Player Notes

  • Likely to make MLB bullpen
    Alcala looks set to begin the season in the Minnesota bullpen with injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique), MLB.com reports. He has a 2.16 ERA this spring with a 10:3 K:BB ratio in 8.1 innings.

    Advice: Alcala has had a strong spring and looks back to full strength after two injury-plagued seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He could become part of the setup mix if his fastball can come close to averaging the high-90s mph from earlier in his career (97.4 average mph fastball in 2021). Rotowire.com 29 minutes ago
  • Hits open market
    The Athletics released Felipe (elbow) on Monday.

    Advice: Felipe was designated for assignment Saturday and will now become a free agent after failing to draw any interest on waivers. He's already been ruled out for the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery Friday. Rotowire.com Today, 9:54 pm
  • Works one inning
    Brebbia (calf) threw one inning in a minor-league game Monday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

    Advice: Brebbia is working his way back from a calf injury and had a successful return to game action. He remained non-committal about his status for Opening Day, noting that he typically needs eight-to-10 innings in the exhibition season to get properly stretched out. Monday's outing marked his first game action of the spring, meaning he may need to start the regular season on the injured list. Rotowire.com Today, 9:44 pm
  • Drawing praise for defensive work
    Davis has impressed some in the Pirates pitching staff with his defensive work this spring, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

    Advice: Davis entered spring training with an uncertain fit on the big-league roster, primarily due to concern about his defensive ability behind the plate. However, he's drawn praise from both Mitch Keller and Jared Jones in recent days, and he also effectively blocked a pitch that was bounced by Martin Perez in Monday's game against the Phillies. Aiding Davis's cause is Yasmani Grandal's (foot) absence, a combination that seems likely to land him on the roster and in the lineup on Opening Day. Rotowire.com Today, 9:33 pm
  • Locked into rotation spot
    Perez has allowed one earned run across 12 innings with a 13:4 K:BB in Grapefruit League action.

    Advice: There are a couple of vacancies in the back of the Pirates' rotation, but Perez will be locked in as a starter to begin the regular season. He built up to five innings in an outing against the Philies on Monday, racking up eight strikeouts against two walks without allowing a run. Despite the strong form, there should be some skepticism about Perez's performance, as he's posted an ERA above 4.40 in six of his last seven campaigns. Rotowire.com Today, 9:25 pm
  • Likely to make big-league club
    Bielak is likely to make the big-league roster out of spring training due to a combination of injuries to the Astros pitching staff, and because he is out of minor-league options, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Bielak hasn't pitched well this spring, allowing six earned runs across 7.1 innings while maintaining just a 5:4 K:BB. However, with both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) destined for the injured list to begin the campaign, the Astros are in need of pitching depth. As things currently stand, Bielak is expected to serve in a relief role, with Ronel Blanco serving as the fifth starter. Rotowire.com Today, 9:04 pm
  • Bell: Fraley ‘doing better’ after hit by ball
    Reds manager David Bell said Jake Fraley is doing better after taking a foul ball between his legs.

    Advice: Fraley fouled a ball off himself under the belt in the third inning against the Giants on Monday and was taken out of the game. The 28-year-old outfielder was seen walking under his own power back to the complex, but other than what Bell said after the game, there’s not much of an injury report. We’ll likely get word if there’s anything significant overnight into Tuesday. Rotoworld Today, 8:54 pm
  • Appears in line to make roster
    Wall is now expected to begin the season in the majors, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: With the caveat that Atlanta could still add a player over the next week, Wall now appears in line to break camp with a reserve role after the team reassigned Luke Williams, David Fletcher and Eli White among others Monday afternoon. Wall has just one hit in his last five spring games, but he launched three homers early on in camp. The 28-year-old can back up all three outfield positions. Rotowire.com Today, 8:54 pm
  • Kyle Harrison strikes out five in win against Reds
    Kyle Harrison recorded five strikeouts over five shutout innings in Monday’s 4-2 win against the Reds.

    Advice: The biggest story of the evening may be Blake Snell reportedly signing with the Giants, but San Francisco may have a rising star on the back end of its rotation this season. The 22-year-old southpaw put together another impressive spring outing and the new addition of his cutter could be the difference throughout the regular season. In seven starts with the Giants last season, Harrison posted a 4.15 ERA with a 35/11 K/BB ratio across 34 2/3 innings. Rotoworld Today, 8:42 pm