MLB Player News

Sterner didn't allow a hit but gave up two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of a scoreless inning Friday against the Mariners.

Sterner will pitch in middle relief after he was claimed by the A's off waivers from the Rays in the offseason. Sterner had strong strikeout rates in the minors, including a 31.4 K% at Triple-A last season. He's been prone to giving up home runs (1.36 HR/9 at Triple-A) and doesn't have great velocity (93.5 mph average fastball in the majors last season), so his upside may also be limited at age 28. Still, he could be a productive reliever for a team desperate for bullpen arms.

Rice isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

With southpaw Nestor Cortes set to throw the first pitch for Milwaukee, the lefty-hitting Rice will remain on the bench to begin the game. Jasson Dominguez will serve as the DH instead while Cody Bellinger starts in left field, allowing Trent Grisham to start in center and bat ninth.

Cabrera is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.

Cabrera registered only a .469 OPS against left-handers last season, so he'll step out of the starting nine Saturday with Nestor Cortes due to take the mound for Milwaukee. Pablo Reyes will draw the start at third base and bat seventh.

Rooker went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Friday's win over Seattle. He's started the first two games of the season at DH.

Rooker didn't play in the outfield last season after May due to a right forearm injury that required surgery in the offseason. He played outfield in spring training and is fully healthy, but the expectation is that he will mostly play DH. His arm injury didn't inhibit him at the plate as he had a career-best 39 home runs, 112 RBI, 82 runs scored and 11 stolen bases while posting a .927 OPS last year.

Brieske (0-1) blew the save and took the loss in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers, coughing up five runs (four earned) on four hits while recording just one out.

Dillon Dingler gave the Tigers a 5-3 lead in the top of the 10th inning with a two-run triple, setting the stage for Brieske's first save chance of the season. The right-hander instead melted down in spectacular fashion, giving up a leadoff double to Michael Conforto and a game-tying single to pinch hitter Will Smith before Mookie Betts walked it off with a three-run blast. Given his lack of a track record in the ninth-inning role, Brieske's leash is likely short -- even with Jason Foley beginning the season in Triple-A, the Tigers could turn to Tyler Holton, Tommy Kahnle or Will Vest to protect a late lead if Brieske continues to falter.

Dingler went 2-for-5 with a triple, a home run and three RBI in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers.

After Jake Rogers got the nod behind the plate in the Tigers' opener Thursday, it was Dingler's turn Friday and he made an immediate impact with his bat when he launched a second-inning solo shot off Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 26-year-old backstop then nearly played hero with a two-run triple in the top of the 10th, only for Beau Brieske to blow the save in the bottom of the frame. Dingler flashed some big power in the minors, including 17 homers in only 71 games at Triple-A Toledo in 2024, and if the second-round pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft gets rolling, he could muscle his way into a significant role for Detroit.

Flaherty came away with a no-decision in Friday's 8-5 extra-inning loss to the Dodgers, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander blanked the defending champs, and his teammates for the latter part of 2024, through five frames as Detroit grabbed an early 2-0 lead, but Flaherty exited after 83 pitches (50 strikes) after serving up a game-tying homer to Freddie Freeman in the sixth. Flaherty revived his career last year in a campaign split between the Tigers and Dodgers, and his performance in his 2025 debut suggests that rebound was no fluke. He lines up for a much less intimidating matchup next weekend at home against the White Sox.

Castillo (0-1) was charged with the loss Friday against the Athletics after giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings.

Castillo kept the A's off the board until the fifth inning, when a Lawrence Butler double followed by a Brent Rooker home run put his team in a 2-0 hole. Unfortunately for Castillo, the Athletics' pitching staff was able to keep the Mariners off the board for the whole game, so the 32-year-old will end up starting the year with a loss despite a respectable effort on his part. He'll hope for a bit more run support when the Tigers come to town next week.

Muncy went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during the Athletics' 7-0 victory over Seattle on Friday.

Muncy can officially check "first MLB hit" and "first MLB home run" off his bucket list, as he accomplished both on one swing of the bat against Tayler Saucedo during the eighth inning of Friday's contest. Although he now boasts a career .500 slugging percentage, fantasy managers should view the 22-year-old as more of a contact hitter while he fills in for the injured Zack Gelof (wrist) at second base.

Springs (1-0) earned the win against Seattle on Friday, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out nine batters across six shutout innings.

Springs did a great job showing why the Athletics were right to trade for him in the offseason, as he kept the Mariners' hitters off balance at the plate Friday and got through his six innings of work on just 83 pitches. Durability will remain a concern for the 32-year-old throughout the season due to his recent elbow issues, but he offers plenty of upside to fantasy managers when he's healthy. He's lined up to make his next start at home against the Cubs.