MLB Player News

Zimmermann (illness) exited his outing early on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Zimmermann started Thursday's contest against the Red Sox and struggled through two innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits and a walk -- though he also struck out four. This issue shouldn't affect his ability to take his first turn through the rotation once the regular season gets underway.

Alcala has a nail tear on his right middle finger, but his status for Opening Day is not in jeopardy, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Alcala is still throwing side sessions, though he has yet to appear in a spring training contest. He was a key part of Minnesota's bullpen in 2021, posting a 3.92 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 59.2 innings. If Taylor Rogers falters in the closer role, Alcala could be a candidate to pick up some saves given that he posted 11 holds last season and had a strong 61:13 K:BB.

The White Sox placed Stiever (lat) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Though Stiever has been in attendance at big-league camp, he remains limited to rehab work and wasn't expected to be ready to pitch at the start of the season after undergoing surgery on his right lat Aug. 23. The move to the 60-day IL officially rules Stiever out for the first two months of the campaign and opens up a 40-man roster spot for waiver pickup Yoan Aybar. Stiever will be eligible to begin a minor-league rehab assignment during his stint on the IL, and once the 60 days lapse and if he's deemed fully healthy, he'll likely slot into the rotation at Triple-A Charlotte.

The Astros optioned Dubin to their minor-league camp Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Dubin is expected to return to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the 2022 campaign after he turned in a 3.44 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 69:19 K:BB in 49.2 innings with the affiliate a season ago. After being added to the 40-man roster over the offseason, Dubin should be on the shortlist for a call-up to the big club if the Astros have a need for a spot starter or multi-inning reliever.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday he's entertaining the idea of using Chapman more in the eighth inning this season to keep the closer sharp during lengthier periods in between save chances, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. "It will serve him well at times and protect other guys at times," Boone said. "It will help us as a staff and keep Aroldis more regular rather than let him get to five, six days without pitching."

More specifically, Boone said he prefers to get Chapman some more work in the eighth inning of tight games, rather than asking the lefty to pitch in low-adrenaline blowouts or post-game bullpen sessions for the sake of staying sharp. While Chapman could still miss out on a few save chances if he's summoned when his team is trailing or tied and the Yankees later take the lead, the prospect of the 34-year-old getting more high-leverage, non-save-situation opportunities could help him avoid the ratio damage many traditional closers often take on when pitching in blowouts. The arrangement may also help Chapman pick up more innings, which would heighten the impact of his strikeouts, ERA and WHIP. He's thrown no more than 60 frames in any of the last six seasons, with his innings counts often lagging behind some of baseball's other ace relievers.

Otto allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks while striking out none over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's spring training game against the White Sox.

This was Otto's first Cactus League start, his first chance to stake a claim on the fifth starter's job, but the right-hander said he let the emotions get the best of him in the midst of a competition. He told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that his performance was "unacceptable." The Rangers took Otto off the hook by scoring 14 runs, the second time Texas' offense amassed double-digit runs in a spring game. He allowed all the damage in the first inning before settling down in the second, which pleased manager Chris Woodward. "He was amped up and excited, and he wants to show off what he can do," Woodward said of Otto's first inning. "I did like to see the second one though. There was a lot more calm to him, and the delivery was cleaner like I know he's able to while establishing his pitches." Woodward added that Otto, and possibly Spencer Howard and A.J. Alexy, might benefit from more time at Triple-A.

Winckowski was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Winckowski was added to Boston's 40-man roster in November and will now head to minor-league camp after opening spring training with the major-league club. He appeared in two games for Worcester but spent most of 2021 at the Double-A level, where he posted a 4.23 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 88:30 K:BB across 100 innings.

Mata (elbow) was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Mata underwent Tommy John surgery last April and sat out the 2021 campaign, and he still has a bit to go in his recovery. The 22-year-old could return to game action sometime over the summer if there's no issues with his rehab program.

The Rangers optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Texas sent out Rodriguez and fellow pitcher Demarcus Evans to Triple-A as it reduced its group in big-league camp to 57 players. While working as a swingman at Round Rock following a mid-season promotion from Double-A Frisco in 2021, Rodriguez appeared in 13 games (four starts) at the Triple-A level and finished with an 8.01 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 30.1 frames.

Patino (shoulder) threw an 18-to-20 pitch bullpen session Wednesday with no issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday with some shoulder soreness, but his quick return to the mound indicates it's not a serious concern. The 22-year-old is now scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday as he moves toward a return to game action.