MLB Player News

Roupp is being brought along just a tad slowly this spring after missing the end of last year with a bone bruise in his left knee, but he was strong today; all of his pitches were up a tad more than one mph from last year. He’s the clear favorite to serve as the Giants’ fifth starter if he can get through March without incident.

Schmitt was scratched from the lineup Friday with tightness in his back, and he’ll miss Saturday’s game and likely Sunday’s as well. Consider the 27-year-old day-to-day. Christian Koss has started taking reps at first base before games and could be an option at some point, but Jerar Encarnacion likely will see the not-as-hot corner starts for now.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that Walls was “feeling great” after the contest. The 29-year-old was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain just before the season, and is expected to return — assuming no setbacks — near the end of April.

Donovan exited Saturday’s game with leg discomfort, and he unsurprisingly will miss at least one more contest. Luke Raley is moving up to the leadoff spot with Donovan out, and Leo Rivas will handle third base and hit ninth.

Henderson will be called up as the 27th player and get the start in the second game of the twin-billing. Brandon Sproat will follow the right-hander, so it’s likely Henderson will only get a time through the lineup at most. There’s long-term upside in the 24-year-old’s profile, but there are probably better options on Saturday’s slate.

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.