Pedro Strop Confident He'll Be Ready

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop is confident that his right hamstring issue won't keep him from being ready on Opening Day. Manager Joe Maddon said that Strop can continue his throwing program this week after tweaking his hamstring last Saturday against the Angels. "The trainers are very optimistic," Maddon said. "He's still able to […]

Jaime Barria The Favorite For Fifth Starter Spot

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria is expected to make the starting rotation and is the favorite for the fifth spot to open the season, especially with Andrew Heaney (elbow) in question for Opening Day. Barria was a pleasant surprise in his first year in the big leagues, going 10-9 with a 3.41 ERA, […]

Tyler Skaggs Throws Bullpen Wednesday

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who has been dealing with left forearm fatigue, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and is likely to make his next spring start in a minor league game. Skaggs' fatigue came from working on a new pitch in his last start, so it's not believed to be very […]

Justin Upton Could Play In Game This Weekend

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Justin Upton, who has been out all spring with right knee tendinitis, took fly balls in the outfield and ran the bases on Wednesday. He could make his Cactus League debut as early as this weekend. The veteran slugger has plenty of time to be ready for Opening Day. He managed […]

Andrelton Simmons Scratched Wednesday

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons was scratched from Wednesday's lineup with minor right elbow pain, but he said it's not serious and thinks he'll be back in there on Thursday. “I was only a little sore a couple days ago, but I feel fine,” Simmons said. The 29-year-old impressed with the bat in 2018, […]

Shohei Ohtani Progressing In Throwing Program

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) moved up to 55 throws from up to 50 feet on Wednesday as he progresses with his throwing program that he started last Friday. He didn't take any swings on Wednesday, but he'll ease his hitting drills the days he throws. Ohtani is doing soft toss […]

Andrew Heaney Shut Down Again

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney has been shut down from throwing for a second time this spring due to left elbow pain, and there's now a chance he could miss the start of the regular season, according to manager Brad Ausmus. Heaney was scratched on March 3 but made another start last Friday. […]

Jed Lowrie, Todd Frazier Not Locks For Opening Day

New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie (knee) and first baseman Todd Frazier (oblique) aren't locks to be ready for Opening Day. Lowrie sprained a left knee capsule early in camp but has been hitting off a tee and playing catch. His lower-body workouts have been limited to physical therapy. Frazier has performed more baseball […]

Miguel Sano Back In Camp

Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano (Achilles) returned to camp on Wednesday after having surgery on the laceration to his right lower Achilles. Sano will not make his season debut until May. He is wearing a boot-like contraption on his right foot and lower leg that is designed to take tissue stress off the injury […]

Walker Buehler Nearing Spring Debut

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler, who revealed that his arm "didn't feel right" when he reported to spring training, threw two innings of batting practice on Wednesday and expects to make his spring debut in four or five days. “Hangover stuff from last year,” said Buehler, who added that he had discomfort from […]

White Sox Option Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease

The Chicago White Sox optioned outfielder Eloy Jimenez, their top-ranked prospect, and starting pitcher Dylan Cease, their third-ranked prospect, to minor league camp on Wednesday. Jimenez is also ranked as the third prospect overall by MLB Pipeline, while Cease comes in at No. 21. Jimenez should make his MLB debut at some point this year […]

Ronald Acuna Dominating Spring Pitching

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, hit for the cycle in four straight at-bats over two games and has been red-hot at the plate this spring. He went 3-for-3 on Wednesday and has hit safely in eight straight at-bats while reaching base nine straight times. Acuna's Grapefruit League […]

Bradley Zimmer Getting Close To Game Action

Cleveland Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to fix the labrum in his right shoulder last July, is hoping to get into a spring game soon. The 26-year-old has already been taking batting practice on the field and has received some at-bats in simulated games. He's also scheduled to throw from the outfield […]

Carlos Martinez To Resume Throwing Soon

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (shoulder) is on track to resume throwing in the next few days, but the team doesn't anticipate him being ready for Opening Day. An MRI exam showed no structural damage in his right shoulder, and he received a platelet-rich plasma injection to slow his inflammation. Martinez dealt with […]

No Pain For Marcell Ozuna

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna (shoulder) played left field for the first time this spring on Monday and showed some zip on a throw to second base. "What I liked about that throw was that it was strong," added Ozuna. "No pain." He also said his shoulder feels stronger than it has the last […]

