San Franciso Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray pitched five strong innings on Tuesday to pick up a win in the Giants' 6-4 victory over the Tigers. Ray has only been available for eight starts over the last two seasons but showed good potential in his seven starts last season, going 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 4.96 FIP but posting an impressive 12.6 K/9. The 2021 AL Cy Young winner has also looked sharp this spring, allowing just four earned runs in five starts for a 1.86 ERA. He racked up 23 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings, highlighted by an eight-strikeout performance against the Rangers. Ray has shown he can be good enough when healthy to be a mixed-league option coming into the season. He'll face the Reds on the road in a less-than-ideal matchup next week, but he's definitely someone to watch early in the season.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Luke Jackson closed out the team's 6-3 victory over the Royals on Tuesday night, earning a save with a perfect ninth inning. Chris Martin pitched the eighth inning in what could be a preview of how the Rangers will line up their bullpen to start the season. Both pitchers were very effective, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts each. Jackson allowed just two hits and one walk in six scoreless innings this spring, picking up nine strikeouts and making a strong case to be the team's closer to start the season.

Miami Marlins third baseman Graham Pauley was optioned to Triple-A last week, but he'll start for the Marlins in Tuesday's spring training game against the Yankees. Pauley's outlook to start the year has changed with news that Connor Norby (oblique) will miss four weeks with an oblique strain. The Marlins acquired the 24-year-old left-handed hitter from the Padres as part of the Tanner Scott trade last July. In 113 minor-league games in 2024, Pauley hit .229 with 14 home runs and seven stolen bases to go with a .331 wOBA. He had a strong spring with a .269 batting average, two stolen bases, and a .309 wOBA. The team hasn't announced a roster move to coincide with Norby's expected trip to the injured list, but Pauley could be part of the solution at the hot corner to start the season, along with Eric Wagaman and Jonah Bride, who were already expected to make the roster.

Miami Marlins third baseman Connor Norby (oblique) was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left-oblique strain, according to manager Clayton McCullough, and will miss about four weeks. Norby hit a triple on Saturday and hurt himself on the swing, although an awkward slide into third base could have made the issue worse. Last season, Norby hit .236 with nine home runs and a .316 wOBA after arriving in Miami from the Orioles via trade. The 24-year-old was one of the Marlins' most promising bats coming into the year, but now the start of his season will be delayed until at least late April. Jonah Bride and Eric Wagaman could each get playing time at 3B while Norby recovers, and calling up prospect Graham Pauley could also be a solution after he was optioned last week.

Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Randy Dobnak will take the open spot in the team's bullpen and will be on the Opening Day roster for Thursday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals on the road, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. Dobnak was initially sent to the minors in camp, but injuries to Brock Stewart (hamstring) and Michael Tonkin (shoulder) have opened up a spot for the 30-year-old veteran in the big-league bullpen to open the year. In his fourth year with the Twins in 2024, Dobnak held a 5.59 ERA (4.61 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with seven strikeouts and five walks in only 9 2/3 relief innings at the big-league level. A finger injury that required surgery derailed his career, and he didn't pitch in the majors at all in 2022 or 2023. Dobnak will need to improve his control if he wants to stick around once Stewart and Tonkin come off the injured list.