MLB Player News

Abbott is battling with Nick Martinez, and to a lesser extent, Brandon Williamson, for the Reds' fifth starter job, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Abbott is off to a good start this spring, but it's noteworthy that his spot in the rotation isn't a sure thing. The way the job battle has been framed by Goldsmith is that Hunter Greene, Frankie Montas, Nick Lodolo (lower leg) and Graham Ashcraft all have spots provided they are healthy. However, Lodolo, Montas and Ashcraft are all coming back from injury, so this situation is pretty fluid.

Alexander signed a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Feb. 20.

Alexander made 18 appearances (11 starts) for the Brewers in 2022 and had a 5.40 ERA and 46:28 K:BB over 71.2 innings. He spent last season at the Triple-A level and had a 5.86 ERA in 16 outings, and he'll serve as organizational pitching depth for the Red Sox.

Lugo pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a hit, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out one in his Cactus League debut Monday versus the Cubs.

Lugo admitted to some nerves before the game, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Lugo is embarking on his first season with the Royals after spending his first seven major-league campaigns with the Mets before pitching with the Padres last year. The right-hander projects to be one of the Royals' top starters after pitching to a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 140:36 K:BB over 146.1 innings last year, his first as a full-time starter since 2017.

Gray gave up two hits over two scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out five without walking a batter.

It was an impressive start to the exhibition schedule for Gray, who was facing a New York lineup anchored by Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor along with a handful of top prospects like Luisangel Acuna and Drew Gilbert. Gray still needs to demonstrate improved control and command to become a reliable fantasy asset, so the lack of walks Monday might be more important for his 2024 outlook than the Ks.

Kremer is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League start Wednesday versus the Twins, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

After the Orioles acquired Corbin Burnes in a blockbuster deal with Milwaukee earlier this month, Kremer looked poised for a back-end role in the Baltimore rotation, but he could end up opening the regular season as the team's No. 2 or 3 starter due to Kyle Bradish (elbow) and John Means (elbow) both seemingly being ticketed for the injured list. Kremer's overall numbers from 2023 (4.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 157:55 K:BB in 172.2 innings) weren't particularly eye-catching, but he was at his best down the stretch while helping the Orioles clinch the AL East crown. Over his final nine starts, Kremer pitched to a 2.83 ERA over 47.2 innings, though most of his peripherals during that stretch (4.06 xFIP, 12.7 K-BB%) suggest that his late-season surge wasn't quite as strong as the ERA would indicate.

Buehler (elbow) will face hitters Tuesday for the first time this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The Dodgers are bringing Buehler along carefully this spring after he missed virtually the entire 2023 season following Tommy John surgery. He is not expected to make any Cactus League appearances and instead will stay behind at extended spring training for the start of the regular season. The Dodgers have been vague about a timetable for Buehler's season debut, but it doesn't seem likely to happen before the end of April.

Corbin is scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League start Thursday versus the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Corbin struck out four of the nine batters he faced Saturday in the Nationals' spring opener against the Astros, but he was touched up for two earned runs on three hits (two singles, one triple) and also conceded a stolen base. At this stage of Corbin's career, spring training is more about building innings than turning in quality results, but even if the 34-year-old lefty is lights out in his subsequent Grapefruit League outings, fantasy players should have some degree of skepticism about him carrying over any success into the regular season. Over each of his last three campaigns in Washington, Corbin has taken at least 31 starts in every season, but he hasn't turned in an ERA better than 5.20 or a WHIP lower than 1.47 and has seen his strikeout percentage decline in each successive year.

Snell and the Yankees discussed a potential contract Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The Yankees have reportedly put multiple offers on the table for Snell this offseason, but the two sides don't currently appear to be making much progress toward a deal. The left-hander won the NL Cy Young Award with the Padres last season after he posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 234:99 K:BB over 180 innings, but a league-worst 13.3 percent walk rate and just two seasons over 130 frames in his MLB career have likely played a part in his asking price not yet being met.

Kikuchi gave up one hit and struck out three batters over two scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The southpaw tossed 19 of 30 pitches for strikes. Kikuchi is coming off his best MLB season to date, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 181:48 K:BB through 167.2 innings in 2023, but per Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic, he's looking to take another step forward by ditching his splitter for a circle change, a pitch that should have more separation from his mid-90s fastball. "His delivery was awesome, stuff was really good, too," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Monday's game. "Changeup's going to be a big pitch for him - especially against those righties. I thought everything that he set out to do today, he did. Fastball command was there, slider was sharp - really, really good first outing for him."

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that Rutledge will start Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Rutledge will be taking the hill on three days' rest after he made his spring debut in relief Saturday in the Nationals' Grapefruit League opener against the Astros. He worked two scoreless frames versus Houston, striking out two of the eight batters he faced while walking one and allowing a base hit. According to Zuckerman, team officials reportedly came away impressed from Rutledge's debut appearance, and the young right-hander could build a stronger claim for a spot in Washington's Opening Day rotation if he's able to to carry that momentum into Wednesday. Rutledge will need a stellar spring to cement a starting role with Washington after he was touched up for 15 earned runs on 24 hits and six walks over 20 innings in his first taste of the big leagues late last season.