MLB Player News
-
Sal Stewart 1B | CIN
Reds' Sal Stewart: Rips three hits in opener
Stewart batted cleanup and went 3-for-4 with two doubles in Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Red Sox.
Reds manager Terry Francona began experimenting with Stewart batting fourth followed by Eugenio Suarez late in spring training and stuck with it for Opening Day against Boston left-hander Garrett Crochet. The 22-year-old Stewart collected three of the four hits Boston's ace would allow, and Stewart managed to stay in the game after taking a Roman Anthony line drive off the hand while playing the field. Stewart slashed .327/450/.592 during spring training with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI across 20 games and will be the Reds' mainstay at first base and part of the rotation at DH, but he could also be an option at second or third base.
-
Jose Soriano SP | LAA
Angels' Jose Soriano: Blanks Houston in Opening Day win
Soriano (1-0) earned the win Thursday over the Astros, allowing two hits and four walks across six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
It was an impressive showing for Soriano in his first career Opening Day start. The right-hander held Houston to just one hit through his first five innings en route to an eventual 3-0 victory. The 27-year-old Soriano will be tasked with anchoring the Angels' rotation this year after posting a 4.26 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP and 152:78 K:BB across 31 starts (169 innings) in 2025. He's currently lined up to face the Cubs on the road his next time out.
-
Jordan Romano RP | LAA
Angels' Jordan Romano: Notches save in opener
Romano earned the save in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Astros, logging a strikeout and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
With Kirby Yates (knee) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) sidelined to open the year, Romano was tasked with closing out Anaheim's 3-0 victory Thursday. It's an encouraging start to the year for the veteran right-hander, who signed with the Angels after struggling to an 8.23 ERA across 42.2 regular-season innings with the Phillies last season. Romano is expected to share ninth-inning duties with lefty Drew Pomeranz until the Halos' bullpen returns to full health.
-
Hunter Brown SP | HOU
Astros' Hunter Brown: Strikes out nine in no-decision
Brown did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Angels, allowing four hits and four walks across 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out nine.
Brown was impressive Thursday, though he'd ultimately come away with a no-decision after needing 102 pitches to get through 4.2 frames. The 27-year-old Brown is looking to build on a breakout 2025 campaign, during which he posted a 2.43 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP and 206 strikeouts across 31 starts (185.1 innings). Brown is currently slated to face the Red Sox at home in his next outing.
-
Joey Wiemer RF | WAS
Nationals' Joey Wiemer: Three hits, homer in Nats debut
Wiemer went 3-for-3 with a home run and a second run scored in Thursday's 10-4 win over the Cubs.
After claiming one of the Nats' final roster spots out of spring training, Wiemer was responsible for Washington's first run of the season with a solo homer off Matthew Boyd in the second inning Thursday. The 27-year-old Wiemer appeared in 27 games with the Marlins in 2025, batting .236 with three homers and a .715 OPS across 61 plate appearances. While Wiemer's 2026 debut was certainly encouraging, he'll likely be limited to starts against left-handers to open the year while platooning with Daylen Lile.
-
Joe Ryan SP | MIN
Twins' Joe Ryan: Stuck with no-decision
Ryan did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Orioles, allowing one hit and two walks across 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander was excellent in his second Opening Day start, but the Twins failed to get anything going offensively against Trevor Rogers, leaving Ryan with a no-decision in an eventual 2-1 defeat. The 29-year-old made 30 starts last season, posting a 3.42 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 194:39 K:BB across 171 innings. He'll hope for more support in his next outing, currently slated to come next week in Kansas City.
-
Trevor Rogers SP | BAL
Orioles' Trevor Rogers: Stellar in Opening Day win
Rogers (1-0) earned the win Thursday over the Twins, allowing three hits and four walks across seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.
Rogers picked up where he left off in 2025, when he posted a sparkling 1.81 ERA with a 0.90 WHIP and 103:29 K:BB across 18 starts (109.2 innings). The southpaw needed only 88 pitches to make it through seven scoreless innings Thursday, which is particularly impressive given that he didn't have his best command. Rogers will look to keep rolling his next time out, currently slated for next week at home against the Rangers.
-
Ryan Helsley RP | BAL
Orioles' Ryan Helsley: Grabs save in Orioles' debut
Helsley earned the save in Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Twins, allowing one hit while striking out three in a scoreless ninth inning.
It was a strong showing from Helsley, who was tasked with closing out a one-run victory in his Baltimore debut. The right-hander will be the Orioles' primary closer with Felix Bautista (shoulder) expected to miss the majority of the regular season. Helsley made 58 appearances (56 innings) between the Cardinals and Mets last year, posting a 4.50 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP and 63 strikeouts while converting 21 of 30 save chances.
-
Cade Cavalli SP | WAS
Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Goes 3.2 innings in opener
Cavalli did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Cubs, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks across 3.2 innings. He struck out five.
Making his first Opening Day start, Cavalli was limited to 75 pitches Thursday in an eventual 10-4 Nationals victory. The 27-year-old Cavalli made 10 starts last season, posting a 4.25 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB across 48.2 innings as he pitched in the big leagues for the first time since 2022. He's currently slated to face the Phillies on the road his next time out.
-
Brandon Lowe 2B | PIT
Pirates' Brandon Lowe: Shows out in Pirates debut
Lowe went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Thursday's 11-7 loss against the Mets.
Lowe made an immediate impact in his Pirates debut, launching a pair of homers in his first two at-bats: a two-run bomb in the first inning and solo shot in the third. It marked the ninth multi-homer game of the 31-year-old's career. If he can stay healthy, Lowe's power should be a key asset for Pittsburgh after he hit .256 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI last year with the Rays.