MLB Player News

Dollander tossed a clean first inning, then gave up a run on three hits in the second. He was roughed up in the third, giving up a run on a walk, hit, and groundout before loading the bases for Victor Caratini, who took him deep for a grand slam. Dollander allowed one more baserunner with one out in the third and was relieved at 69 pitches. The 23-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 6.65 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and a 50/29 K/BB ratio across 65 innings. He’ll take on the White Sox in Colorado on Sunday.

Worth a flier. The Astros had Rodgers try swinging harder last year, and it did lead to improved exit velocity but also a lot more strikeouts in the 43 games in which he was healthy. Whether things might have gotten better is hard to say, since injuries wiped out the final 3 1/2 months of the season for him. He’s pretty obviously a weaker bet than Romy Gonzalez as a right-handed second base option at this point, but perhaps there’s still some potential to be tapped into after he spent his first nine years as a pro in baseball’s most backwards organization.

Cedeño, a former Cardinals prospect, spent the last three years in Japan and played in a total of 229 games with a .246/.297/.412 line. He’s still only 27, but he seems more like a Triple-A guy than someone who will be of much help in the majors.

Báez received an unannounced two-year ban from international play that expires in April. This has nothing to do with his MLB status, as recreational marijuana usage isn’t banned by the league. Báez was hoping to suit up for Puerto Rico for the third time this year.

Puerto Rico’s roster has been devastated by the tournament’s issue securing insurance for players, with Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, José Berríos and Emilio Pagán all having to stay home. The team has little rotation depth behind Lugo, although Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez might surprise. The lineup could look something like: RF Heliot Ramos, CF Willi Castro, DH Eddie Rosario, 3B Nolan Arenado, 1B Emmanuel Rivera, C Christian Vázquez, LF Carlos Cortes/MJ Melendez, SS Edwin Arroyo, 2B Darell Hernaiz.

Team Canada will miss Freddie Freeman, but it can still run out a pretty respectable lineup of SS Otto Lopez, 2B Edouard Julien, 1B Josh Naylor, RF Tyler O’Neill, LF Owen Caissie, DH Jared Young, C Bo Naylor, 3B Abraham Toro and CF Denzel Clarke. Jameson Taillon and Michael Soroka will lead the pitching staff, which also includes retired former major leaguers James Paxton and Phillippe Aumont.

Saggese has a big opportunity to win a starting spot in Cardinals camp with Nolan Arenado and Brandon Donovan gone, but he’ll take a little time away in the process. Italy is looking at a lefty-heavy lineup of something like this in the WBC: CF Jakob Marsee, C Kyle Teel, 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, LF Zach Dezenzo, DH Dominic Canzone, RF Jac Caglianone, 2B Saggese, 3B Miles Mastrobuoni and SS Jon Berti. Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen will lead the pitching staff, with former Team USA reliever Adam Ottavino coming out of the pen.

Mexico’s rotation is rather shaky, with Javier Assad, Taj Bradley, José Urquidy and Taijuan Walker likely the team’s best option to start, but the bullpen should be asset, with Robert Garcia and Victor Vodnik around to set up for Muñoz. The lineup is pretty solid too: CF Jarren Duran, LF Randy Arozarena, 1B Jonathan Aranda, C Alejandro Kirk, DH Rowdy Tellez, 2B Nick Gonzales, 3B Luis Urías, RF Alek Thomas/Alejandro Osuna and SS Joey Ortiz.

It’s hard to see how López was cleared when so many others ran into insurance issues, but the Twins have indicated that he was slated to be fully healthy this spring. Ranger Suárez and Eduardo Rodríguez should also be a part of Venezuela’s rotation. The lineup should look something like: RF Ronald Acuña Jr., CF Jackson Chourio, C William Contreras, 1B Willson Contreras, DH Salvador Perez, LF Wilyer Abreu, 3B Eugenio Suárez/Maikel Garcia, 2B Gleyber Torres/Luis Arraez, SS Andrés Giménez/Exequiel Tovar.

Díaz and Austin Wells was the expected catcher duo for the club, but something changed there. Even with José Ramírez available, Albert Pujols’ club has arguably the best lineup in the tournament: RF Fernando Tatis Jr., LF Juan Soto, 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 2B Ketel Marte, 3B Manny Machado, CF Julio Rodríguez, DH Junior Caminero, SS Jeremy Peña/Geraldo Perdomo, C Wells. The rotation isn’t great beyond Cristopher Sánchez, but the team is a definite top contender.

It’s difficult to reconcile Clase’s outstanding numbers with the idea that he was actually working against himself a fair amount of the time, but that’s the accusation here. Clase remains on non-disciplinary paid leave from MLB, and his trial is currently scheduled to begin on May 4.