MLB Player News

It’s the first large batch of cuts for the Jays’ this spring, but there were no major surprises in the bunch. Macko, 23, made 20 starts at High-A Vancouver in 2023, posting a 4.81 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 106/40 K/BB ratio over 86 innings of work. Expect him to begin the 2024 campaign at Double-A New Hampshire.

Cotillo mentions that Boston will re-assess after a few weeks, but Early has been named the starter for Sunday’s game against the Reds, and Oviedo will begin the season as a piggyback option behind starting pitchers like Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello, who have not been built up to the same pitch count as Boston’s other starters. Early was a revelation in a small sample size last year and has the ability to be a true breakout this season, so he is a must add if he’s still available on your fantasy baseball waiver wires. Oviedo has mentioned struggling with the feel of some new pitches that Boston is adding, so keeping him in shorter stints in the bullpen makes some sense. He also has a good slider and a strong fastball with poor command, so a bullpen role might be best for him long-term as well.

Hedges was hit on the right hand by a pitch. If he needs to on the IL, the Guardians could bring back Jonathan Rodriguez or Petey Halpin. They already have David Fry to use as their backup catcher.

He also swiped his first base of the spring. Lowe is 5-for-17 with a homer and nine RBI in five games since returning from his mild oblique injury. One of the game’s best percentage basestealers, Lowe could offer some mixed-league value if he does enough running this year. He’ll be hitting in the bottom half of the Angels order, so there will be little reason for him to hold back.

Detmers allowed two hits, walked three and struck out three. That Detmers is in one of the game’s very worst situations for pitchers limits his fantasy upside, but moving him back to the rotation should pay off for the Angels. He’ll make his season debut Saturday against the Astros.

Although his velocity has been down about one mph from last year and two mph from his last strong season in Toronto in 2023, Romano had thrown five scoreless innings this spring coming into this one. He’ll probably be in the Halos’ closing mix with Kirby Yates and Drew Pomeranz initially, though we have more faith in Yates.

Sasaki’s first inning opened with a HBP, a botched grounder and then three straight walks before he was pulled with none out. After returning for the second, he again plunked leadoff man Zach Neto before another walk, a groundout and a double play. The third featured a leadoff walk but then straight outs afterwards, ending Sasaki’s night at 66 pitches. In four starts this spring, he’s posted a 15.58 ERA and a 12/15 K/BB in 8 2/3 innings. His stuff is better than it was last year, and he’s never had this level of control issues before. Most likely, he’ll get that turned around, and while we wouldn’t expect him to emerge as a quality fantasy SP anytime soon, he shouldn’t remain the sort of liability he’s looked like this spring.

Putting a little exclamation point on his spring, DeLauter is now up to .459/.535/.838 in 43 plate appearances. He’s probably about as weak of a bet to remain healthy as any position player in the league, but from a performance standpoint, he’s looking like a strong Rookie of the Year candidate.

Cecconi, who had a 33% CSW in his 57-pitch outing tonight, closes out the spring with a 1.62 ERA and a 16/5 K/BB in 16 2/3 innings. He’ll take on the Mariners in Seattle on Sunday.

Cantillo officially secured his rotation spot when the Guardians sent down Logan Allen, and he’ll make his season debut Sunday against the Mariners. He offers mixed-league upside, but he seems more like an AL-only guy initially.

Chase DeLauter and José Ramírez hit back-to-back homers off him in the first. Kelly, who missed time with nerve issues in his back, is still due to go on the IL before Arizona’s opener. His velocity was back to normal tonight, and it seems likely that he’ll be slotted into the Diamondbacks rotation two weeks into the regular season.