MLB Player News

Quantrill struck out five over four perfect innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

Facing most of Washington's Opening Day lineup, Quantrill was simply superb, striking out Dylan Crews twice and James Wood, Josh Bell and Jose Tena once each. While the veteran right-hander was signed in February to bolster the back of the Marlins' rotation, injuries to Ryan Weathers (forearm) and Edward Cabrera (finger) may require Quantrill to take the bump for the second game of the season, March 28 against the Pirates.

Thorpe (elbow) is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery in the near future, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Thorpe was pulled from his appearance in a minor-league game Thursday due to elbow soreness -- one of multiple setbacks he's had since undergoing surgery in September to remove a bone spur. He's now set to go under the knife again, though this time around he'll be forced to miss the entire 2025 season and likely at least the early part of the 2026 campaign.

Manager Matt Quatraro informed Lynch on Saturday that he made the Royals' Opening Day roster, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lynch turned in a 6.19 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 16 innings this spring while competing for a spot in Kansas City's rotation. However, the 28-year-old southpaw proved to be much more effective out of the bullpen last season, so the Royals will keep him around for Opening Day and presumably use him in a multi-inning role.

Gillispie will begin the season as part of the Marlins' rotation, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Manager Clayton McCullough made the announcement Friday. Injuries to Edward Cabrera (finger) and Ryan Weathers (forearm) opened up a couple spots in Miami's rotation, and Gillispie stepped up in camp to claim one of them by posting a 0.75 ERA and 6:3 K:BB through 12 Grapefruit League innings. He's set to make his Marlins debut March 30 against the Pirates.

McClanahan was removed from Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox with an apparent arm injury, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

McClanahan immediately motioned to the Rays' dugout after making a pitch in the third inning and looked to be in quite a bit of pain. It's unknown exactly what he's dealing with at the moment, but the Rays will take a look at their Opening Day starter and should provide an update in the near future.

The Giants optioned Harrison to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Harrison was among the players vying for the final spot in the big-league rotation, but he didn't do much in the Cactus League to help his case, allowing eight earned runs in just 6.2 innings. He'll be joined in Sacramento's rotation by Keaton Winn, leaving Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp as the remaining options for San Francisco.

Berrios gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He struck out five.

A Kyle Schwarber solo shot in the fifth inning was the only real blemish on the right-hander's line. Berrios built up to 84 pitches (53 strikes), and he wraps up his spring with a 2.18 ERA and 18:5 K:BB over 20.2 innings. His next trip to the mound will come Opening Day against the Orioles.

Kikuchi tossed five innings against Colorado in a Cactus League contest Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

Kikuchi finished the exhibition slate in good form, and he was able to work up to 88 pitches. The southpaw got 13 whiffs among those offerings, including seven with his slider. Of note, Kikuchi threw only two sweepers Friday -- he's been tinkering with the pitch this spring as a potential addition to his arsenal. The veteran hurler's next time on the mound is slated for Opening Day against the White Sox.

Sale gave up three hits and a walk over four scoreless innings during Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out five.

The veteran southpaw finishes his spring with a 2.79 ERA and 20:5 K:BB through 19.1 innings. Sale's checkered injury history wasn't erased by last year's National League Cy Young Award -- he hasn't worked 25-plus starts in back-to-back seasons since 2018-19 -- but he's shown no hint of a health concern in camp and looks ready to take the bump for Atlanta on Opening Day, just three days before his 36th birthday.

The Giants optioned Winn to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Winn pitched well in the Cactus League, giving up three runs (two earned) with 10 strikeouts in five innings, but not well enough to crack the Giants' Opening Day staff. Kyle Harrison will head down to Sacramento alongside Winn, meaning Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp are the remaining candidates for the fifth spot in San Francisco's rotation.