MLB Player News

Elder walked one and struck out two batters on the afternoon. All of the damage done against him came in the second inning as Jacob Young plated a run with a fielder’s choice and CJ Abrams followed with an RBI single. Elder finds himself fighting with AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep and Ian Anderson for the final spot in the Braves’ rotation to open the season, so he’ll need to be better than this the rest of the Grapefruit League schedule to stand out above the rest.

Ramírez is back at the hot corner and batting second on Monday night at Petco Park following a brief one-game absence due to a right wrist sprain. The 32-year-old fantasy superstar appears to have avoided serious injury, which is a massive relief for the Guardians and fantasy managers alike.

Canario represents an intriguing addition for the Pirates since he’ll have a much clearer path to at-bats than he had previously with the Mets. The 24-year-old former top prospect was jettisoned from New York’s 40-man roster last week and should get a chance to contribute in Pittsburgh. We’d recommend a wait-and-see approach for fantasy purposes, but he’s a name to watch in deeper mixed leagues to see if it ever comes together.

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.