MLB Player News

Walker was 3-for-32 this spring prior to today. With Jeremy Peña out, all four of Houston’s infielders can play regularly at the beginning of the season, but Walker really needs to take advantage, since he seemed like a worse bet than the competition coming into the spring and he hasn’t helped his cause this month. He hasn’t even been unlucky, as today’s homer, which was second, came on his very first barrel in Grapefruit League play.

Bolton last pitched Tuesday, getting a three-inning save against the Red Sox. This will be his first major league start after 35 relief appearances. If he gets through three innings again, the Astros will probably be pretty happy.

Edwards hit seventh versus Max Fried today, as the Marlins have been dropping him in the lineup against lefties. It hasn’t seemed necessary so far, though, as he’s 5-for-11 versus southpaws and 11-for-23 against righties. It doesn’t seem like a total fluke, either. Edwards has added strength while still making a ton of contact. He won’t hit .467 all season, but he seems underrated at this point.

Paddack needed one more out in the seventh to get the win, as the Marlins scored four runs to take the lead just after he left the game. Instead, it went to John King, who retired the only batter he faced after replacing Paddack. The Marlins didn’t start Paddack today because of their desire to use Pete Fairbanks before he left to join his pregnant wife. He probably will start Friday against the Tigers team that he finished last year with.

Bender was closing in place of Pete Fairbanks, who pitched the first ahead of his paternity leave stint. Lucky for him, he had a three-run lead before walking two and giving up a two-run double to Jazz Chisholm Jr. with two outs. He then intentionally walked Austin Wells before striking out J.C. Escarra, pinch-hitting for José Caballero, to end the game. Bender threw 31 pitches today on the heels of 15 on Saturday, so he’ll need Monday off. Calvin Faucher will also need a break, so Tyler Phillips might be in line to close.

Fried, who won his first two starts, left with a 4-3 lead, but the Marlins scored four runs in the eighth to spoil things. He’ll bring a 1.35 ERA into his fourth start against the Rays.

Rice’s contact rate is down and his groundball rate is way up, but that certainly hasn’t mattered yet; he has three homers, four doubles and 11 RBI in eight games. His homer today was a 410-footer against an unusual opener in Pete Fairbanks, who had other things on his mind before leaving during the game to join his pregnant wife.

Kayfus, who would have opened up in the minors if George Valera hadn’t gotten hurt, was 0-for-10 on the season and had been out of the lineup in five straight games before getting the nod in the first game today. His double in that game should have been handled by Michael Conforto in right, but it apparently was enough to get Kayfus started. One imagines he’ll get another start Monday against the Royals’ Michael Wacha, but with the Guardians set to face lefties four times in six games this week, this isn’t the time to pick him up in fantasy leagues.

Messick struck out six in his second straight strong showing to start the year. He allowed only two hits, one of which was a 355-foot homer from Matt Shaw. He has a tough assignment in Atlanta next weekend, but it’s worth rolling with him in mixed leagues.

Smith walked two and gave up a bloop hit to Ian Happ before striking out Carson Kelly to end the game. He ended up throwing 33 pitches, so it will be interesting to see if the Guardians risk going to him with a late lead on Monday. Maybe Eric Sabrowski or Shawn Armstrong could pick up a save in his place.

Imanaga, who struck out four, opened the sixth with a 3-0 lead, only to get pulled immediately after a groundball double from Steven Kwan. The Guardians went on to score three runs in the inning to tie things up. Imanaga is throwing better than he did last year and projects as a pretty solid mixed-league starter going forward. He’ll face the Pirates next.