MLB Player News

That means no Robbie Grossman, who was acquired to play against lefties but wound up going just 4-for-32 over the final month of the season. Reliever Will Smith was a candidate to be activated after missing the end of the year with back spasms, but it seems the Royals didn’t want to mess with what’s working in the pen.

It’s merely a procedural move to free up a spot on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster since Jones was expected to be sidelined until at least early June as he recovers from a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Nothing has changed from a return timetable standpoint as Jones isn’t expected to resume throwing until at least early May, and won’t be ready to return until sometime in June, barring any setbacks.

Coming off a successful year in Boston, O’Neill shouldn’t have much animosity towards the Red Sox, who did him a favor by not tendering him a qualifying offer over the winter. He wound up getting a three-year, $49.5 million contract from an Orioles team that is definitely happy to have him. He’s 8-for-14 with a homer, five RBI and five runs scored in four games.

Povich fanned eight, but he gave up five hits and two walks to the remaining 12 batters he faced. His sweeper was the problem today; the 15 times he threw it produced no whiffs, just one called strike and two well-hit balls in play, including Jarren Duran’s two-run triple in the second. He was throwing the pitch a bit softer than last year, so he might need to tighten it up some. Povich will face the Royals next.

Bautista gave up two hits and two walks, the last to the struggling Rafael Devers, to bring out the pitching coach after 24 pitches. He then got Alex Bregman to pop up a 97-mph fastball to end the game. Bautista topped out at 98.2 mph today. He’s not his old self yet, but there doesn’t seem like much reason to worry. He should be available Wednesday after tomorrow’s off day.

All of the runs scored in the first, which featured four singles and a double. Newcomb was able to turn in three scoreless innings afterwards and keep the Red Sox in the game, but that’s the best that can be said for his outing. He’ll make one more start Sunday against the Cardinals and then should be in line to be replaced by either Brayan Bello or Lucas Giolito.

The Red Sox were down 4-3 when Slaten entered in the eighth and then saw him give up three hits — all of them singles and none hit very hard — and a walk before being pulled. Cooper Criswell came in with one run in and went on to allow all the inherited runners to score. Slaten has Boston’s only save to date, and one bad day won’t hurt him much. Aroldis Chapman is the Red Sox closer, but Slaten will remain a viable alternative when matchups dictate changes.

That’s 10 RBI in five games for Mullins. He’s knocked in more runs than seven entire teams have scored this season, though still one fewer than Aaron Judge. Two of his nine career four-RBI games have come this season.

He also had a flyout to left that likely would have been a homer at Fenway. Duran is 6-for-21 with a couple of steals, so he’s not the source of Boston’s slow start. That he’s yet to score a run says a lot about how the likes of Rafael Devers, Alex Bregman and Triston Casas are performing.

It appears to be a routine maintenance day for Freeman, who started all three games of Los Angeles’ stateside-opening series against the Tigers at first base. It’ll be Enrique Hernández filling in at the cold corner. The 35-year-old has been dealing with a lingering rib issue that cropped up during the Tokyo Series in addition to taking it slowly in his ramp-up from offseason ankle surgery.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters Scherzer is returning to Toronto soon to discuss his next steps with team trainers and doctors. The 40-year-old future Hall of Fame righty landed on the injured list over the weekend after exiting his season debut after just 45 pitches with a lat strain that he believes is related to an ongoing thumb issue. There should be an update on his status in the coming days, but fantasy managers shouldn’t anticipate him returning for at least a few weeks, even in a best-case scenario.