MLB Player News

Wacha allowed no hits or walks across two scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers. He struck out three.

Wacha followed Sunday's starter, lefty Kris Bubic, and looked in control, recording three strikeouts and allowing no baserunners over two innings. The veteran right-hander bounced back from a shakier first Cactus League outing Tuesday, when he surrendered a run on three hits and three walks across two frames. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 31 starts and 172.2 innings -- his fourth consecutive season with an ERA below 4.00 -- Wacha will aim to remain a steady presence in the Royals' rotation entering 2026.

Bubic (shoulder) allowed a run on four hits and no walks across two innings in Sunday's Cactus League win over the Brewers. He struck out three.

Bubic wasn't dominant in his spring debut, allowing four hits over two frames, but he did record three strikeouts in his first game action since July 26 after being sidelined by a left rotator cuff strain. The southpaw was in the midst of his strongest season to date in 2025 before the injury, posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 20 starts and 116.1 innings. Bubic should log additional Cactus League appearances before slotting back into the Royals' rotation to begin the 2026 regular season.

The Rangers optioned Teodo (back) to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.

Teodo has been slow-played this spring following last season's back issues, as he's been throwing off a mound but has not appeared in a Cactus League game. It's unclear whether he will be ready to go at the beginning of the minor-league season. Teodo made a full-time move to a relief role in 2025 but struggled during his time with Round Rock, holding a 9.00 ERA and 23:17 K:BB over 18 innings. He's got a big arm but has strides to make with his control and durability.

The Nationals reassigned Lara to minor-league camp Monday.

Washington outrighted Lara to the minors in January, but the 23-year-old righty still received an invitation to big-league camp to begin spring training. Lara made eight appearances out of the Washington bullpen in 2025, though he'll likely have a tougher time resurfacing in the majors this season now that he's no longer on the 40-man roster.

The Rangers optioned Santos (hand) to Double-A Frisco on Monday.

Santos was almost surely going to begin the season in the minors regardless, but his fate was sealed when he suffered a fractured left (non-throwing) hand in late February. The injury is expected to sideline him until late March, so he could need a little time to get ramped up before joining the active roster at Frisco.

Abbott allowed four runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against the Athletics.

Abbott sandwiched two troublesome innings around a perfect second frame. Three batters in, the Reds were down, 2-0, as Abbott surrendered a two-run home run. It was the second homer allowed in as many games. The left-hander then retired seven of the next eight batters before ceding a two-out, run-producing double in the third, which ended his day. Abbott worked his pitch count to 43 (28 strikes) in his second Cactus League start.

Williams allowed one run on two hits and struck out three over three innings in Sunday's spring start against Colorado.

Williams was taken deep by Brett Sullivan to lead off the game but then calmed down. He worked around a fielding error later in the first inning and then a single in the following inning before a clean third frame. Williams upped his pitch count to 44 (28 strikes) in his second Cactus League outing.

Soroka allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out one over 1.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against the Guardians.

Soroka was on the bump for the second time in the Cactus League and lamented to Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic that he was trying to be too perfect with his pitches. That is evidenced by the 25 balls he through among his 47 pitches. This was Soroka's final outing before leaving camp for the World Baseball Classic, where the right-hander will participate for Team Canada. His eventual role for Arizona -- starter or reliever -- depends on the health of Merrill Kelly (back).

Painter threw two clean innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out one.

Painter's spring debut went swimmingly -- he fired 14 of his 20 pitches for strikes and his four-seam fastball reached 97 mph on six occasions. With Zack Wheeler (shoulder) expected to start the new campaign on the injured list, the Phillies have an eye toward including Painter in the Opening Day rotation, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. While he turned in a lackluster 5.40 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 106.2 innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley a year ago, the 22-year-old right-hander remains one of Philadelphia's top prospects and has an opportunity to overtake Taijuan Walker as the club's No. 5 starter even when Wheeler rejoins the rotation.

Wheeler (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday, per Jim Salisburg of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Sunday marked Wheeler's second session of the spring amid his recovery from venous thoracic outlet surgery. It remains unknown at this point if the All-Star right-hander will have enough time to get in any Grapefruit League action, and Wheeler's throwing progression will remain something for fantasy managers to monitor throughout spring training. Although Wheeler isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day, the Phillies are hopeful the hurler won't need a lengthy stay on the injured list to begin the season.