MLB Player News

Teodo is the dark horse candidate this spring to emerge as a legitimate closing candidate for the Rangers along with veteran Chris Martin. The hard-throwing 24-year-old was excellent last year at Double-A Frisco as a starter, posting a microscopic 1.98 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 110/50 K/BB ratio across 86 1/3 innings (20 appearances, 19 starts). His overpowering stuff has translated extremely well in shorter bursts out of the bullpen this spring and it wouldn’t be shocking if he made Texas’ season-opening bullpen in a high-leverage role.

Mitchell put the Brewers on the board in the first inning with a two-run double. He then extended the lead in the third with a three-run blast off Luinder Avila to make it five RBI on the day with his first homer of the season. The 27-year-old outfielder is 6-for-18 (.333) with one homer, three steals, and ten RBI in the early going. His power and speed upside comes with lots of strikeouts, but Mitchell is a solid streamer against right-handed pitching in deeper leagues.

Caglianone had a solid day at the plate, reaching three times against the Brewers. His single in the second inning was one of the hardest hit batted balls this season, coming off the bat at 116.1 mph. He then walked in the fourth inning, then knocked his second hit of the game in the sixth, this one just 106.1 mph. The 23-year-old slugger is 8-for-21 (.381) so far while still looking for his first homer and RBI.

Megill took the mound in the bottom of the ninth with a three-run lead for the save chance against the Royals. He issued two walks to bring the tying run to the plate, then struck out Vinnie Pasquantino to end the game with his second save of the season. Megill’s usage so far suggests he’s going to get most of, if not all, of Milwaukee’s save chances as long as he’s healthy and effective.

Patrick was excellent on Saturday, spinning five scoreless innings in Kansas City. He did work through some traffic with the help of some excellent defense, scattering four hits and walking three batters. Patrick threw just 47 of 86 pitches for strikes and collected three strikeouts on seven swinging strikes. The 27-year-old right-hander has allowed just one run with a 7/4 K/BB ratio over 9 1/3 innings across his first two starts. He’ll take on the Nationals in Milwaukee on Friday.

Avila, making his first career start in place of Michael Wacha (illness), struck out his first batter before putting two runners on with a double and a walk. Garrett Mitchell then tagged him for two runs on a double before Avila escaped the inning. Mitchell would get to Avila once again in the third, taking him deep for a three-run blast. Avila returned for the fourth and put the first two runners on before his day was done at 73 pitches. The 24-year-old right-hander is likely slated to return to Triple-A Omaha, with Wacha returning for his next scheduled start.

Murakami brought the first run of the game home on a sacrifice fly in the first inning. With a runner on in the sixth, he gave the White Sox the lead with a two-run blast off Brendon Little, a 431-foot shot at 111 mph off the bat. The 26-year-old slugger is already up to four homers early in his MLB career. That power has come while striking out in roughly a third of his plate appearances so far.

Montgomery drew a walk in the fourth inning, then extended the White Sox lead with a solo homer off Brendon Little in the sixth, just getting over the right field wall at 348 feet, 92.9. mph off the bat. We’ll still take those. The 24-year-old shortstop is 6-for-29 with six RBI and a steal while striking out 11 times in the early going.

Guerrero Jr. got on the board with his first home run of the season on Saturday, a two-run blast off Anthony Kay in the sixth inning that travelled 437 feet at 108.5 mph off the bat. The 27-year-old star third baseman is 8-for-28 with three runs and four RBI through eight games.

Domíguez was summoned in the ninth inning with a three-run lead to close it out against the Blue Jays. He worked around a walk and a broken-bat single, striking out one batter to shut the door on Toronto for his first save of the season.

Kay took over for Grant Taylor in the second inning for the piggyback start. He held the Blue Jays off the board over four innings, despite zero strikeouts, before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took him deep for a two-run blast in the sixth. Kay then recorded the first out in the inning and departed at 76 pitches. The 31-year-old left-hander will make his next outing, either starting or in the bulk role, Thursday against the Royals in Kansas City. He’s not a recommendation for fantasy purposes, given the low strikeout upside.