MLB Player News

It sure looks like it’ll come down to Maeda, Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe for two spots in the Detroit rotation. It probably helps Maeda that the Tigers keep bringing in veterans for the pen; that’s where he’ll end up if he fails to make the rotation, while the other two would likely to go to Triple-A instead and help alleviate the roster crunch.

Rutledge will open the regular season back in the upper minors as extra starting pitching depth. The 25-year-old former first-round pick has made a handful of appearances for the Nationals over the last two years, but hasn’t turned into the impact arm scouts envisioned when he was picked in the 2019 MLB Draft.

Yepez entered spring training with a decent shot at making Washington’s season-opening roster, but the final spot winds up going to José Tena instead. The 27-year-old will head back to the minors, but should be an option at some point in the near future.

Chaparro isn’t expected to miss a ton of time, but he’s not ready for the start of the regular season after suffering a left oblique strain earlier this month. The 25-year-old first baseman should be ready to return by mid-to-late April.

Cavalli entered spring training with a clean bill of health, but he’s going to require some additional time to continue ramping up in the minors before he ready to make his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery. He should get an opportunity to contribute at the highest level at some point in the first half of the season.

The positive news here is that Law doesn’t appear to be facing an extended absence based on his comments last weekend when he acknowledged that he would open the regular season on the shelf. The 34-year-old veteran reliever should be ready to return by mid-April, when first eligible to be activated.

Brzycky will open the regular season on the shelf, but should be an option for Washington’s relief mix by the end of April, barring an unexpected setback.

It’s merely a procedural move as Herz is facing an extended absence after being diagnosed earlier this week with a UCL sprain in his left elbow.

Miller pitched extremely well this spring in Cactus League outings to land a spot on Arizona’s season-opening roster. The 34-year-old righty was in camp as a non-roster invitee. He figures to pitch in middle relief situations for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona is going with José Herrera as starter Gabriel Moreno’s caddy to open the regular season. Pinto was claimed off waivers back in January from the Orioles. He should be able to latch on somewhere else as extra organizational catching depth.

It’s merely a procedural move as Montgomery is set to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. The 32-year-old southpaw will likely miss a significant portion of the 2026 season as well. He’ll be a free agent at the conclusion of the year.