MLB Player News

Garcia’s exceptional performance in Grapefruit League action, which includes going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer on Friday against the Tigers, seemingly cements his spot on Pittsburgh’s season-opening roster as lefty-mashing platoon outfielder. The 23-year-old top prospect, who came over from the Red Sox in an offseason trade centered around Johan Oviedo, propensity to swing-and-miss amplifies the risk immediate risk as he acclimates to facing big-league pitching but he’s capable of generating enough hard contact to make an impact in deeper fantasy formats. The Password will go undrafted in most fantasy leagues this spring but he’s a name to watch on the early-season waiver wire front.

Gil also walked four and struck out six, but threw only 47 of his 90 pitches for strikes. Command has always been an issue for Gil, and it seems to still be a lingering one. We know he’ll be moving into the rotation this week, but it’s hard to recommend starting him in most fantasy leagues.

Tibbs is hitting .474 AVG in nine games with four doubles, seven home runs, 13 RBI, and a .535 on-base percentage. Tibbs came over to the Red Sox as part of the Rafael Devers trade, but didn’t seem to respond well to coaching in Boston and was shipped off to the Dodgers for Dustin May last year at the trade deadline. That may go down as the worst trade of the Craig Breslow era in Boston.

Only 12 qualified hitters in MLB swung at a lower percentage of pitches than Stott did in 2025, so the middle infielder is working to put his best swing on pitches earlier in the count: “I get into hitter’s counts and, in the past, I would either slow down to hit it or something of that nature. Now, more just taking my ‘A’ swing, and if I miss it, I miss it. Instead of getting myself out by check swinging or a soft swinging just to touch it. It’s more of being ultra aggressive on hitter’s counts and going from there.” The results haven’t been there so far, but it’s certainly a change that should be beneficial for Stott, so perhaps a bit more time to adjust to the new approach will lead to more success.

This likely means that Vaughn is working on his conditioning or even tracking pitches in the cages. The Brewers have said that they expect him back in mid-May, and he seems to be on track for that.

The next step will be for Snell to face live hitters this week. If he does well in that session and his shoulder feels good, it’s possible that he could begin a rehab assignment as soon as next week. The Dodgers have said that their goal was to have Snell return to the rotation by the end of May, so expect them to move him slowly to ensure he’s healthy

Taylor Walls (oblique) is back off the injured list, so the Rays will ship Williams back to Triple-A, where they had optioned him back in March. Williams was 3-for-23 in his seven games with a 9/1 K/BB ratio. There are some legitimate contact concerns here, which Williams will need to work on in the minors.

Walls has been out since the end of spring training with an oblique strain, but he will come right back to the starting shortstop job in Tampa Bay. However, he should be avoided in fantasy leagues.

Leahy walked three and gave up five hits, but the only damage came on Kerry Carpenter’s two-run homer in the third. He struck out four. It’s going to be interesting to see how Leahy lasts as a starter, since his arsenal seems much better designed to take on righties and opposing teams can just stack lefties against him now. He’s held his own so far with a 5.40 ERA against two quality teams (he loss to the Mets last time out). He’ll be hoping Boston’s bats are still cold when he faces the Red Sox on Saturday.

Ryne Stanek set him up with a hitless eighth. It seems clear that the only reason Stanek was the Cardinals’ choice to close initially was that O’Brien was still ramping up after his spring calf injury. O’Brien has two saves now and has yet to allow a run in 5 1/3 innings this season.

Torkelson opened the season batting fifth, but he’s been down to eighth the last two days, and he entered tonight with a .143/.200/.179 line. Playing time against right-handers could be at risk if he continues to have issues. What he really needs is for the Tigers to take on some lefties. They’ve faced nothing but right-handed starters thus far, and the streak is set to continue with seven games against the Twins and Marlins this week. Those in shallow leagues might want to try an alternative.