MLB Player News

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

Ogasawara's transition from Japan to the U.S. hasn't gone as well as he probably had hoped. In five Grapefruit League games, the 27-year-old lefty allowed 19 runs (15 earned) in 12 innings while striking out 10 batters and walking eight. He'll now head to the minors as a result of his rough start, and it may be a while before he's ready to face MLB hitters.

Gray acknowledged Friday that his velocity has been down this spring, but he says he's healthy, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

The 35-year-old ended last season on the injured list with right forearm flexor tendinitis and revealed Friday that he received a pain-killing injection at the time that delayed his offseason throwing program. He insists that his pitching arm is now fine physically, but the delayed throwing could be the cause for his velocity being down. Gray averaged just 90.6 mph with his four-seamer in Friday's start versus the Astros, which is down nearly two mph from last season's mark. The right-hander allowed five runs over 4.2 innings in the outing and now holds a 12.56 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts. For what it's worth, Gray said Friday of his velocity that "I still think that will come," per Katie Woo of The Athletic.

Atlanta acquired Wiles from the Rays on Friday in exchange for cash considerations, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Wiles, 26, spent last season at Triple-A Durham, posting a 5.54 ERA and 72:26 K:BB over 87.2 frames. He's struck out 11 and walked two over 6.1 innings this spring. Wiles will likely be assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett.

McGreevy struck out four while yielding just one hit over five scoreless frames in Friday's Grapefruit League start versus the Mets.

McGreevy's impressive spring continues, as he now boasts a 1.08 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 12:0 K:BB across 16.2 innings of work. The young righty could be left out of the Cardinals' Opening Day rotation in spite of the strong Grapefruit League showing, although the club is mulling a six-man setup that would help McGreevy's chances.

Manager A.J. Hinch announced Friday that Maeda (illness) will begin the season working out of the bullpen, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Maeda has been dealing with an illness this week, but there's been no indication it will affect his availability for the start of the season. The right-hander had a 19:1 K:BB across 12.2 innings during spring training, but he served up four home runs and eight earned runs overall. Maeda should serve as a long reliever and potential spot starter when the Tigers deal with rotation injuries.

Steele will start the Cubs' domestic opener March 27 in Arizona, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Steele started the second game of the Tokyo Series against the Dodgers this week -- allowing five runs over four innings -- and will get the first turn back home. He will be followed by Jameson Taillon against the Diamondbacks.

Kirby (shoulder) made 20 throws from 60 feet Friday and will expand his throwing distance to 75 feet Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Kirby was cleared to begin a throwing program Friday, two weeks after being sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. The right-hander was given a biologics injection last week, which he said definitely helped speed along the healing process. There is no timetable for when Kirby will be ready to make his season debut, as the Mariners will have to see how he responds to the ramp-up.

Priester could be trailing Sean Newcomb in the competition to open the season as the Red Sox' fifth starter, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

It seems to be virtually a coin flip, but Browne gives Newcomb the edge. Priester's last Grapefruit League start was his worst, as he yielded three runs on six hits and three walks over 2.2 innings. He also has minor-league options left, while added Newcomb to the roster would allow the Red Sox to retain some depth.

Herz appears to be on the outside looking in for a spot in the Nationals' Opening Day rotation, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Mitchell Parker seems on track to claim the fifth starter role behind MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin, Trevor Williams and Michael Soroka. Herz tinkered with his mechanics this offseason, and the results this spring haven't been pretty, as he's walked nine batters in 9.2 Grapefruit League innings while recording only four strikeouts. The 24-year-old lefty may need some time at Triple-A to regain the form that saw him rack up a 27.7 percent strikeout rate against a 9.4 percent walk rate over his first 88.2 big-league innings in 2024.

Parker appears to be in the lead for the Nationals' fifth starter job, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The 25-year-old southpaw worked six innings in a minor-league game Thursday as he gets stretched out for the regular season. Parker has merely been competent this spring, posting a 3.65 ERA and 8:4 K:BB over 12.1 Grapefruit League innings, but that's been good enough to move ahead of DJ Herz, who is still trying to get comfortable on the mound after tweaking his mechanics in the offseason, and Shinnosuke Ogasawara, who simply hasn't looked capable of retiring big-league hitters. Parker delivered a 4.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 133:43 K:BB over 151 innings in his MLB debut in 2024, and his minor-league numbers suggest he might have another level he can reach as he consistently posted K/9 rates above 10.0 as he moved up the ladder.