MLB Player News

Kittredge has allowed one walk and struck out one over two scoreless and hitless innings in two Grapefruit League appearances.

Kittredge is likely looking to put the last two years behind him, as injuries have limited him to 31.2 innings in that span. He has 15 saves and 12 holds to his name over parts of seven major-league campaigns, but he's topped 50 innings just once. Kittredge figures to be in the high-leverage mix this season, though Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos are the top incumbent closing options for the Cardinals.

Pallante has pitched three scoreless innings over three appearances in Grapefruit League play.

He's allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two. Pallante struggled to a 4.76 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 43:30 K:BB over 62 relief appearances in 2023 after splitting time between the rotation and bullpen in 2022. Pallante added 13 holds last year, but his poor play saw him in a low-leverage role to end the campaign. He'll be looking to get back into the late-innings mix in a crowded bullpen competition for the Cardinals.

Murphy has gone 2-for-7 with a double and three strikeouts over his first three Cactus League games.

Murphy was signed in the offseason to back up Patrick Bailey at catcher. Murphy has played no more than 97 games in a season in his major-league career. He's often hit well in a backup role, but Joey Bart (3-for-9) and Blake Sabol (1-for-8) are also options to fill that spot to begin 2024. More clarity should be available once the Giants trim down their spring roster, though it appears Murphy's experience is favored to win out over Bart, who could be waived or traded if he doesn't earn a roster spot.

Soler has gone 5-for-10 over four Cactus League games.

Soler was a little delayed getting into game action after signing with the Giants in mid-February. It hasn't slowed him down so far, as he looks to be the reliable middle-of-the-order bat the Giants expected. Soler hasn't logged an extra-base hit yet in the spring, but he's making good contact.

Hicks has allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.1 innings across two Cactus League starts.

The Giants are committed to letting Hicks begin 2024 as a starter, as they lack rotation depth. The numbers so far are not encouraging -- Hicks is struggling with walks and loud contact. Oracle Park should help limit the damage on flyballs, and his elite velocity will lead to plenty of strikeouts. Hicks will need to prove his durability in a starting role, as a return to the bullpen will linger over him if his performance slips or an injury costs him a large chunk of the season.

Houser gave up three runs on four hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out two.

The 31-year-old right-hander worked up to 43 pitches (29 strikes) but gave up a lot of loud contact to a Houston lineup that featured only a couple regulars, including two doubles by Jake Meyers and a Jon Singleton two-bagger that nearly left the yard. Houser would need to have a disastrous spring to lose his spot in the Mets' rotation after signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the team in January, but his 4.42 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 6.9 K/9 over the last two seasons with the Brewers give him little fantasy appeal outside.

Megill has emerged as the favorite to win the Mets' No. 5 starter job, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old right-hander added a splitter to his arsenal over the winter, and so far the results have been encouraging, as Megill has allowed one run over his first five Grapefruit League innings with a 7:0 K:BB. A pitch that can generate more whiffs could be crucial for his fortunes -- after posting a strikeout rate north of 25 percent in the majors in 2021 and 2022, Megill saw that number drop to 18.5 percent last year. The Mets have a hole to fill in their Opening Day rotation due to Kodai Senga's shoulder strain, and while Jose Butto and Joey Lucchesi still have a chance to make their case for the No. 5 job to start the season due to Senga's expected absence, it appears to be Megill's to lose.

Wolf was optioned to Double-A Altoona by the Pirates on Monday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Wolf struck out a pair in a scoreless inning in his lone appearance this spring. The tall left-hander skipped over the Triple-A level to make a spot start for the Padres last season before landing in Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. He'll head back to the Double-A level for more seasoning.

Gray will undergo an MRI on his injured right hamstring Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gray tweaked the hamstring while delivering a pitch during Monday's Grapefruit League start against the Nationals. For what it's worth, Gray made two separate trips to the injured list in 2022 with a strain of the same hamstring, although he had no issues with it during the 2023 campaign. Gray is in line to start Opening Day for the Cardinals, if healthy.

Gray was removed from Monday's outing against the Nationals because of right hamstring tightness, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

It's not ideal, but at least it's not arm-related. Gray permitted one hit and struck out one over 1.2 innings Monday before being lifted. The Cardinals will wait to see how he recovers before deciding whether he will be ready for his next Grapefruit League start or requires a little rest. Assuming health, Gray will be the Cardinals' Opening Day starter.