MLB Player News

Cole is opening the year on the injured list at Double-A Corpus Christi with a hamstring injury, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

According to Callis, Cole should return to play in the near future. A 23-year-old outfielder who hits from the left side, Cole slashed .247/.349/.480 with eight home runs, 12 steals and a 33.1 percent strikeout rate in 41 games last year at High-A.

Okert threw a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's win at Milwaukee with a walk and three strikeouts. He would have be in line for a save had the Twins not scored in the top of the ninth inning. "At that point in the game, Okert with the experience was probably the answer," manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Griffin Jax, who has Minnesota's only save with Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the injured list, was used in the eighth inning against the heart of the Brewers' lineup. While Okert isn't likely to get many save chances, he appears to be in the high-leverage mix and could see some ninth-inning opportunities when Baldelli is playing matchups.

Caballero went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Rangers.

Caballero has been in the lineup for six of the Rays' first seven games, hitting between sixth and ninth in the order. He's still found ways to be productive, as he's reached base eight times across 22 plate appearances with six combined RBI and runs scored. Most intriguing has been his aggressiveness on the basepaths, as Caballero now has three stolen bases on the season while being caught once.

Burnes came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Royals, allowing two runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The right-hander fell just short of his second straight quality start to begin the season, getting pulled after exactly 100 pitches (67 strikes), but Burnes got outdueled by Cole Ragans and was in line for the loss until Baltimore rallied late. Burnes has a dazzling 14:0 K:BB through his first 11.2 innings with the O's, and he lines up to make his next start in Boston next week.

Witt went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles.

The 23-year-old shortstop continued his blistering start to the season. Witt has recorded multiple hits in four of the Royals' first six games, batting .400 (10-for-25) with four doubles, a triple, two homers, two steals, two RBI and six runs scored. Ronald Acuna was in uncharted territory last year with his 40-70 campaign, but if any other hitter in baseball has the talent to approach those numbers, it might be Witt.

Jeffers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.

Christian Vazquez will get a turn behind the dish in the series opener while Jeffers rests after he starred in Wednesday's 7-3 win over the Brewers with two hits -- including a home run -- and four RBI. Jeffers had gone 0-for-11 over his first three starts before Wednesday's breakout game.

Garcia went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles.

The 24-year-old infielder swiped his first bag of the year in the fourth inning before drilling his third homer in six games off Mike Baumann in the seventh. Considering he hit four homers and stole 23 bases in 123 games last season, that ratio is likely the inverse of what fantasy GMs who invested in Garcia expected. He's been hitting the ball hard in general even when it doesn't leave the yard -- Garcia has gone 7-for-25 to begin the season with six of the hits going for extra bases, including two doubles and a triple.

Smith (0-2) was charged with his first blown save of the season Wednesday and took the loss against Baltimore, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. he struck out one.

Entering the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Royals ahead 3-2, the veteran lefty loaded the bases on two walks and a single before James McCann walked it off with a line drive to left field. Smith has had a rough start to the season, coughing up six runs in his first 2.2 innings with a 2:4 K:BB, but James McArthur is also struggling and has allowed at least one run in all three of his appearances, including a two-spot Wednesday. Should someone else in the bullpen step up, Smith's hold on the closer role for Kansas City seems tenuous at best.

Ragans came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles, allowing one hit and two walks over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

He retired the first 10 batters he faced, and the only Baltimore hitter to get into scoring position against Ragans was Adley Rutschman, who got stranded on second base twice. The southpaw produced 30 called or swinging strikes among his 91 pitches and exited the game with the Royals ahead 3-0, but James McArthur and Will Smith combined to blow the lead. Ragans sports 16:5 K:BB through his first 12.1 innings this season with two quality starts in two trips to the mound. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up for a home start early next week against the Astros.

Rogers is not in the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Mets.

Carson Kelly will start behind the plate in the opening game of the day, serving as a battery mate for Casey Mize. Rogers should be back behind the plate for the second game, which will feature Matt Manning on the hill for Detroit.