Wander Franco Going For MRI Exam

The Tampa Bay Rays expect to know more later on Sunday about the status of shortstop Wander Franco (quadriceps) after he undergoes an MRI exam. Franco was scratched from Saturday's Grapefruit League game due to soreness in his right quad, but it may have just been a precautionary measure by the team with Opening Day […]

Brandon Belt Back In Lineup Against Yankees

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Brandon Belt (illness) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Sunday against right-hander Jhony Brito and the New York Yankees. Belt is playing first base and is hitting third in the batting order. The 34-year-old left-handed hitter was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to a stomach illness, but he's […]

Kyle Tucker In The Lineup On Sunday

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker (ankle) is in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander Jack Flaherty. Tucker is starting in right field and is hitting third in the batting order. Due to a sprained ankle, Tucker didn't play in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night for […]

Brayan Bello Pitches In Minor-League Game Friday

Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (forearm) threw three innings for Double-A Portland on a back field on Friday and gave up one run while striking out four. Bello tossed 42 pitches (24 for strikes). He will continue to ramp up his workload in minor-league games before the team activates him from the injured list […]

Garrett Whitlock Throws Four Innings In Minor-League Game

Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock (hip) threw four innings in a minor-league game on Friday, tossing 63 total pitches (40 for strikes) and is expected to pitch Opening Day for Triple-A Worcester on March 31. There's a chance he could pitch for the Red Sox as soon as the second series of the regular […]

Justin Turner Has Big Game Friday

Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner looked to be in midseason form in the team's Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, a run scored and a strikeout in the 9-8 win. Turner missed some time this spring after being hit in the […]

Masataka Yoshida Hitless In Return To Grapefruit League

Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida went 0-for-2 with a walk in his return to Grapefruit League action in Friday's loss to the Atlanta Braves. Yoshida returned to the team in camp after being away with Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter looked great in the WBC, going 9-for-22 with […]

Jhony Brito Could Be Yankees Fifth Starter

With New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino (lat) likely to begin the 2023 season on the injured list with a low-grade lat strain, manager Aaron Boone said that Jhony Brito could end up being the team's fifth starter. The 25-year-old Dominican right-hander has yet to pitch in a regular season big-league game. He had a […]

J.P. Crawford Going For X-Rays On His Foot

Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais said that shortstop J.P. Crawford (foot) will have X-rays on his foot on Saturday. Crawford fouled a ball off his foot in the batting cages on Friday but still took part in a full workout afterward. As a precaution, the team scratched him from the Cactus League lineup. We should […]

Michael Harris II Back In Saturday's Lineup

Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (back) has returned to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday against right-hander Bailey Ober and the Minnesota Twins. Harris is starting in center field and batting fifth in the order. The 22-year-old was scratched from the lineup on Friday with back tightness, but it was nothing serious and […]

Yankees Haven't Made Decision On Anthony Volpe

The New York Yankees haven't made a decision yet on whether shortstop prospect Anthony Volpe will be on the Opening Day roster, according to manager Aaron Boone. A report surfaced on Friday that Volpe, who is hitting .277 (13-for-47) with five doubles, three homers, five RBI and five steals this spring, has support from "high-level […]

Luis Severino Has Low-Grade Lat Strain

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that starting pitcher Luis Severino (lat) has a low-grade lat strain. While nothing is official yet, it basically means that Severino will open the 2023 regular season on the injured list, and he may not make his season debut until late April or even early May. It's another […]

Brandon Hughes Hopes To Pitch Monday

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Hughes (knee) is hoping to get back into a Cactus League game on Monday after throwing a bullpen session on Friday. Hughes had his left knee drained up to three times this spring and also had a cortisone injection earlier this week. His knee injury was affecting his performances this […]

Jameson Taillon Becoming More Of A Strikeout Artist?

