained at the Orioles' spring facility in Florida for the first two weeks of the minor-league season to continue ramping up before he was cleared to report to Norfolk for his 2025 debut. The 37-year-old righty was efficient in the outing, spotting 33 of his 47 pitches for strikes. He'll likely need to build up to around 70 to 80 pitches before becoming a rotation option for Baltimore, so expect him to make at least two or three more starts at Triple-A. With Zach Eflin (lat) landing on the injured list Wednesday and lacking a clear timeline for a return, Gibson should have a fairly clear path to a rotation spot once he's deemed ready to join the big club, likely in late April or early May.

Strider (elbow) allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out 13 batters over 5.1 innings on Thursday in his third rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett.

Just as Atlanta had planned heading into the day, Strider reached 90 pitches (62 strikes) in Thursday's outing and breezed through the start in dominant fashion. He struck out the first six batters he faced and punched out 13 of 21 batters overall while inducing 21 total swinging strikes and maxing out at 97 miles per hour with his fastball. Suffice to say, the 26-year-old right-hander looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list, and all that's left is for Atlanta to decide when to insert him into the rotation for his 2025 debut. He has been pitching on five days' rest during his rehab assignment, so if that trend holds, Strider would be lined up to pitch for Atlanta in Wednesday's series finale in Toronto.

The Mariners optioned Castillo to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

Castillo's time with the big-league club was less than spectacular, as he'll head back to the minors after giving up seven runs (six earned) over seven total innings alongside a 5:7 K:BB. With George Kirby (shoulder) not expected back until May, the Mariners are again left with an opening in their rotation, and it's currently unclear who will be chosen next to fill the gap.

Munoz will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis prior to Friday's game against the Phillies, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

It will be the corresponding move after Chris Roycroft was optioned to Memphis on Thursday. Munoz has yielded one run with a 7:5 K:BB over five innings with Memphis this season, recording one save. The righty is making a full-time move to a reliever role in 2025 after spending most of his career in the minors and in 2024 with the Marlins as a starting pitcher.

The Twins are expected to promote Festa from Triple-A St. Paul to start Friday's game against the Tigers, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

The Twins have an opening in their rotation with Pablo Lopez (hamstring) expected to land on the 15-day injured list. Lopez's next turn would have come Sunday, but the club is electing to bring Festa up Friday and push Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richardson each back a day. Festa has permitted six runs (five earned) with an 8:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings in his first two starts with St. Paul this season. He's a candidate to receive additional starts while Lopez is out, although the Twins could also give Zebby Matthews a look.

The Marlins reinstated Alcantara (personal) from the paternity list Thursday.

Alcantara will rejoin the Marlins for their home series with the Nationals this weekend after he was away from the team for the past three days following the birth of his child. He's slated to start Saturday's game in what will be his third outing of the season and his first since April 1, after his previously scheduled start last weekend against Atlanta was rained out.

The Marlins optioned Bellozo to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.

Bellozo had a brief stay on the Marlins' active roster, as he'll head back to the minors just a few days after he was called up to make a spot start Monday. The right-hander took a loss against the Mets after giving up one earned run on five hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He'll cede his spot to Sandy Alcantara (personal), who was reinstated from the paternity list and is on track to make his next start Saturday versus the Nationals.

The Pirates optioned Harrington to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Called up from Triple-A on April 1 when the Pirates temporarily expanded to a six-man rotation, Harrington was lit up for six earned runs over four innings while taking a loss in his MLB debut against the Rays. He shifted back to the bullpen following that start and piggybacked Carmen Mlodzinski in Monday's win over the Cardinals, earning a four-inning save while allowing three earned runs. The Pirates still envision Harrington filling a starting role in the long term, so he'll head back to Indianapolis and will presumably re-enter the Triple-A club's rotation this weekend. He could be back with the Pirates in short order, however, as Pittsburgh will begin a stretch of 10 games in 10 days Friday and could bring Harrington aboard for a spot start during that stretch to keep ace Paul Skenes on a five-day rest schedule between starts.