MLB Player News

Pepiot (hip) threw another bullpen session Tuesday, per MLB.com.

It was Pepiot's second session amid his recovery from right hip inflammation. The next step entails the right-hander progressing to facing hitters in live batting practice, which is then likely to be followed by a minor-league rehab assignment. Given the nature of his injury, Pepiot may only require a brief stint in the minors before being deemed ready to make his season debut for the Rays. Meanwhile, Joe Boyle looks likely to make at least two more starts for Tampa Bay.

Uceta (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Montgomery on Tuesday, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout in a scoreless inning.

Uceta, who opened the season on the injured list due to a right shoulder impingement, took a big step forward in his recovery Tuesday. The Rays will presumably want to see the right-hander make it through a handful of rehab outings before they consider reinstating him from the IL, but a return for Uceta in mid-April appears to be on the table. Tampa Bay has a bit of a carousel forming at closer, and the expectation is that Uceta will join the open competition for save chances upon his season debut.

Soler was ejected from Tuesday's game against Atlanta after getting into a fight with Reynaldo Lopez.

Soler entered Tuesday's contest batting .591 (13-for-22) against Lopez, and he continued his success against the right-hander by hitting a two-run home run during his first at-bat of the game. After getting hit by a pitch during his second plate appearance, the 34-year-old avoided a pitch near his head when he stepped to the plate for the third time and subsequently charged the mound. Both players were ejected from the game after trading punches, and there's a good chance they will receive additional discipline from Major League Baseball.

Carter went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Mariners.

Carter's fifth-inning single delivered the Rangers' first run, and he scored one batter later on Kyle Higashioka's home run. The RBI was the first of the season for Carter, who is slashing .250/.351/.344 over 37 plate appearances.

Duran started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Seattle.

Duran entered the lineup at the hot corner for Josh Jung, who was "banged up," per Texas manager Skip Schumaker. Duran was already getting opportunities at second base due to Josh Smith's offensive struggles and now could get time at third base, if Jung's injury lingers.

Bell went 3-for-4 with an RBI double during the Twins' 4-2 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

Bell gave the Twins a 4-0 lead in the fifth after he smacked an RBI double off Tarik Skubal. Bell leads the Twins with four doubles, and his eight RBI are tied with Tristan Gray for the clubhouse lead. Bell has gone 9-for-34 (.265) with two home runs to open the 2026 campaign.

Skubal (1-2) took the loss against the Twins on Tuesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven across 4.2 innings.

Skubal opened things up by striking out four of the first seven batters he faced. He kept the Twins off the board through four frames, but things fell apart for the reigning AL Cy Young winner in the fifth, when he yielded four runs on three hits and two walks before being pulled. Skubal gave up just one earned run through his first two starts of the season, so Tuesday's outing can be considered a blip on the radar for the 29-year-old southpaw. He still generated 19 whiffs while recording 65 strikes on 95 pitches (68.4 percent). Skubal's next start is tentatively slated for this weekend at home against the Marlins.

MRI results on deGrom's right knee came back negative Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

DeGrom left his start Monday after feeling tenderness in his right knee, but testing has determined that he didn't suffer any structural damage and isn't facing an extended absence. The Rangers will have him throw a bullpen session in the next couple of days to see how he feels, but he's still expected to make his next start, which is lined up to come against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Topa earned the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Tigers, allowing one walk and no hits in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

Eric Orze was given the initial save opportunity but was pulled after yielding an RBI double to Kevin McGonigle. With Cole Sands and Taylor Rogers already deployed earlier in the game, the Twins turned to Topa, who proceeded to seal the win for Minnesota after getting two of the next three batters to ground out. Topa is one of three Twins pitchers to record a save this season, but there doesn't appear to be a clear-cut favorite for the closing job in Minnesota as of yet.

Bradley (2-0) came away with the win against the Tigers on Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits while striking out 10 across 6.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.

Bradley set the tone by striking out the first two batters he faced, and he struck out at least one batter in each of the next six frames. He was tagged with an earned run after Parker Meadows came around to score in the seventh, but that was the only blemish in an outstanding start for Bradley, who generated 15 whiffs while logging 68 strikes on 104 pitches (65.4 percent). Bradley has logged back-to-back quality starts and has yielded only two runs while striking out 22 batters across 16.2 innings to open the season. He's slated to start this weekend on the road against the Blue Jays.