MLB Player News

Gallen was outstanding on Wednesday, shutting the Giants out over six frames. He scattered four walks and did not allow a hit while striking out eight batters on his way to the win. The 29-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 3.69 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 126/47 K/BB ratio across 127 innings. He’s in line for a matchup against the Rangers in Arizona on Tuesday.

The Rockies made some roster moves during Thursday’s off day, including optioning Ryan Ritter to Triple-A Albuquerque. There was no corresponding move there, so the expectation is that Moniak will return from the injured list on the first day that he’s eligible to do so after missing the team’s first six games due to a sprained finger. Fantasy managers would gladly take him missing just the first six road games to ensure that he’s back in the lineup for the Rockies’ first series at Coors Field.

Strider has been shelved since the end of spring training due to an oblique strain. It sounds like if everything goes well with Friday’s bullpen session that he’ll be cleared to face live hitters. He’s going to need at least a couple of weeks to ramp back up, which should include multiple minor league rehab starts. Even if he’s able to avoid any setbacks along the way, it seems unlikely that he’ll be ready to join the Braves’ rotation before the end of April at the earliest.

Lodolo had been expected to throw around 60-65 pitches in the rehab start, but he was pulled after throwing only 40 pitches over 2 2/3 innings. There had been optimism that the 28-year-old hurler would be ready to rejoin the Reds’ rotation next week, but that’s now out of the question. The plan for him going forward will likely depend on how he’s feeling in the coming days. For now, fantasy managers will have to exercise patience.

The 34-year-old hurler is feeling a bit under the weather, so Luinder Avila will be recalled from Triple-A Omaha to start in his place on Friday night. The rest of the Royals’ rotation for the weekend remains unchanged, with Seth Lugo toeing the slab on Saturday and Kris Bubic getting the ball in their series finale on Sunday.

Festa is currently shelved with a right shoulder impingement. Nothing has changed in his prognosis; this was done primarily as a procedural move to clear a 40-man roster spot for the addition of Garrett Acton on Thursday. The Twins are still hopeful that Festa could be an option to return in late May.

The 23-year-old rookie outfielder started each of the team’s first five ballgames but has now found himself on the bench for two straight contests against opposing left-handers. It looks like he’ll be stuck in the strong side of a platoon role for the time being. Benge has homered and stolen a pair of bases already for fantasy managers this season but has done so while hitting an anemic .158 (3-for-19) with three runs scored, one RBI and a 7/2 K/BB ratio. Tyrone Taylor will start in his place and bat ninth against Robbie Ray and the Giants on Thursday evening.

The Marlins had designated Acton for assignment earlier in the week, so they were willing to flip him for anything that they could get. Whitaker, 25, was a 19th round selection by the Twins from the 2024 draft class. He posted a terrific 2.11 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 33/10 K/BB ratio over 38 1/3 innings between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita during the 2025 campaign. It’s not crazy to think that he could debut out of the Marlins’ bullpen at some point during the 2026 season.

The 27-year-old hurler had been designated for assignment by the Fish on Sunday after they acquired Leo Jiménez from the Blue Jays. Acton has made just one appearance in the big leagues since the 2023 season, throwing one scoreless inning for the Rays in 2025. He’ll add extra bullpen depth for the Twins.

The 24-year-old Rule 5 pick is functioning as the team’s primary backup behind Patrick Bailey to start the season. He has appeared in one game already as a defensive replacement but has yet to have a plate appearance. He’ll bat eighth against Mets’ left-hander David Peterson on Thursday evening in San Francisco.

Tidwell, 24, was knocked around during Cactus League play, registering a 9.45 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and a 13/6 K/BB ratio across 6 2/3 innings of work. He’ll function in a middle relief role for the Giants.