MLB Player News

Flaherty (1-0) earned the win against the White Sox on Friday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Flaherty allowed his only run on a second-inning double and was lifted just one out shy of a quality start after reaching 95 pitches. The 29-year-old has delivered steady performances in each of his first two outings, compiling a 2.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB across 11.1 innings. He'll face a tough test at home against the Yankees next week.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that the Rangers are monitoring Leiter's finger blister and will soon decide whether a stint on the injured list is necessary, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old exited Wednesday's start due to the blister and could probably pitch through the issue, but Texas is considering whether to instead allow it to heal up over the next couple weeks. Patrick Corbin is expected step into the starting rotation if Leiter ends up missing any time.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Friday that Painter (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment soon, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Painter had a two-inning live batting practice session Friday that went well and the next step for the right-hander could be pitching in a game. He is healthy, but Painter is being slow-played by the Phillies as he comes back from Tommy John surgery in July 2023. The top prospect is expected to become an option for the big-league rotation around midseason.

Suarez (back) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

It will be the first time the left-hander has faced hitters since he came down with lower-back stiffness in mid-March. Suarez could be cleared for a rehab assignment soon if things go well Saturday. He hopes to be ready for his season debut before the end of April.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Friday that Lopez's right shoulder surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The operation is arthroscopic in nature, but the extent of the damage in Lopez's shoulder won't be known until the surgery is performed. He's already been moved to the 60-day injured list and is likely out until the second half even in a best-case scenario.

The Mariners selected Castillo's contract from Triple-A Tacoma, and he's scheduled to start Friday against the Giants.

The right-hander allowed one run over 5.2 innings during his lone start for Tacoma this year and will now get a look in the big-league rotation. Castillo's only major-league experience came with Detroit in 2022, when he delivered a 4:0 K:BB over 3.2 scoreless frames in three appearances. He spent the 2023 and 2024 campaigns pitching in Japan and had a 3.01 ERA across 143.1 innings before inking a minor-league deal with Seattle during the offseason.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Friday that Dollander will be called up to make his major-league debut Sunday against the Athletics, Romi Bean of CBS News Colorado reports.

Dollander narrowly missed out on a spot in the Rockies' Opening Day rotation but didn't have to wait long before getting the call. The ninth overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, Dollander boasts a 2.58 ERA and 174:49 K:BB over 122 innings covering 24 starts at the minor-league level. Dollander's upside will be capped by his team context and especially his home park, but he may be talented enough to overcome those obstacles and become a viable fantasy contributor.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Scherzer (thumb) will not play catch Friday but hopes to at some point during the team's upcoming road trip, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Friday had been deemed the first day Scherzer could potentially resume throwing after he was given cortisone injections in his injured right thumb. This isn't viewed as a setback and the righty will continue to be evaluated on a day-to-day basis to determine when he's ready to begin a throwing program.

Single-A Palm Beach placed Holiday on the injured list with an undisclosed injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.

Holiday, the Cardinals' third-round pick last year, has yet to make his pro debut. He logged a 2.95 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 128 strikeouts in 113 innings in 2024 for Oklahoma State.

Strider (elbow) is making a rehab start Friday for Triple-A Gwinnett, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta reports.

The right-hander threw 60 pitches over three innings during his first rehab start with Gwinnett last weekend, and he'll continue building up his workload Friday. Strider is almost exactly one year removed from undergoing internal brace surgery on his right elbow, and he'll likely require another rehab start or two after Friday before rejoining the Atlanta rotation.