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon has faced 52 batters in four Cactus League starts this spring and hasn't walked a single hitter. It doesn't come as much of a surprise for Taillon, but he also struck out nine hitters on Tuesday while using his new sweeping slider effectively. "It's definitely going to provide a […]

Drew Smyly Fine-Tuning His Mechanics

Chicago Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly is feeling great this spring and changed how he attacked hitters in his last two Cactus League outings to prepare for the regular season, but pitching coach Tommy Hottovy also pointed out that Smyly's arm was dropping in his delivery. He said the difference in his mechanics were minimal. The […]

Cubs Not Concerned With Justin Steele's Velocity

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele looked off in his last Cactus League outing and talked about how he felt like he was pitching "underwater" when he walked five batters and his velocity was down. However, the Cubs aren't worried with Opening Day coming up quickly. "Pushing him too much now to sacrifice something down […]

James Paxton To Face Live Hitters Saturday

Boston Red Sox left-hander James Paxton (hamstring) will throw live batting practice on Saturday as he starts from scratch after straining his hamstring in his Grapefruit League debut in camp. Opening Day is less than a week away, so there's no chance Paxton will be ready for that next Thursday, but he'll slowly build himself […]

Jake Woodford To Open Year In Starting Rotation

With St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (groin) opening the 2023 regular season on the injured list, right-hander Jake Woodford will open the year in the team's starting rotation as the No. 5 starter. The 26-year-old should get at least a couple of starts early on as Wainwright tries to recover from a strained groin. […]

Kenley Jansen Expects To Pitch Before Camp Ends

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen is confident that the lightheadedness that he experienced in his Grapefruit League appearance on Friday night was not due to heart issues he's had in the past and suspects it was simply dehydration. He had been working out in the hot sun in the hours before the game. Jansen […]

Kenley Jansen Feels Light-Headed Friday

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen left his Grapefruit League outing on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after feeling light-headed on the mound, according to manager Alex Cora. However, the skipper also said that Jansen should be fine. Jansen has had issues with an irregular heartbeat in the past, but this apparently doesn't seem to […]

Seahawks Still In Contact With Bobby Wagner

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said the team remains in contact with free-agent linebacker Bobby Wagner. Seattle needs another veteran linebacker, and it's their most pressing need, which could align the stars for a reunion between the two sides in 2023. The 32-year-old mutually agreed to part ways with the Los Angeles Rams after […]

Keston Hiura, Tyler Naquin Won't Make Brewers Roster

The Milwaukee Brewers informed out-of-options infielder Keston Hiura and non-roster outfielder Tyler Naquin on Friday that they will not make the team's Opening Day roster out of spring training. Hiura was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee will now attempt to trade him before Opening Day next Thursday. […]

Julio Urias Officially Starting Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias has officially been named the team's Opening Day starter in 2023 on Friday. Urias will be on the road in his first start this year next Thursday, March 30, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 26-year-old southpaw is taking the torch from fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw in 2023 as the […]

Corbin Burnes To Start Opening Day For Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes will get the Opening Day nod for the team for the second straight year against the division-rival Chicago Cubs next Thursday at Wrigley Field. He'll be opposed by Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman. Burnes has even more reason for motivation in 2023 after sticky arbitration negotiations with the team in the […]

Juan Soto Taking Dry Swings Friday

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) is taking dry swings at camp on Friday, which is seen as a big development in terms of his possible progression toward being ready for Opening Day next Thursday. It's good news for the Padres outfield as well after Adam Engel suffered a hamstring injury in a spring […]

Shane Bieber To Start On Opening Day For Cleveland

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber will get the ball on Opening Day next Thursday, March 30, at home against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Luis Castillo. It's a tough first opponent, but Bieber could easily be up for the task in front of the home faithful. The 27-year-old ace is making his fourth straight Opening […]

Tony Gonsolin Throws Bullpen Friday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin (ankle) is throwing a bullpen session off of a mound in camp on Friday, which is a good sign for his recovery from a sprained ankle. The 28-year-old right-hander is throwing off a mound for the first time since he sprained his left ankle in a Cactus League […]

Carlos Rodon Slowly Progressing

New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (forearm) threw a bullpen session on Thursday, and pitching coach Matt Blake said Rodon showed great rhythm and consistency with his command. After two or three more bullpen sessions, Rodon will throw live batting practice. And once he gets to that point, he should be around a month from […]

Esteury Ruiz Makes Opening Day Roster

Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said that outfielder Esteury Ruiz has been told he will make the Opening Day roster. Oakland's No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, will now get a very good chance to be an everyday player for the rebuilding A's. He was dealt from the Milwaukee Brewers to the A's in the […]

Mitch Haniger Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the team doesn't think outfielder Mitch Haniger (oblique) will be ready for Opening Day next Thursday. If Haniger opens the year on the injured list, he would be eligible to return for the sixth game of the season, so he may not miss much time at all for […]