MLB Player News

Vodnik surrendered a game-tying three-run homer, only to wind up with the victory after the Rockies scored four times in the bottom of the eighth. Vodnik is currently working in a setup role in front of Tyler Kinley, so there’s no sense in using him in mixed leagues right now. He should be unavailable Saturday after making his third appearance in four days tonight.

With Brooks Baldwin (elbow) starting the season on the injured list, Acuña is getting a shot to be the regular centerfielder. The 24-year-old enjoyed a nice spring, slashing .409/.458/.545 in 48 plate appearances with one home run and four steals. Acuña has hit .249/.299/.341 in his 233 MLB plate appearances, so the batting average production this spring may be a bit of a mirage. However, he also has 16 steals in those 233 plate appearances, so if he gets every day playing time, he could be a major asset in that category.

Pereira played in just eight games this spring, hitting .250/.357/.542 with two home runs and one steal. In his 176 career MLB plate appearances, he’s slashing .146/.227/.215 with a 38.6 percent strikeout rate. When Kyle Teel (hamstring) and/or Brooks Baldwin (elbow) are off the injured list, Pereira will likely lose his spot in the lineup. The rest of the White Sox opening day lineup is: Chase Meidroth 2B, Colson Montgomery SS, Miguel Vargas 3B, Andrew Benintendi DH, Austin Hays LF, Munetaka Murakami 1B, Everson Pereira RF, Edgar Quero C, and Luisangel Acuna CF.

It was just poor luck for the Giants that they never had the guys on base to employ their huge advantage over the rest of the league in situational hitting. Fried’s velocity crept back up some tonight; he averaged 95.4 mph with his fastball in the first two innings and 94.6 mph overall, up from 94.0 mph last time out. This is actually the first time ever that Fried has earned a win in his first outing of the season. Last year, the Yankees won 20-9 in his debut, but Fried gave up six runs — two earned — and was pulled one out shy of qualifying for the win. In 2024 with Atlanta, he didn’t even make it out of the first inning while facing the Phillies. Fried will pitch in Seattle next time out.

It’s the first time since July 10, 2024 against the Blue Jays that Webb has given up seven runs in a game. Five came in the second, when Webb gave up five hits and hit a batter. The remaining two, including the unearned run, came after three straight singles in the fifth. Webb struck out seven, so that wasn’t an issue. He just got beaten by a good offense, and while it didn’t have a huge effect tonight, it doesn’t help that he has a subpar defense behind him; Webb finished with a .346 BABIP last year and though the Giants have since upgraded in the outfield, that might not make as much difference to Webb as their downgrade at second base. Webb will face the Padres next time out.

Grisham was a little bit shaken up on the triple, not because he was hit by the throw, even though he was, but because he dove into the foot that Matt Chapman had planted in front of third base even though he didn’t have the ball. Fortunately, he was able to remain in the game.

He saw Logan Webb pitching and thought it was still the World Baseball Classic? Judge went without a four-strikeout game last year, though this is the 15th of his career. Three of those were five-strikeout games. Judge was the only member of the Yankees lineup to go hitless in the 7-0 win tonight.

Alcántara was in Nationals camp as a non-roster invitee this spring. The 29-year-old journeyman infielder got into one contest for the Diamondbacks last year, his first big-league stint since 2022. He should be able to latch on somewhere as organizational depth at the Triple-A level.

Jackson remains with Minnesota as emergency catching depth behind Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini. The 30-year-old backstop has gotten into 161 games between six different organizations since 2019.

Thompson remains with the Rockies as organizational relief depth after being claimed off waivers from the Reds back in January. The 31-year-old veteran reliever holds a serviceable 3.64 ERA — 4.58 xERA — across 227 1/3 innings in the majors since 2021.

Rodgers has been cut loose after undergoing right shoulder surgery earlier this month, extinguishing his chances of making Boston’s season-opening roster. The 29-year-old second baseman is facing an extended absence but could wind up finding another opportunity somewhere else on a minor league deal.