Tyler Skaggs Has Forearm Fatigue

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs was scratched from his Cactus League start on Sunday due to forearm fatigue. His injury isn't considered serious and an MRI exam already came back clean. "We’re just gonna push him back a couple days," Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. "You will more than likely see him soon. […]

Jo Adell Out 10-12 Weeks

Los Angeles Angels outfield prospect Jo Adell, the team's top prospect and No. 14 in baseball, will be out 10 to 12 weeks after an MRI confirmed a Grade 2 right ankle sprain and a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. He suffered the injuries while running the bases in a game last Saturday. He will […]

Jimmy Nelson Won't Be On Opening Day Roster

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (shoulder) had a successful spring debut on Monday, but he will not be on the team's Opening Day roster, according to manager Craig Counsell. The Brewers are taking the long and cautious approach after Nelson missed all of last year because of shoulder surgery. Nelson is scheduled to work […]

No Setbacks For Mike Foltynewicz

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz hasn't thrown off a mound since experiencing right elbow soreness after he finished two innings in his Feb. 24 spring debut against the Astros, but he hasn't had any setbacks since being cleared to play catch last week. However, because of his lack of activity the last two weeks, […]

Astros Not Worried About Jose Altuve

Houston Astros manager AJ Hinch said that he is not worried about second baseman Jose Altuve, who was scratched from the Grapefruit League starting lineup on Saturday for the second time in three games with left side soreness. He'll be held out a couple of days as a precaution, with hopes he can get back […]

Brad Keller To Start On Opening Day

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller, 23, will start on Opening Day for the team this year. The former Rule 5 draft pick will face the White Sox at home on March 28. Keller was the team's best starter in 2018, going 9-6 with a 3.08 ERA. He struck out just 6.2 hitters per […]

Danny Duffy A Candidate For Extended Spring Training

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (shoulder) threw around 10 fastballs off the mound over the weekend and will throw around 25 to 30 pitches (some breaking pitches too) off a mound on Wednesday. He is a candidate to pitch in extended spring training and isn't expected to be ready for the start of […]

Mark Trumbo Making Spring Debut Wednesday

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo, more than eight months removed from serious right knee surgery, is making his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday as the designated hitter. It's Trumbo's first game since Aug. 19 of last year, and there are no plans yet for him to play the field. He has already had around 20 […]

Chris Davis Returns To Spring Action

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (hip, illness) returned to Grapefruit League action on Tuesday and went 1-for-2 with an RBI single. Davis had a horrible year in 2018 and struggled to make contact. He is now 2-for-14 with a home run and eight strikeouts this spring. The left-handed slugger is expected to be ready […]

Jed Lowrie Begins Baseball Activities

New York Mets third baseman Jed Lowrie (knee) started throwing and hitting programs this week in camp, and he has an outside chance of being ready for Opening Day. If he's not ready, infielder Jeff McNeil will likely start at the hot corner. Despite a career year in his final season in Oakland, Lowrie's fantasy […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Out Three Weeks With Strained Oblique

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the top prospect in baseball, is expected to miss the next three weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his left oblique. He suffered the injury in his final at-bat against the Pirates last Friday and will be shut down for the next week. […]

Aaron Hicks Receives Cortisone Shot

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks (back), who hasn't played since March 1, required a cortisone injection in his lower back on Monday, but he's "not really" concerned that the pain would delay his availability for Opening Day. Hicks continues to experience restrictions with his mobility, mainly while hitting and throwing. Manager Aaron Boone said […]

Walker Buehler Expected To Be Ready

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler, who is being slow played in camp by the team after a sharp innings spike in 2018, is expected to be ready for Opening Day. He threw to hitters last Saturday and will again this week, which would be his final preparation before his first spring game by […]

Corey Seager Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said shortstop Corey Seager (elbow, hip) is expected to be healthy and "ready" for Opening Day. Seager missed all of last year after having surgery on his right elbow and left hip, but he's been working with the team in the mornings and taking at-bats on the minor league […]

Clayton Kershaw Feeling Better

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) threw an encouraging 20-pitch bullpen session of all fastballs on Monday and said he "felt great." Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt won't speculate on a timetable for Kershaw to pitch in a game, but the left-hander is likely to throw another bullpen in two or three days. Kershaw […]