MLB Player News

The 26-year-old hurler also issued two walks while striking out two in the ballgame. The Twins got to him early and often in this one, but the biggest blow against him came on a grand slam off the bat of Trevor Larnach in the third inning. Kauffmann got six swings and misses on 87 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 21 percent. Kauffmann finishes the 2023 campaign with a highly disappointing 8.23 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and a 16/16 K/BB ratio over 35 innings in 11 appearances (three starts) for the Rockies.

Richardson will open the year back at Triple-A Louisville after being removed from Cincinnati’s 40-man roster during the offseason. The 26-year-old righty posted a serviceable 4.54 ERA and 30/21 K/BB ratio across 37 2/3 innings over a career-high 34 appearances in the big leagues last year.

Lowe returns to Los Angeles’ lineup for the first time since suffering a left oblique injury back in late February. The 28-year-old corner outfielder has expressed optimism about being ready for Opening Day, and his return to game action suggests he’s absolutely trending in that direction. He’s a late-round option for fantasy purposes given his checkered injury history.

Uceta won’t be ready for Tampa Bay’s season opener later this month but he’s trending towards being ready to return at some point in early-to-mid April following a brief rehab assignment. The 28-year-old high-leverage specialist has been brought along slowly this spring after receiving a cortisone shot to alleviate shoulder inflammation earlier in camp. His absence opens the door for Griffin Jax to handle the ninth-inning role at the start of the regular season.

It was Wheeler’s first time facing hitters since undergoing surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome last September. The 35-year-old former fantasy ace is trending towards a return to Philadelphia’s rotation at some point in April but remains without a firm timeline. There should be a definitive target date once Wheeler begins ramping up from a pitch count and endurance standpoint in game action. He’s a top 25-30 range starter in fantasy drafts at the moment, especially since all signs point to him only missing a few weeks at the outset of the regular season.

Gausman draws his first Opening Day nod since arriving in Toronto back in 2022 as he spearheads a loaded rotation that also includes marquee offseason addition Dylan Cease along with Cody Ponce, Max Scherzer and rookie sensation Trey Yesavage. The 35-year-old veteran previously made a pair of Opening Day starts for the Orioles and Giants, respectively. He’s widely-regarded as a top 25-30 range starter in all fantasy drafts this spring based on his durability and strikeout floor.

Garcia’s exceptional performance in Grapefruit League action, which includes going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer on Friday against the Tigers, seemingly cements his spot on Pittsburgh’s season-opening roster as lefty-mashing platoon outfielder. The 23-year-old top prospect, who came over from the Red Sox in an offseason trade centered around Johan Oviedo, propensity to swing-and-miss amplifies the risk immediate risk as he acclimates to facing big-league pitching but he’s capable of generating enough hard contact to make an impact in deeper fantasy formats. The Password will go undrafted in most fantasy leagues this spring but he’s a name to watch on the early-season waiver wire front.

Rangel was in the mix to make Philadelphia’s season-opening roster as a low-leverage relief option. He’ll instead open the year back in the minors as organizational depth. The 28-year-old posted an encouraging 2.45 ERA across 11 innings over five appearances for the Phillies last season.

Hawkins flashed impressive fastball velocity this spring and figures to arrive as part of San Diego’s relief mix at some point this season. The 26-year-old was added to the club’s 40-man roster last November after compiling an impressive 1.50 ERA across 60 innings between High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio last season.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro deemed India’s early exit as precautionary while speaking to reporters after the contest. The 29-year-old utility specialist will undergo further evaluation to determine the severity of the issue later this weekend. There should be some additional clarity shortly but it doesn’t sound like a major concern.

Kelly has progressed to pitching in Cactus League contests, but his fastball velocity was down noticeably on Friday during his spring debut. He’s unlikely to have enough time to fully ramp up in advance of Opening Day, which is less than two weeks away. The 37-year-old veteran, who missed time with a back issue earlier this spring, figures to require only a brief trip to the injured list and be ready to make his season debut at some point in early-to-mid April. His brief absence gives Michael Soroka a little extra runway at the start of the year and means Arizona will probably go to a six-man rotation once he’s back in the fold. Kelly is a strong late-round selection for fantasy managers willing to wait a couple weeks for his return.