MLB Player News

Burnes allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits while striking out five over 2.2 innings in Friday's spring start against the Brewers.

This outing came out of nowhere, as Burnes had breezed through his first five Cactus League starts before the Brewers knocked him around. He ran his pitch count to 75 in his spring finale. Burnes later told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that he was having trouble commanding his cutter. The right-hander should make his next start during the team's season-opening series against the Cubs, though nothing has been set beyond Opening Day starter Zac Gallen.

Montero was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old righty put together a decent spring, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHP and 17: 6 K:BB in 14 innings, but Montero ultimately fell short in his bid for a roster spot. In light of this transaction, Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe appear locked in at the back of the rotation for Detroit.

The Orioles placed Bradish (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bradish isn't expected to return until the second half of the season as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL has no impact on his return timeline. It does, however, free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Kyle Gibson, who signed a one-year deal with the O's on Friday.

Gibson signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Orioles on Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

With Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish all set to miss the start of the season due to elbow injuries, the Orioles will bring in Gibson to give their rotation a bit of extra depth heading into Opening Day. The 37-year-old righty left Baltimore to play in St. Louis last season, where he turned in a 4.24 ERA and 1.35 WHIP alongside a 151:68 K:BB over 169.2 innings. He's been pitching in simulated games against college hitters to stay in shape during the offseason, though his 2025 debut will be delayed while the Orioles put him through a normal spring ramp-up process, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.

Cantillo allowed three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one over one inning of relief in Friday's spring game against San Francisco.

Cantillo was a rotation candidate and made five starts this spring before getting work as a reliever in his last two Cactus League appearances. He gave up a three-run home run in the eighth inning to take the loss. Both Cantillo and Triston McKenzie, another starter candidate earlier in the spring, worked out of the bullpen Friday. That suggests Logan Allen (1.89 ERA, 19 innings) will be Cleveland's No. 5 starter.

McKenzie walked two, hit a batter and struck out two over one scoreless inning of relief in Friday's spring game against the Giants.

McKenzie, who made three Cactus League starts prior to Friday's relief appearance, managed to avoid damage despite loading the bases. He entered camp as one of several options competing for a spot in the rotation, but the right-hander's 8.18 ERA and location issues seemingly have the Guardians moving him to the bullpen.

Greene allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings in Friday's spring start against the Mariners.

Greene made his final start of the Cactus League season, throwing 84 pitches (52 strikes). He finished the spring with a 5.57 ERA over six starts and 21 innings. Greene will next take the ball Opening Day against the Giants on March 27.

Woodruff (shoulder) threw two innings in a minor-league spring game Friday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Manager Pat Murphy said the 32-year-old righty's fastball reached 95 mph Friday -- a tick up from the 94 mph he achieved during his one-inning Cactus League appearance March 10. The plan is for Woodruff to travel with the team to New York for its first regular-season series and throw an extended bullpen session. After that, he'll head back to Milwaukee to play in a sim game before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Waldron (oblique) has yet to resume throwing, per MLB.com.

Waldron is dealing with a mild left oblique strain and is expected to begin the campaign on the injured list. He had been competing for the Padres' fifth-starter role this spring, though he struggled with an 8.68 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 7:7 K:BB over 9.1 Cactus League innings before getting hurt. With both Waldron and Yu Darvish (elbow) likely unavailable at the start of the season, Randy Vasquez, Stephen Kolek and Kyle Hart are battling to fill San Diego's two available rotation slots.

The Nationals optioned Herz to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Herz will miss the cut for Washington's Opening Day rotation and wrap up Grapefruit League play with nine runs allowed (seven earned) over 9.2 innings. The 24-year-old southpaw posted a 4.16 ERA across 19 starts with the big club last season, and if he's able to return to form in Triple-A, he could rejoin the Nationals at some point this summer.