MLB Player News

This seems like a good break for Fitts, who figured to have major issues cracking Boston’s rotation going forward. The path to a spot is much clearer in St. Louis. Fitts is thus far 2-5 with a 3.97 ERA and a 49/23 K/BB in 65 2/3 innings as a major leaguer. His ceiling is limited and he missed the final five weeks of 2025 with neuritis, but he has a chance to be a solid enough fourth or fifth starter.

Lewis had been out since February 26th with oblique soreness, but he wasted no time in pushing the tempo on the field. Lewis has said that his goal this season is to have 700 plate appearances, but I’m sure fantasy managers and Twins fans would be OK with 450, which would be a career high. Lewis has the power and speed to be a major fantasy asset when he’s on the field, and he took steps this offseason to ensure his health, but he remains a major risk in fantasy drafts.

The 25-year-old made his spring debut on Saturday after being delayed due to a hamstring injury, but he seemed pretty healthy today. Both of Simpson’s hits were singles, but one of them was 95 mph off the bat, so it wasn’t all soft contact. Simpson has spent a lot of the offseason working on his centerfield defense, and turning himself into an above-average defender out there would go a long way to securing his playing time in a crowded outfield.

Kelly received a cortisone injection in his back last week, and he’s able to throw from (almost) the distance of the mound to the plate. The 37-year-old is still likely to oepn the year on the injured list, but it sounds like the potential for a short stay.

He struck out three and walked one, but Woods Richardson has now allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits in five innings in his last two spring starts. The good news is that he registered a 27 percent whiff rate, and the splitter he introduced at the end of last season continued to miss bats. However, Woods Richardson had just a 56 percent strike rate overall and threw a first-pitch strike to just seven of the 17 batters he faced. He likely has a spot in the rotation locked up, but with Mick Abel looking good this spring, Woods Richardson will need to perform better to hold onto his spot.

Hader has been limited to playing catch after experiencing biceps inflammation in his ramp up. If he’s pain-free when he gets back on the mound, then there might be some chance of him being available on Opening Day. Still, it seems more likely that he’ll miss at least the first week or two of the season. Bryan Abreu is the Astros’ fallback in the closer’s role.

Pearson underwent a cleanup surgery on the elbow in the offseason. He signed a major league deal with the Astros in October and he was supposed to get a look as a starter this spring, but he’s probably IL bound now.

It sounds like it might be another lost season for the 29-year-old Rodgers. “Most likely he’s going to end up in surgery,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “What type of surgery? I don’t know. We’ll wait and see what he has to say but that’s probably what’s going to happen.”

Gaddis wasn’t feeling right after his spring debut Friday, but since tests on his arm came back negative, he still might have a chance of being ready for Opening Day. The very reliable Gaddis pitched in 78 games for the Guardians in 2024 and 73 last year. He hasn’t missed any time with injury as a major leaguer.

Abreu was certainly expected to be in the lineup, but that’s a little higher placement than we’d have guessed. Today’s lineup: RF Ronald Acuña Jr., 1B Luis Arraez, CF Jackson Chourio, LF Abreu, 3B Maikel Garcia, DH Eugenio Suárez, C William Contreras, 2B Gleyber Torres and SS Andrés Giménez. Willson Contreras is on the bench, even though he’d seem to be a clear upgrade over Arraez.

The Padres are leaning towards batting Tatis lower in the order this year, but he’s still at the top of the D.R.'s All-Star squad. The lineup, with Luis Severino slated to start: RF Tatis, 2B Ketel Marte, LF Juan Soto, 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B Manny Machado, DH Junior Caminero, CF Julio Rodríguez, C Austin Wells and SS Geraldo Perdomo.